Senior Systems Administrator

Job Summary:

The Senior Systems Administrator is responsible for the design, implementation, and support of Clay County Utility Authority’s (CCUA) enterprise infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments. This role leads the modernization of legacy systems and guides the organization through its transition to a hybrid cloud and ultimately a cloud-first IT architecture. The individual in this role brings significant expertise in Microsoft platforms, identity and access management, virtualization, and system security.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead the design and deployment of hybrid and cloud infrastructure solutions, with a focus on Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.

Administer Windows Server environments (2016/2019/2022), including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and Group Policy Objects (GPO).

Manage and support Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), including Conditional Access, Identity Protection, and Single Sign-On (SSO) integrations.

Administer Microsoft 365 services, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Teams, and OneDrive for Business.

Ÿ Configure and support endpoint security and compliance through Microsoft Intune and Endpoint Manager.

Maintain and optimize VMware vSphere virtual infrastructure, including host configurations, storage, and VM lifecycle management.

Implement and manage data protection strategies using backup and replication technologies (e.g., Commvault, Dell PPDM).

Monitor infrastructure health and performance; troubleshoot hardware, OS, virtualization, and application layer issues.

Participate in incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning and execution.

Apply and enforce cybersecurity best practices aligned with NIST, CIS Controls, HIPAA, and/or CMMC frameworks.

Create and maintain technical documentation, network diagrams, and standard operating procedures.

Assist in evaluating and integrating new technologies and contribute to IT strategy and planning.

Provide mentorship and technical leadership to junior support staff.

Participate in on-call rotation and after-hours support as needed.

Perform additional duties as assigned to support IT service excellence and operational success.

Education and Experience Requirements:

Education:

Associate’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field required.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of progressive IT systems administration experience, with a strong focus on enterprise infrastructure required.

Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to infrastructure modernization or cloud migration projects.

Relevant certifications such as:

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate preferred.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator Expert preferred.

VMware Certified Professional (VCP) preferred.

CompTIA Security+ or equivalent cybersecurity certification preferred.

Experience supporting compliance with regulatory frameworks such as: NIST, CMMC, HIPAA, or CIS Benchmarks

Experience managing infrastructure at scale with multiple endpoints and multiple sites

Exposure to SASE solutions (e.g. FortiSASE, Cisco Secure Connect, Microsoft Sentinel) and Concepts (e.g. ZTNA, FWaaS, CASB, SWG)

Familiarity with hybrid cloud integration and infrastructure-as-code concepts

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Service Delivery – Commitment to providing high-quality IT services, responding promptly to stakeholder needs, and maintaining service level agreements (SLAs).

Team Orientation and Interpersonal – Capacity to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment, fostering strong relationships with business and IT stakeholders.

Communication – Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills, with a focus on explaining technical solutions to non-technical stakeholders.

Organization and Time Management – Strong organizational skills to manage multiple technical issues and priorities with minimal supervision.

Analytical Problem-Solving & Decision Making – Ability to research, analyze, identify viable options, draw sound conclusions, present findings and make thoughtful recommendations considering overall risk and short-term and long-term impact.

Systems and Software –

Expertise in Microsoft Windows Server (2012–2022) installation, configuration, patching, and performance tuning.

Microsoft Active Directory (on-prem and Azure), Group Policy, Entra ID (Azure AD), Conditional Access.

Microsoft 365 tenant management and support (Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive).

VMware vSphere/vCenter management.

Microsoft Intune, Defender for Endpoint, and other enterprise-grade endpoint protection tools.

Veeam Backup & Replication or comparable data protection platforms.

Proficiency with PowerShell scripting for automation and configuration management.

Networking fundamentals: switching, routing, VPNs, DNS/DHCP, and firewall rules.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $76,300.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Schedule:

Work Location: In person