Human Resources

Job Description Summary

The System Administrators in our Windows team are responsible for the effective provisioning, installation/configuration, operation, maintenance, security, and performance of a large number of Windows workstations and servers. You will work with your team to maintain the systems and services related to authentication (AD/ADFS/Kerberos), configuration management (SCCM/Endpoint), patch management (WSUS/Intune), printing, application packaging, licensing, and distribution. You will become part of a culture that empowers employees, treats them with respect, and encourages innovation and open communication.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned)

Operational Responsibilities:
• Assist in administering and managing the Microsoft Windows server and workstation environments including Active Directory, ADFS, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), Azure DevOps, Endpoint, Autopilot, Intune, AppsAnywhere, and printing/PaperCut.
• Perform administrative tasks in Windows Active Directory and Azure Active Directory including manipulation of objects, disaster recovery planning, and maintenance.
• Responsible for desktop image deployment and software distribution.
• Responsible for granting, monitoring, and reporting on access.
• Responsible for the Windows printing environment.
• Document accurately, timely and effectively the processes, procedures, and all changes to systems.
• Coordinate the creation of environments for testing and development purposes and ensure production and test/development environments are kept in sync.
• Modify/maintain updates and/or patches of applications using releases and utilities from the manufacturers. Apply and test the technical aspects of product-specific patches and fixes as they are released.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and support per requests from team members and campus community.
• Work with other team members on designated systems and projects.
• Responsible for the training, support, and supervision of student technicians and the environment, tools, methods, and utilities used in our environment.
• Work on long-term projects as assigned.
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Maintenance, Monitoring and Upkeep:
• Perform daily system monitoring, verifying the integrity and availability of all hardware, server resources, systems and key processes, reviewing system and application logs, and verifying completion of scheduled jobs such as backups.
• Install, configure and plan life-cycle replacement, coordinate outages and perform performance tuning for applications and hardware.
• Research and recommend innovative, and where possible, automated approaches for system administration tasks. Identify approaches that leverage our resources and provide economies of scale.
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.

Security:
• Ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure.
• Maintain a regular schedule for operating system, application, and security patches.
• Coordinate and implement security measures to safeguard information ensuring security requests have proper (system owner) approval (User account verification, maintenance, troubleshooting).
• Assess effectiveness of safety measures and training and implement necessary changes. Anticipate and recognize problems and potential problems at the individual and system levels.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures (minimum requirements)

● Bachelor's degree in Applied Computing or a comparable technology-related degree program; or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which required knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Required Experience (minimum requirements)

● At least 2 years’ experience in system administration and support of workstations and applications in a large (250> workstation) Microsoft Windows environment.
● A minimum of a year of information technology-related direct customer support experience, including experience managing customer requests in a request tracking system.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

● Experience working with configuration management systems such as SCCM, Puppet, Ansible, etc.
● Familiarity with software application streaming, such as AppsAnywhere or other large scale software delivery methods.
● Familiarity with cloud services: Azure, Microsoft and Office 365, Google Apps, AWS
● Knowledge of common network concepts, protocols, and tools.
● Experience with code management systems like BitBucket and code management software like GIT.
● Experience and ability to work within change management systems.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities (minimum requirements)

● Proficiency administering Windows Server OS (2012 R2 or higher) and Windows desktop OS (10/11)
● Proficiency with Windows Scripting/PowerShell
● Knowledge of authentication, authorization, and identity tools (e.g., LDAP, Active Directory, Kerberos, ADFS).
● Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff.
● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build solid working relationships with people of diverse personalities and professional backgrounds, with a strong focus on customer service.
● Must be self-directed and able to prioritize work and be able to meet deadlines in a timely manner. In addition, must be able to participate and interact as a team player on many projects.
● Must be able to work some varied hours including late afternoons, nights, weekends or holidays during scheduled maintenance windows or emergencies, and be accessible via cell phone 24/7 for emergency calls.
● Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

● Proficiency in building, packaging, and deployment of Windows operating system and software applications to large environments of heterogeneous Windows PCs.
● Experience with software license management (SLM) providing software application licensing and license server operation with technologies like FlexLM, Sentinel, and physical licensing dongles.
● Highly organized and able to adapt quickly to changing priorities.
● Familiar with network architecture and concepts including firewalls, VPN, VLANS, and switches.
● The desire and ability to keep abreast of new technologies including desktop, laptop, and server hardware; Windows operating system and application software.
● Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints. 

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Flexible remote work accommodations are available after an initial fully on-campus period of 6 months; however, physical proximity to the Houghton campus is required as this position will have in-person and on campus responsibilities at least 50% of the time.
• Proximity and max travel time to campus will be negotiated with a successful candidate, not to exceed an hour of travel time to campus.
• Infrequent work (less than 2% of time annually) may be performed in a data center where the use of hearing protection is required.
• Work is performed that requires the use of a computer, input devices, screens, high-speed internet, telephone, and video communications equipment.
• Frequent use of computers and exposure to computer screens where visual strain may occur.
• Frequent repetitive hand/wrist motions and finger manipulation.
• Frequent written, oral and/or visual communication with students, faculty, and staff.
• Moderate need to physically meet with coworkers, vendors, technicians, or members of the campus community when remote options are not viable or less effective.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Hearing protection (when working in a data center).
The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

Required Departmental Training: 

• Additional Information Technology related training modules

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Applicants must be eligible for long term permanent employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. Visa sponsorship is not available. This is not an E-Verified Position.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities

1.00

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable. No less than $60,000.

Title of Position Supervisor

Director, IT Operations

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

• Your references should include the contact information for at least three (3) professional references.
• Include any optional documents, for example: Certification(s)/License(s)/Letter(s) of Recommendation

Additional Information

About IT Operations:
Our group is responsible for identity management, storage, virtual machine infrastructure, Linux/Mac OS/Windows operating system management, application packaging/distribution, license servers, core services (DHCP/DNS/LDAP/Authentication Systems), application traffic management/load balancing, data center operations, printing infrastructure and much more.

Our 24+ full-time staff and over 50 part-time student technicians are hardworking and creative problem solvers with a demanding amount of technical work to accomplish. That work is a balance of making sure our technology and skills stay at the leading edge while servicing our technical debt associated with legacy systems and previous technical mergers. The systems and services we run support the entirety of the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and campus academic community.

About the University:
Michigan Tech is an internationally renowned doctoral research university located in Houghton, MI in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula, on the south shore of Lake Superior. The area provides a unique setting where natural beauty, culture, education, and a diversity of residents from around the world come together to share a superb living and learning experience.

Diversity Information:
Michigan Tech is an ADVANCE institution, one of a select group of universities in receipt of NSF funds in support of our commitment to increasing diversity and the participation and advancement of women in STEM.