Freelance Remote Microsoft Azure Administrator Jobs

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,400 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

WestEd supports individual initiative, excellence, and hard work of all individuals in our hiring and work practices. WestEd complies with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws, as well as OFCCP requirements. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, or status as a protected veteran.

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION—Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

Position Description:

WestEd’s Client-Facing Technology (CFT) team is seeking a mission-driven Microsoft Azure Administrator and Solutions Architect. The CFT team designs, builds, and administers custom technology solutions for public agencies and mission-driven organizations—including cloud-based data platforms, secure compute environments, data management systems, privacy and security implementations, and custom application development. Clients come to us because of our technical depth and our deep understanding of the complex data governance and compliance landscape in which they operate. Our culture values communication, collaboration, accountability, and strong customer service skills. This role sits at the intersection of cloud infrastructure and client-facing technology program leadership — responsible for the operational health, security, and scalability of Azure environments while simultaneously leading complex cloud-based initiatives that require translating technical capabilities into clear requirements, milestones, and deliverables. The successful candidate will be a key technical resource on the CFT team, working closely with project managers, technical specialists, and clients across a growing portfolio of work.

Position Overview:

The Microsoft Azure Administrator and Solutions Architect is responsible for administering and operating cloud environments built on Microsoft Azure for clients, serving as the team's subject-matter expert in Microsoft data and analytics tools, and providing business analysis and systems architecture support across client engagements. Approximately 60% of this role is focused on Azure cloud administration and infrastructure operations; the remaining 40% involves technical program management and architecture, including client engagement, requirements gathering, risk tracking, and delivery oversight. This position requires a strong background in Azure cloud administration, Microsoft software and tools, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex stakeholder requirements into well-designed, documented, and executable system architectures. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable provisioning cloud resources and running a stakeholder meeting. The position works with great independence under the guidance of the Director of Data & Cloud Solutions and collaborates closely with internal engineering and DevOps teams, external client technology teams, and project stakeholders.

What We're Looking for

The right candidate will:

• Have a passion for quality work and a commitment to delivering excellent client service.
• Bring deep, hands-on Azure administration experience and the ability to operate cloud environments with minimal ramp-up time.
• Serve as a Microsoft ecosystem subject-matter expert—particularly around Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Purview, and related data and analytics tools.
• Combine technical depth with the communication and analytical skills needed to translate stakeholder needs into system designs.
• Model the IT Core Operating Principles of Transparency, Collaboration, Accountability, and being Solutions-Oriented and Forward Thinking.
• Anticipate technical problems and propose solutions and proactively surface risks, optimizations, and improvements.
• Maintain open, honest, and trustworthy communication with colleagues at all levels.
• Be comfortable operating in a fully remote environment, with hybrid work arrangements available in any of our national offices, and working proactively and professionally with distributed project teams.
• Bring or be actively developing expertise in data security and privacy compliance frameworks relevant to education, health, justice, and workforce data.
• Be innovative with a continuous improvement mindset and a desire to build new capabilities.

Responsibilities

The Microsoft Azure Administrator and Solutions Architect works closely with project managers, other technical staff, and client stakeholders to administer cloud environments, design and propose technical solutions, and support the implementation of cloud projects. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following: 

Azure Cloud Platform Administration   

• Provision, configure, administer, and monitor Microsoft Azure cloud environments for client-facing work, including web services (App Service Plans, Web Apps, Static Web Apps) compute (virtual machines, Azure Kubernetes Service), storage (Blob Storage, Azure Files), networking (VNets, NSGs, ExpressRoute, VPN Gateway, Azure Front Door), databases (Azure SQL, Managed Instance, Cosmos DB, Azure Database for MySQL) Azure AI tools/resources, and security configurations.
• Configure and maintain Azure security controls, including identity and access management (Microsoft EntraID, RBAC), network security groups, Azure Policy, and Azure Key Vault for secrets management.
• Automate routine tasks, updates, and infrastructure deployments using PowerShell, Azure CLI, and infrastructure-as-code tools (ARM templates, Bicep, and/or Terraform); maintain integration between Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID in hybrid environments
• Implement and maintain monitoring, alerting, and logging using Azure Monitor, Application Insights, Log Analytics, and related tools.
• Manage disaster recovery and backup strategies using Azure Site Recovery and Azure Backup.
• Support secure compute environments designed for sensitive data workloads, including environments subject to FERPA, HIPAA, CJIS, and related compliance requirements.
• Maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of cloud systems and related infrastructure.
• Adhere to WestEd Information Technology policies, including security, disaster recovery, backup, and escalation protocols.
• Provide after-hours support as needed for critical infrastructure issues.

Microsoft Tools Subject-Matter Expertise  

• Serve as the CFT team's go-to resource for Microsoft data and analytics tools, advising on appropriate use cases, capabilities, and implementation approaches.
• Design, build, and maintain Power BI reports and dashboards for client engagements, including data modeling and publishing to Power BI Service.
• Support other WestEd project teams in developing their own Power BI capabilities through technical guidance, review, and coaching.
• Evaluate and recommend Microsoft data tools—including Microsoft Fabric, Purview, Synapse Analytics, SQL Server, and Azure Data Factory—for client projects and internal use.
• Represent Microsoft-stack solutions in proposal development and client conversations, particularly for public agency clients whose procurement environments are Microsoft-aligned.
• Assist with assessment and potential migration of reporting solutions (e.g., from Tableau to Power BI) as client needs require.
• Build reusable templates, standards, and documentation for Microsoft data tooling as CFT formalizes its approach.

Business Analysis and Systems Architecture 

• Work directly with clients and internal stakeholders to gather and translate business needs into detailed technical requirements, project plans, and delivery roadmaps; conduct stakeholder interviews to understand data flows, compliance constraints, and intended outcomes.
• Develop use cases, process flows, data flow diagrams, and system architecture documentation that translate business requirements into technical designs.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of cloud infrastructure projects, including migrations, upgrades, disaster recovery planning, and client-driven integrations.
• Drive alignment across engineering, security, and client teams — removing roadblocks and maintaining momentum against project timelines; proactively identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and provide data-informed status reporting to stakeholders and leadership.
• Design cloud architecture solutions appropriate to client requirements, including environments for sensitive data, multi-tenant platforms, and data integration scenarios.
• Communicate architectural decisions, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including WestEd staff, project directors, and leadership.
• Serve as a technical resource during proposal development, helping scope, design, and document technical approaches for competitive RFP responses.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), architecture diagrams, requirements specifications, runbooks, configuration records, and post-mortem reports.

Collaboration and Operations

• Collaborate and coordinate with multiple divisions, departments, stakeholders, partners, and external vendors.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams and external clients through professional communication and collaborative problem-solving.
• Participate in proposal response costing and content authorship; buy/build analysis; and vendor evaluation and oversight activities.
• Manage work assignments using established workflow tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, GitHub) and participate in Agile/Scrum working group meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field—equivalent additional experience in software development may substitute for this education requirement.
• 5+ years of experience with Microsoft operating systems administration (e.g. Windows Server 2025/2022/2019, Windows 11/10)
• 3+ years of experience administering Microsoft Azure cloud environments for databases and hosting, including but not limited to: 

• • Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) credential and identity management
  • Azure networking: Front Door, VPN Gateway, vNet communication, NSGs, and ExpressRoute
  • Azure compute and hosting: Virtual Machines, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Container Apps, Azure Static Web Apps, Azure Functions
  • Monitoring and security: Azure Monitor, Application Insights, Log Analytics, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Datadog
  • Disaster recovery and backup: Azure Site Recovery (across availability zones) and Azure Backup
  • Patch management: Azure Update Manager; infrastructure-as-code: ARM templates, Bicep, and/or Terraform; source control: GitHub and/or Azure DevOp

• 3+ years of experience with Microsoft SQL Server, including database design, administration, and writing and optimizing SQL queries.
• 3+ years of experience with Microsoft PowerBI, including the design, build, and maintenance of Power BI reports and dashboards.
• 2+ years of experience with other Microsoft tools—beyond those above—including but not limited to: Fabric, Purview, DevOps, Azure Synapse Analytics, or Azure Data Factory.
• Strong proficiency in PowerShell for automation and scripting; working knowledge of Azure CLI
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and code review processes.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional infrastructure or cloud projects in an Agile/Scrum or similar framework.
• Recent experience working with public sector clients, including governmental, non-profit, or educational agencies. 
• Recent experience ensuring adherence to the CIS Critical Security Controls framework for system risk assessment and management as well as related policies, rules, and regulations. 
• Experience designing or working within data enclaves, trusted execution environments, or secure compute environments for sensitive data.
• Familiarity with education data privacy laws and standards (FERPA, CIPA, COPPA, HIPAA, CJIS, ESSA) and related compliance implementation.
• Familiarity with Snowflake, dbt, Tableau, or other modern data stack tools—ability to collaborate with staff using non-Microsoft tools. 
• Familiarity with education data standards (CEDS, Ed-Fi, SIF) and related interoperability frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience translating business needs into technical requirements, system designs, and project plans. 
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to handle changing priorities and multiple tasks simultaneously. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in the English language—ability to communicate effectively with clients and develop a clear understanding of their business needs. 
• Reliability, a professional attitude, and a willingness to do what is required in a cooperative work setting; must be a self-starter, independent thinker, action-oriented, and self-motivated. 
• Located in the United States with availability to work 8 hours per day every weekday. Work schedule can be flexible but must include the core hours of Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm PT regardless of time zone. 
• Willingness to participate in total time accounting, including recording and reportin...