Senior System Administrator

JR United Kingdom; Oxford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the education sector is seeking a Senior System Administrator based in Oxford. The role involves managing Linux servers, providing IT support, and leading a helpdesk team in a collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in systems administration, particularly with Moodle and IT security principles.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with Linux system installation and management.
• Experience managing a Moodle VLE and web services.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage Linux servers and ensure high availability.
• Provide tier 3 support to staff and students.
• Supervise an IT helpdesk team.

Skills

Linux Administration

IT Security Principles

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

Moodle

Puppet

Git

Job description

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Senior System Administrator, oxford district

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Client:

Burman Recruitment

Location:

oxford district, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

2

Posted:

27.06.2025

Expiry Date:

11.08.2025

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Job Description:

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and technically skilled Systems Administrator and IT Support Specialist to join a highly collaborative digital learning and support team based in Oxford. This is a key role responsible for maintaining a robust and secure infrastructure that supports large-scale online course delivery, including the administration of a Moodle Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and related systems.

You will lead on the technical administration of Linux-based systems and be the senior technical contact for IT support queries, including tier 3 support for staff and students. In addition to infrastructure responsibilities, you’ll supervise a small IT helpdesk team and play a strategic role in enhancing support operations and researching emerging tools and technologies to drive innovation in online learning delivery.

Some remote working is possible, but regular on-site work in Oxford is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Administration

• Manage and maintain Linux (Debian) servers in a virtualised environment, supporting applications such as Moodle, WordPress, and Puppet
• Oversee the administration of a Moodle VLE including user account management, enrolments, course publishing and archiving
• Monitor performance, ensure system security, perform regular backups, and ensure high availability and disaster recovery readiness
• Collaborate with a Senior Web Developer on software updates, patches, upgrades, and automation of provisioning/configuration using tools such as Puppet
• Maintain documentation of system configurations, processes, and software licensing
• Liaise with a central IT function to ensure cohesive support and integration across infrastructure layers

IT Support

• Provide tier 3 technical support for Moodle and other learning systems to staff, students, and tutors
• Train and mentor junior support staff, sharing knowledge and promoting best practices
• Support an internal assignment-handling system (training provided)
• Manage account access issues, multi-factor authentication, and device support across Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile platforms
• Maintain the IT ticketing system and generate support performance reports
• Deliver desktop support to internal staff (20+ colleagues), and assist in prototyping and integrating new tools and technologies

Additional Duties

• Contribute to departmental budgets, proposals, and tender documentation
• Participate in team meetings, planning sessions, and cross-functional initiatives
• Provide occasional evening/weekend support to ensure smooth delivery of time-sensitive online courses
• Offer support to wider IT operations during leave cover or major projects
• Proven experience with Linux system installation, administration, and management
• Experience administering web-based services with large user volumes in a service environment
• Strong knowledge of IT security principles and hands-on implementation of best practices
• Tier 3 IT support experience, especially for non-technical end users
• Confident, approachable communicator able to maintain a professional and positive attitude
• Practical experience using Git for code deployment
• Analytical and creative problem-solving capabilities
• Understanding of IP networking fundamentals
• Broad familiarity with multiple OS platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile)
• Proven ability to manage a dynamic workload, prioritising and adapting as needed
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation
• Experience managing a Moodle VLE
• Automation and configuration management experience (e.g. Puppet)
• Awareness of GDPR and compliance in a data-sensitive environment
• Previous experience working in higher education or with educational technologies
• Familiarity with virtual infrastructure management (e.g., VMware, Azure)