Senior Lead IT / Systems Administrator

About the Company

At the Pac-12, we are passionate about sports and technology! As part of our team, you will play a key role in driving the engineering operations and technology initiatives that power our business.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Sr. Lead IT/Systems Administrator to oversee and optimize our company’s IT infrastructure, ensuring it meets the needs of our growing business. This role is perfect for an experienced, hands-on IT leader who thrives on technical challenges, strategic planning, and leading teams to success.

You will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining complex IT systems, ensuring stability, security, and performance. The Sr. Lead IT/Systems Administrator will work closely with senior leadership to align IT strategies with business objectives while fostering a collaborative and innovative environment within the IT team.

The ideal candidate will be well versed in multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, and have strong expertise in SQL and Proxmox virtualized environments. They will be a hands-on leader with a collaborative, “let’s do it together” attitude, committed to elevating the IT and Systems team. Experience with SentinelOne, NinjaOne, and JAMF is a strong plus.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead and mentor a team of IT support technicians and systems administrators, ensuring they have the resources, guidance, and training to grow and excel.
• Champion a collaborative and high-performance culture within the IT department, encouraging knowledge sharing, innovation, and growth.

IT Infrastructure & Operations Management:

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of the company’s IT infrastructure, ensuring network availability, reliability, and scalability.
• Manage system and server administration (Windows/Linux), SQL databases, cloud services, virtualized environments (e.g., VMware, Proxmox), and Mac environments.
• Ensure a secure, stable, and efficient IT environment by proactively identifying potential issues and implementing solutions.
• Maintain oversight of all IT assets, including hardware, software, and cloud services.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans to safeguard business operations.

Strategic Planning & Project Management:

• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement IT strategies that align with the company’s overall business objectives.
• Oversee IT projects from initiation to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Develop long-term technology roadmaps, recommending improvements and upgrades to ensure the IT environment is future-proof and scalable.
• Manage and optimize IT budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and cost-effective solutions.

Security & Compliance:

• Ensure that IT systems are secure, compliant with industry standards, and adhere to data protection regulations.
• Develop and enforce IT security policies, implementing robust security measures such as OS firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection.
• Conduct regular security audits and risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks.
• Stay current with industry trends and evolving cybersecurity threats, ensuring the organization is always protected.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management:

• Manage relationships with external vendors, service providers, and contractors, ensuring service level agreements (SLAs) are met and costs are controlled.
• Lead negotiations and procurement for IT services, equipment, and software.
• Collaborate with other departments and business units to understand and support their technical needs.

User Support & Training:

• Oversee the development and delivery of IT training programs to enhance user knowledge and improve system efficiency.
• Ensure the IT helpdesk provides high-quality, timely support for all staff across various technical issues.
• Ensure documentation and knowledge bases are continuously updated to support end-user training and troubleshooting.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
• Experience: 8 years of experience in IT operations, with a minimum of 2-4 years in a senior technical role overseeing infrastructure and systems management.
• Proven expertise in managing large-scale IT infrastructure, including networks, servers (Windows/Linux), virtualization platforms (VMware, Proxmox), cloud technologies (AWS, Google Cloud), and database management.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and support highly available, secure, and scalable IT systems.
• Strong background in IT security and risk management, including experience with firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection systems, and encryption technologies.
• Proven success in managing IT budgets, resources, and complex projects.

Technical Skills

• Solid understanding of networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP)
• Expertise in systems administration, including Windows Server, Linux, Mac and cloud environments.
• Experience with database management (MSSQL Server).
• Proficiency with cybersecurity tools, practices, and frameworks (e.g., firewalls, endpoint protection, SIEM, SentinelOne).

Soft Skills:

• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to translate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong project management skills, able to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Results-oriented with a proactive, “can-do” attitude.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant certifications such as CompTIA Network , Security , Microsoft Certified: Windows Administrator, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, PMP, or ITIL.
• Experience with broadcast technologies (e.g., playout automation, video servers, MAM, streaming protocols) is a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Primarily office-based in San Ramon, CA with occasional remote work flexibility.
• Evening or weekend work for system maintenance, upgrades, or emergency support.
• Evening or weekend work to provide IT and systems support for scheduled live productions.
• Limited travel to other company locations may be required.

COMPENSATION

The exact salary will depend on the successful candidate’s, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

PAC-12 OVERVIEW

The Pac-12 stands at a defining moment in its history. Founded in 1915, the league’s rich legacy of athletic and academic excellence spans over 100 years. Supported by world-class service and empowerment, Pac-12 student-athletes have earned more than 500 NCAA team championships. Now with a renewed and bold vision for its future, the Pac-12 has undergone significant transformation on its journey to launching a new collegiate athletics conference, custom-built for both the modern-day student-athlete and an evolving college sports landscape.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Teresa Gould, the Pac-12 embarks on creating a new legacy, composed of nine member universities, a one-of-its-kind and state-of-the-art broadcast production facility in San Ramon, CA., and a reimagined commercial enterprise that is uniquely positioned to drive strategic partnerships, brand enhancement, revenue generation and other growth opportunities to unlock new and lasting value for both its member universities and its student-athletes. Currently composed of Oregon State University and Washington State University, the league will welcome seven new full members beginning with the 2026-27 season, including Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, Gonzaga University, San Diego State University, Texas State University and Utah State University.

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