Systems Administrator

Summary

Job Category:
Infrastructure
Job Title:
Systems Administrator
Job Category Definition:
This specialty covers design, integration, implementation, modification, and coordination of the installation, testing, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of hardware and software systems. Functions may include conducting needs analyses; planning and scheduling the installation of new or modified hardware/software; developing functional and technical requirements and specifications; allocating systems resources; managing accounts, documentation, and access to systems and equipment; administering passwords; monitoring the performance, capacity, availability, serviceability, and recoverability of installed systems; implementing security procedures and tools; maintaining systems configuration; managing the installation and integration of system patches updates, and enhancements; ensuring the rigorous application of information security/information assurance policies, principles, and practices.
Job Title Definition:
The Systems Administrator provides ongoing support of all systems in support of internal and external applications; evaluates and recommends solutions; plans and executes implementation; installs and manages hardware, operating systems, and/or applications with the objective of providing robust and stable operating platforms; develops, monitors, and enforces security policies; ensures proper controls are designed into systems and networks, monitoring emerging threats and assessing risks; demonstrates technical skills in order to support appropriate systems management assignments; maintains familiarity with standard privacy, security, communications, and systems management protocols. Duties are performed at various levels within the defined title.
Working Conditions:
Specific physical requirements and effort are outlined in Job Responsibilities Worksheet (list of essential job duties and responsibilities specific to a particular job at the unit level) in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Other Requirements:
 

Levels

Level 1  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITSS0201 I Non-Exempt

Level 1 positions typically demonstrate baseline working knowledge of routine work applications; follow standard principles and systems and use appropriate terminology associated with a particular field of specialization; participate as a team member in a collaborative environment within a diverse workforce; actively contribute to completion of team goals and assigned tasks; clearly communicate information, ideas, or instructions verbally and in writing; follow recommended approach to assigned work to facilitate achievement of desired results; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; typically work under direct and frequent supervision while performing routine duties using established procedures with detailed instructions.

Typical Education & Experience

0+ years related experience

Associate's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Assist in the installation, configuration, and maintenance of servers and operating systems software
  • Identify system problems, recommend solutions, and escalate as necessary
  • Identify service-related issues, recommend solutions, and escalate as necessary
  • Provide escalated end-user support
  • Maintain current and correct documentation
  • Scan computers for security vulnerabilities using available tools
  • Work with Office of Information Security to detect misuse and violations and report to appropriate personnel
  • Install and maintain anti-virus software
  • Remove unneeded services and software
  • Maintain adequate system logs and backups
  • Communicate with employees and partners before and during security incidents
  • Educate employees on security policies and their responsibilities
  • Apply vendor-supplied fixes necessary to repair security vulnerabilities  
  • Assist in the evaluation of potential equipment, components, and software
  • Assist in developing plans, schedules, and requirements for the deployment of systems
  • Assist in developing effective processes and procedures that impact systems
  • Document and understand the local technical environment

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 2  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITSS0202 J Non-Exempt

Level 2 positions typically demonstrate intermediate knowledge of the concepts, practices and procedures of a particular field of specialization; perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas/applications by continuously building on current job knowledge; maintain effective relationships with peers, vendors, and others in a diverse environment; support team decisions and follow through with team responsibilities; interpret information, ideas and instructions and communicate clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing including materials intended for distribution; determine causes of unusual occurrences and apply standard principles and practices to determine and implement solutions; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; typically work under general supervision, while performing assignments that are varied and that may be somewhat difficult in character, but usually involve limited responsibility.

Typical Education & Experience

2+ years related experience

Associate's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Under general direction, install, configure, and maintain servers and operating systems
  • Perform defined processes and practices to manage systems and applications to ensure consistent and reliable operation to meet the business needs
  • Provide escalated end-user support; troubleshoot and resolve system issues and escalate as necessary
  • Maintain reliability of systems by performing system monitoring, running tests, and troubleshooting
  • Monitor, maintain, and execute automation processes and procedures
  • Assist in resolving service-related issues and recommend solutions
  • Assist in developing plans, schedules, and requirements for the deployment of systems
  • Assist with designing, testing, and performing upgrades and patches to installed systems and applications
  • Assist in the development of monitoring protocols for threat and attack detection
  • Work with Office of Information Security to monitor threats, alerts, and security vulnerabilities for installed systems; implement response plan for various types of threats and attacks; collect and analyze information regarding security breaches and anomalies
  • Research and monitor emerging threats for area of responsibility
  • Evaluate potential equipment, components, and software
  • Ensure security of network assets including routers, bridges, cabling, and network protocols
  • Implement appropriate recovery plans for every critical function
  • Interface with vendors to resolve hardware and software problems and recommend solutions
  • Create and maintain system documentation of departmental processes, procedures, design plans, and configurations; assist in developing effective processes and procedures
  • Monitor backups and plans for installed systems

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 3  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITSS0203 K Exempt

Level 3 positions typically demonstrate proficient and comprehensive knowledge of defined skill areas/applications to integrate fundamental elements from other specialties into work assignments; apply knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization to complete difficult assignments; promote a culture that is conducive to effective relationships among diverse team members; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; may lead a project team involved in completion of difficult assignments, requiring proficient knowledge of field of specialization; interpret and communicate information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in writing including materials intended for distribution; incorporate new facts and ideas into group processes and apply creative thinking to develop new solutions; typically work with minimal supervision on difficult assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters.

Typical Education & Experience

4+ years related experience

Bachelor's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Install, configure, maintain, upgrade, and support systems and software; install, configure, and manage servers
  • Develop plans, schedules, and requirements for deployment of systems
  • Design and develop custom programs to aid in systems management
  • Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve system issues and/or respond to server outages
  • Interface with University organizations to resolve service-related issues; determine immediate economic and financial consequences of an incident
  • Design, test, perform upgrades and patches to installed operating systems and software  
  • Maintain reliability of systems by monitoring, running tests, and troubleshooting
  • Monitor backups and plans for installed systems; review adequacy of emergency response plans
  • Monitor, maintain, and execute automation processes and procedures
  • Monitor threats, alerts, security vulnerabilities; conduct regular reviews of security against policy goals
  • Evaluate organizational vulnerabilities within assigned area of responsibility
  • Manage, research, and resolve complex end-user escalation incidents
  • Evaluate and recommend new or existing system improvements and/or solutions; benchmark existing and planned capabilities against best practices; collaborate with team to implement solutions or improvements
  • Create and maintain system documentation of departmental processes, procedures, plans, and configurations
  • Recommend and contribute to the development of procedures and guidelines to improve efficiency and effectiveness; may participate and provide information for strategic planning at the unit or user group level
  • Maintain relationships with vendors to escalate and resolve system issues
  • Lead portions of large tasks or projects
  • Provide advice and technical guidance to other staff

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 4  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITSS0204 L Exempt

Level 4 positions typically demonstrate advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization and complete complex assignments; integrate complex elements from other specialties into work assignments; demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusionary practices which support diversity throughout the University; establish a shared vision and take responsibility for the achievement of team goals, and provide direction for appropriate implementation of plans; present ideas, concepts and instructions in a clear manner, and use persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; develop new techniques, concepts, theories, programs or solutions and apply them to complex strategic operating issues; typically work independently on complex work assignments, review progress and evaluate results and update management as appropriate; may direct and delegate work to lower-level staff.

Typical Education & Experience

8+ years related experience

Bachelor's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Provide expertise to the design, planning, implementation, operation, and security of systems
  • Serve as technical expert for complex systems and identify solutions to issues to system/service interruption
  • Lead and/or provide technical guidance to staff and teams
  • Lead and oversee departmental projects; build and maintain project management skills
  • Develop processes and practices for design, maintenance, and operation of systems to ensure consistent and reliable operation to meet the business needs
  • Participate in the architecture and design of systems
  • Develop and maintain automation to support operational efficiency and system consistency
  • Investigate, analyze, and recommend new operating systems  
  • Develop the configuration of systems, applications, and security environment; review policy and assign responsibility for security implementation
  • Assess and strengthen measures to control access to and use of critical assets
  • Implement new systems or create new solutions to existing systems to increase performance  
  • Investigate and analyze system requirements and develop system specifications
  • Design and perform major upgrades to installed operating systems and applications
  • Provide oversight and management for new or existing systems, upgrades, and maintenance
  • Manage vendor relationships; consult with vendors to resolve system issues
  • Analyze the cost/benefit of emerging technology
  • Develop and provide training to IT staff and end users
  • May serve as designated Service Manager for a large enterprise service
  • May be responsible for various administrative and budget tasks
  • May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 5  

There is currently no Level 5.

Common career path: Systems Design Specialist or IT Manager