Why Join Thrivent?

Thrivent is a mission-driven, not-for-profit financial services organization empowering Christians to flourish as they pursue a life well planned. Headquartered in Minneapolis with key operations in Appleton, Wisconsin, we serve over 2 million members nationwide. As a Sr Unified Communications Engineer in our Appleton office, you'll play a pivotal role in enhancing collaboration for financial advisors, IT teams, and leadership through cutting-edge Microsoft 365 and AV technologies. Enjoy a hybrid work model with 4 days on-site in our state-of-the-art Appleton campus, fostering innovation in a supportive, faith-centered culture. Thrivent offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth in unified communications engineering.

Role Description

As a Senior Unified Communications Engineer at Thrivent, you'll be the technical expert architecting, optimizing, and sustaining our enterprise unified communications (UC) and video conferencing environments. Your primary focus will be implementing and supporting Microsoft 365 solutions like Teams (including Teams Voice and Teams Rooms), Exchange Online, and SharePoint, while integrating modern AV technologies for conference rooms. This hybrid role emphasizes UC strategy, enterprise integration, and operational excellence, with hands-on support for meeting room systems. This role REQUIRES the ability to be on-site in Appleton, WI 4 days per week, ensuring seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Detailed Responsibilities

Unified Communications Design & Implementation

• Lead the design, deployment, and lifecycle management of enterprise UC solutions including Microsoft Teams, Teams Rooms, Teams Voice, Exchange Online, SharePoint, and Zoom.
• Drive seamless integration of UC platforms with enterprise workflows, security standards, and third-party applications.
• Develop and automate workflows for user provisioning, real-time monitoring, and automated incident response using PowerShell, Graph API, and Azure Logic Apps.

AV Support & Conference Room Technology

• Provide expert support and maintenance for AV systems in conference rooms, including advanced setups in executive and premium spaces.
• Architect and enforce standards for video conferencing hardware, including detailed documentation and troubleshooting for Poly/Polycom, Shure audio systems, Biamp DSPs, Dante networking, and Crestron control systems.
• Perform hands-on installations, upgrades, and optimizations to deliver flawless hybrid meeting experiences.

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Enhance the security posture of shared UC endpoints by integrating multi-factor authentication (MFA), endpoint protection, and high-availability resilience measures.
• Respond rapidly to production incidents, maintain comprehensive observability using tools like Microsoft Sentinel and Teams analytics, and ensure 99.9%+ uptime.
• Conduct regular audits, capacity planning, and performance tuning for UC infrastructure.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Workplace Solutions, IT Operations, Cybersecurity, and end-user teams to deliver frictionless, inclusive meeting experiences across Thrivent.
• Participate in Agile sprint reviews, product roadmapping, and UC initiative planning to align technology with business objectives.

Vendor & Financial Management

• Manage key vendor relationships with Microsoft, Poly, Crestron, and others; evaluate emerging solutions and lead proof-of-concept (POC) trials for new UC capabilities.
• Ensure financial stewardship through budgeting, cost optimization, and ROI analysis for UC investments.

Coaching & Continuous Improvement

• Mentor junior engineers, sharing best practices for UC/AV integration, troubleshooting, and automation.
• Contribute to engineering templates, runbooks, standards, and automation frameworks to scale operations.
• Leverage telemetry data, user feedback, and KPIs to measure progress, identify bottlenecks, and drive process improvements.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Skills

Thrivent seeks a proven leader in unified communications with deep expertise in Microsoft ecosystems and AV technologies. Key skills include:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Teams administration, including Voice (Direct Routing, SBC), Teams Rooms, and Calling Plans.
• Expertise in Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft 365 security/compliance features.
• Hands-on experience with AV hardware: Poly/Polycom video systems, Shure microphones, Biamp processors, Dante audio networking, Crestron automation.
• Scripting and automation using PowerShell, Microsoft Graph API, and Logic Apps.
• Strong incident management, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis in enterprise UC environments.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices for UC (MFA, Conditional Access, endpoint hardening).
• Agile methodologies, vendor management, and financial acumen for tech projects.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills for cross-functional teams.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years in UC engineering, with 3+ years focused on Microsoft 365 Teams and AV integrations.
• Relevant certifications: Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Expert, CCNP Collaboration, CTS (AVIXA), or equivalent.
• Proven track record in enterprise deployments and hybrid work enablement.

Compensation Overview

Competitive base salary plus performance incentives, reflecting Appleton, WI market rates and expertise level.

Benefits

Thrivent provides exceptional benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match up to 6%, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, wellness programs, and volunteer time off. Join a values-driven organization committed to your holistic well-being.

Thrivent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Apply today to elevate communications at Thrivent!