Systems Administrator

ISH; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Healthcare cash plan

Meal allowance

Sage benefits

On-call allowance

Job summary

International Students House (ISH) in London seeks an experienced Systems Administrator to join the IT team. The role involves hands‑on support across IT, Microsoft 365, networking, security and cloud services, working with the IT Manager to keep systems secure, reliable and effective.

You will support staff, students and guests, manage Active Directory, DNS/DHCP, VPN/Wi-Fi and hardware, and contribute to IT projects and event technology needs.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years' professional experience in IT support and/or systems administration.
• Strong experience supporting Windows 11 environments and Microsoft 365.
• Good understanding of TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, Wi-Fi and VLANs.
• Experience with Active Directory and user/account administration.
• Willingness to participate in an on-call rota and possible evening/weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Provide systems administration and technical support to staff, students and guests.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, login, printing and connectivity issues.
• Set up and configure user accounts, laptops, mobile devices and peripherals.
• Support Microsoft 365 and other business applications.
• Escalate technical issues where appropriate.
• Assist with IT projects, upgrades and equipment rollouts.
• Maintain accurate technical and support documentation.
• Work with third-party suppliers and contractors.
• Monitor servers, backups and cloud systems (Proofpoint and Meraki).
• Support conference, music venue and event technology requirements when required.

Skills

5+ years IT support/systems admin

Windows 11

Microsoft 365

TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, Wi‑Fi, VLANs

Active Directory

Customer service

Prioritise & work independently

Information security

On-call readiness

Tools

Proofpoint

Meraki

Job description

International Students House (ISH) is a unique organisation in London's West End, providing accommodation, social and welfare facilities for British and overseas students. Our aim is to promote social and cultural awareness and facilitate interaction between students, helping to develop international friendship.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Systems Administrator to join our IT team.

This is a varied, hands-on position for someone who enjoys solving problems, supporting users and developing their technical skills. You will work across IT support, Microsoft 365, networking, systems administration, cybersecurity and IT projects, while supporting specialist technology used across our accommodation, hospitality and events operations.

You will work closely with the IT Manager and wider organisation to ensure our systems remain secure, reliable and effective.

What You'll Be Doing

User Support & Helpdesk

• Provide systems administration and technical support to staff, students and guests.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, login, printing and connectivity issues.
• Set up and configure user accounts, laptops, mobile devices and peripherals.
• Support Microsoft 365 and other business applications.
• Escalate technical issues where appropriate.

Hardware, Software & Systems Administration

• Install, configure and maintain PCs, Macs, printers, mobile devices and other IT equipment.
• Support software, Windows and antivirus updates.
• Assist with troubleshooting workstation and network issues.
• Support Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Linux and Hyper-V environments.
• Assist with the maintenance of corporate and student networks, Wi-Fi and internet connectivity.
• Help monitor servers, backups and cloud systems, including Proofpoint and Meraki.

Security & Operational Support

• Support IT security standards, user access management and endpoint protection.
• Identify and report security concerns promptly.
• Assist with IT projects, upgrades and equipment rollouts.
• Work with third-party suppliers and contractors.
• Maintain accurate technical and support documentation.
• Support conference, music venue and event technology requirements when required.

Projects & Development

You will also take ownership of specific IT projects, which may include:

• Implementing single sign-on for cloud applications and Microsoft 365.
• Developing and managing group service accounts.
• Supporting Wi-Fi access point upgrade projects.

The role will also provide opportunities to develop your knowledge of networking, systems administration and cloud technologies.

About You

You will be an experienced IT professional with a practical, customer-focused approach and the ability to work independently.

Essential

• At least 5 years' professional experience in IT support and/or systems administration.
• Strong experience supporting Windows 11 environments.
• Experience supporting Microsoft 365.
• Good understanding of TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, Wi-Fi and VLANs.
• Practical experience troubleshooting PCs, laptops, peripherals and mobile devices.
• Experience with Active Directory and user/account administration.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise workloads, work independently and meet deadlines.
• Ability to handle confidential information appropriately and maintain high standards of information security.
• Willingness to participate in an on-call rota and occasional evening and weekend work.
• Legal right to work in the UK.

Desirable

• Microsoft, CompTIA or other relevant IT certification.
• Experience with macOS and Linux.
• Networking experience.
• Experience with Hyper-V.
• Experience with endpoint security or antivirus platforms.
• Experience with backup systems.
• Experience with cloud applications, including helpdesk, CRM, security or network management systems.
• Experience within education, hospitality, accommodation or events.
• Experience supporting CCTV, access control, POS or AV systems.

Candidates may be asked to provide evidence of qualifications during the recruitment process.

Hours & On-Call

This is a 37.5-hour per week role. You will also participate in an on-call rota for approximately two weeks per month.

Flexibility is required, as occasional evening and weekend work may be necessary to support the organisation's operations and events.

What We Offer

• Up to £35,000 salary (depending on skills and experience), plus £2,400 per annum on-call allowance after probation.
• 20 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing by one day for each completed year of service up to 30 days.
• Company pension scheme.
• Company-sponsored healthcare cash plan, with the option to increase personal cover or include family members.
• £3 daily meal allowance for use in ISH catering facilities.
• Sage benefits.
• Interest-free annual travel loan available after successful completion of probation.

Why Join ISH?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in supporting technology across a diverse organisation with accommodation, hospitality, events and student-focused services.

You will have the opportunity to work across a broad range of technologies, take ownership of projects and develop your technical skills while making a direct contribution to the day-to-day experience of staff, students and guests.