Cloud & Application Support Specialist - EH0357

This role is about owning and evolving our cloud platforms - you'll set up and configure new resources, manage integrations, and drive improvements. If you're looking for a software development role, this isn't it; if you want to make technology work brilliantly for an organisation, it is.

About East Hampshire District Council

East Hampshire District Council is at an exciting inflection point. With Local Government Reorganisation on the horizon, we are building the foundations of a new council - and IT is central to making that happen. Operating on a Microsoft 365 E5 platform, with an Azure cloud environment and an active AI adoption programme underway, our IT team is working on challenges that genuinely matter: modernising services, shaping a new organisation, and delivering technology that works for our residents and staff.

This is a rare opportunity to join a small, ambitious team where your contribution will be visible and your influence real.

About the Role

You'll be the go-to expert for our cloud and SaaS application estate - making sure the systems that power our services are integrated, reliable, and delivering real value. That means championing best practice, supporting colleagues to get the most from our digital tools, and working directly with suppliers to resolve issues and drive improvements.

You'll play a hands-on role in our transformation programme - helping us modernise how we deliver services and ensuring our technology keeps pace with an organisation that's rapidly evolving., * Own and evolve our Microsoft 365 and Azure environments, ensuring they're secure, well-managed, and delivering value across the organisation

• Act as the primary relationship manager between EHDC and our technology partners - translating business needs into the right solutions and driving integrations that work
• Lead on SaaS governance: developing approval processes for new applications, managing access controls, and ensuring compliance with our policies and security standards
• Resolve, escalate and learn from application issues - being the person staff and services can rely on when something needs fixing
• Communicate clearly with colleagues at all levels, including senior leadership, on application usage, budget, and emerging risks such as cyber security
• Maintain and document standards for cloud application governance and change control, keeping our estate well-managed as it grows
• Stay ahead of emerging technologies and assess what's relevant for a council in the middle of significant transformation
• Contribute to budget planning and help ensure our SaaS investment delivers measurable outcomes

You'll be a strong fit if you have hands-on experience managing cloud and SaaS platforms in an organisational setting. We're not looking for a developer; we want someone who is expert at making enterprise tools work well for the people using them. Specifically, we're looking for:

• Proven experience administering Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Intune, Entra ID) in a business environment
• Familiarity with Azure administration - managing resources, access controls, and cloud infrastructure
• Experience working with third-party SaaS suppliers - managing contracts, integrations, and escalations
• Understanding of IT security principles, including access management, data governance, and compliance
• Strong communication skills - able to explain technical issues clearly to non-technical audiences
• A systematic, process-driven approach to problem solving and documentation
• Experience working in or with the public sector is welcome but not essential

No software development or coding skills are required for this role.

Pulled from the full job description

• Annual leave
• Company pension, * Competitive salary at Grade 7
• Hybrid working options
• Training and development opportunities
• Generous annual leave and flexi time
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

Our website has full details of the benefits and support we offer: www.easthants.gov.uk/jobs-council