*Dynamics 365 Lead Engineer

Ascend Learning is a national leader in data driven, online educational solutions for learners, educators and employers in high-growth, licensure-driven professions spanning healthcare, fitness and wellness, skilled trades, insurance and financial services. We are passionate about accelerating learning while impacting job readiness, employment success and employee retention with the belief that our work changes lives.

Our culture is intentionally results-driven and selfless with a relentless focus on our customers. We believe in trust, transparency, freedom and responsibility with a commitment to meritocracy, inclusion and diversity of thought. Continual investment in our over 1500 employees is also a core principle realized through ongoing professional development and providing opportunities to grow, develop and lead. Ascend Learning is headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and remote workers in cities across the U.S.

Ascend Learning is hiring now for a Dynamics 365 Lead Engineer. As a Dynamics 365 Lead Engineer you will closely interact with solution architects and product owners to collaborate with our internal customers. You will learn about internal customer challenges and desired outcomes and through those conversations also discover unarticulated needs. You will be accountable to lead and collaborate with members of the deal team to craft and deliver the vision that will drive value for our customer. This position will work hybrid from one of our Ascend Learning office locations: Leawood, KS, Burlington, MA, Gilbert, AZ or Minneapolis, MN office. Remote considered.

The ideal candidate will provide hands-on technical leadership and manage flow of work closely with cross functional teams and collaborate with engineers to develop standard platform across multiple business units. Should also possess ability to succeed with team and zest to take leadership on key initiatives.

This position is 75/25 split between demonstrating technical and functional leadership of Dynamics 365 (D365) and peripheral platforms such as Logic Apps, Power Platform, and other SaaS Integrations. This role may also require managing development resources in multiple locations.

Deep Understanding of:

• Business solutions, specifically CRM applications including Marketing, Sales, Customer Service and Project Operations and how these solutions help our customers achieve their desired business outcomes
• Peeling business requirements; create demonstrations to provide proof of concept; plan and assist the team in drafting statements of work to include estimation
• Enterprise Integration of Dynamics apps with Mobility, Outlook Connector, Marketing Automation (Hubspot, etc.), Project Operations, and third party apps as well as knowledge of developing micro services (using lightweight APIs) that can be utilized to allow bidirectional integration using RESTful interface
• Leading development process with Agile Methodologies and proactively managing team workloads using JIRA, capacity planning, and standard team improvement ratios (such as bug/defect, velocity, bottlenecks) etc. Operating in a SAFe (Scaled-Agile Framework) is a plus
• Operational Excellence: Passionate in monitoring and alerting health of platforms and proactively implementing resolutions to prevent future outages
• Embrace DevOps culture with leadership and ownership on platforms, architecting solution deployment and monitoring health of platform

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree preferred. Equivalent experience required
• 4+ years of cumulative experience hands-on experience with Dynamics 365
• Experience with peripheral technologies such as SQL, SSRS, and application framework components such as (plugins, custom workflows, and webhooks). Microsoft Certifications (MB-200, MB-210, MB-220, MB-230, MB-240) and experience with messaging systems, such as, Kafka, RMQ, or Azure Service Bus is a plus
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with Power Platform (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate), LogicApps, and Dataverse/CDS
• 2+ years leading projects on design and delivery with data migration, business requirements analysis, and modeling
• Expertise in process and data migration analysis and implementing transformations to port data and processes to new platform/application
• Extensive experience in maintaining/updating product releases and managing upgrade process with minimal downtime for customers

Skills & Abilities:

• Lead and exemplify presentation excellence for both virtual and onsite deliveries
• Lead collaborative development process with engineers in multiple locations, take ownership, and see the task till end with independent research/development skills
• Continually learn and maintain your technical, professional skills and competitive readiness. Remain current on the latest technology and trends for your area of expertise
• Focusing on big picture - working with partners to enhance workflow and business processes supported, but not limited by systems
• Self-starter, strong work ethics, maturity, and drive initiatives to succeed with creative mind
• Embracing of a growth mindset, insatiably curious, always learning and welcoming of challenges for the opportunity to grow at both individual and team level
• Active contributor of feedback and best practices across various teams; peer community, customer success, engineering, sales and marketing
• Ability to work with extended teams to include hours outside of core business hours as needed

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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