What are the responsibilities and job description for the Systems Administrator position at Andrews University?
The Systems Administrator is responsible for the configuration, maintenance, monitoring, and security of the university's on-premise and cloud-based servers and services. This role ensures the availability and performance of core IT infrastructure, including Active Directory, virtualization, storage, backups, and enterprise applications. Working closely with network, security, and application teams, the Systems Administrator helps sustain a robust technology foundation that supports Andrews University's academic, administrative, and research missions.
Qualifications summary
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience.
3 years of hands-on experience managing enterprise systems in a mixed OS environment.
Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
Duties and responsibilities
Server Administration
Deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Windows and Linux servers in virtualized (XCP-NG/Hyper-V) and cloud (Azure/AWS) environments.
Manage system services including Active Directory, Group Policy, file and print services, DNS, DHCP, and authentication systems.
Ensure timely application of security patches, firmware updates, and performance optimizations.
Cloud & Hybrid Infrastructure
Support integration and management of cloud-based services (Microsoft 365, Azure AD, cloud storage, and backups).
Assist in planning and executing migrations to cloud or hybrid environments.
Monitor and maintain identity federation and single sign-on (SSO) systems (e.g., SAML, ADFS, Azure SSO).
Storage, Backup & Recovery
Manage enterprise storage systems (SAN/NAS) and ensure data integrity, availability, and performance.
Implement and monitor backup and disaster recovery solutions, conducting periodic testing and documentation reviews.
Support business continuity efforts in collaboration with security and compliance teams.
Monitoring & Automation
Monitor system health, performance, and uptime using tools such as Zabbix or PRTG.
Develop scripts and automation routines (PowerShell, Bash, Python) to streamline repetitive tasks and improve reliability.
Troubleshoot system and application issues, identifying root causes and implementing solutions.
Documentation & Support
Maintain detailed documentation of system configurations, procedures, and workflows.
Provide Level 2/3 technical support for escalated issues related to servers, authentication, or enterprise applications.
Collaborate with Help Desk and application teams to resolve user-impacting system incidents.
Supervisory responsibilities
N/A
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience.
3 years of hands-on experience managing enterprise systems in a mixed OS environment.
Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
Technical competencies
Strong knowledge of Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and Group Policy.
Familiarity with Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS, or RHEL) administration and basic CLI tools.
Experience with virtualization platforms (e.g., XCP-NG/Vates, Hyper-V) and backup systems (e.g., Veeam, Commvault).
Interpersonal interactions
N/A
Physical demands
Standard office environment physical demands.
Work environment
Standard office environment with occasional options to assist in infrastructure projects in more challenging environments.