AFT Staff, IT System Administrator

Whatcom Community College; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Retirement plan

Sick leave

Vacation leave

PSLF program

Employee Tuition Program

Job summary

Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA seeks an IT System Administrator to provide support across network, server, endpoint, and phone systems.

This 12-month, full-time AFT staff role offers a collaborative environment with cross-training and opportunities to implement automation and improve IT operations.

Start date as soon as possible; guaranteed consideration by October 26, 2026.

Qualifications

• Higher Education Certificate or equivalent in a computer related field.
• One year of IT-related service experience.
• Equivalent combination education and experience acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Administers user accounts and permissions in Active Directory, Azure AD/Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft 365 environments.
• Provides technical support to Help Desk and Desktop Technicians to resolve end-user remote access, permission, and network issues.
• Administers user accounts and permissions in various IT-managed systems.
• Assists with monitoring and addressing SPAM and email policy violations.
• Develops and improves automation processes using PowerShell.
• Maintains and manages the VoIP phone system and E911 configuration.
• Documents recurring issues in the Help Desk knowledge base.
• Escalates discrepancies or issues to senior IT staff as needed.
• Assists with server updates, backup administration, and software deployments.
• Supports infrastructure management, VDI image updates, and optimization.
• Improves Help Desk workflows and processes.
• Assists with physical equipment installation and wiring.

Skills

TCP/IP

Active Directory

Azure AD/Microsoft Entra ID

Microsoft 365

PowerShell scripting

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

Higher Education Certificate or equivalent in computer related field

Tools

PowerShell

Job description

About The College

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree granting institution with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 7,604 students annually on its beautiful 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington.

Whatcom offers transfer degrees, applied baccalaureate degrees, professional and technical training programs, basic education, job skills, and community and continuing education classes. Programs and courses are offered through in-person, hybrid, and online modalities to promote access for a diverse student population.

The College is committed to equal opportunity and believes diversity of experiences and cultures enrich our campus community. The College is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. For more information about WCC, please visit www.whatcom.edu

About Our Community

Whatcom's campus is located in Bellingham (population 95,960). Bellingham showcases a strong commitment to education and is regularly rated on "best of the Northwest" lists. Bellingham is midway between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C. Canada.

The city is surrounded by the rural landscape of Whatcom County (population 226,850), which is home to a thriving network of farms and scenic wilderness. As you explore our community, you'll discover historic neighborhoods, waterfront cities, farmlands and mountain towns all within a few dozen miles of each other. Bellingham and Whatcom County are known for their outdoor activities. Whether your idea of fun is visiting galleries, watching live theater, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding, or unwinding with a good book, you'll love Bellingham and Whatcom County. To learn more about Bellingham, please visit: http://www.bellingham.org

General Description Of Work

Position Title: System Administrator

Classification: AFT Staff

FTE: 1.0

Schedule: 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required and will be scheduled in advance when possible.

FLSA Status: Overtime Eligible

Grant Funded: No

Job Summary

The IT System Administrator (SysAdmin) provides technical support and assistance across a range of IT-managed services and infrastructure, including network, server, endpoint, and phone systems. The position supports device and user access to network resources and services and assists with the implementation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of IT systems.

To provide comprehensive support for the College's IT infrastructure, the SysAdmin will receive cross‑training in selected functional areas supported by the Network Manager and Desktop Manager. A working knowledge of TCP/IP, Microsoft networking, and fundamental system administration concepts is expected, with opportunities to develop additional technical skills through training and hands‑on experience.

Reporting Structure/Supervisory Relationship

• This position reports to the Director for Information Technology.

Essential Functions

• Administers user accounts and permissions in an Active Directory, Azure AD/Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft 365 environment.
• Provides technical support to Help Desk and Desktop Technicians to resolve end‑user remote access, permission, and network issues.
• Administers user accounts and permissions in various IT‑managed systems.
• Assists with, monitors, and addresses SPAM and email policy violations.
• Assists with the development and improvement of automation processes, including scripting actions in tools such as PowerShell.
• Administers and maintains the VoIP phone system, including, but not limited to, deployment of new phones, user assignments, E911 configuration, reassignment of existing phones, and auditing of existing deployments.
• Assists the Help Desk Lead with the documentation of recurring issues in the Help Desk ticketing system knowledge base.
• Alerts senior IT staff to discrepancies or issues with accounts or permissions when identified.
• Assists the Network Manager with server updates, backup administration, and server software deployment.
• Assists the Desktop Manager with infrastructure management, VDI gold image updates, and optimization.
• Improves Help Desk ticketing workflows and processes.
• Assists with physical equipment installation and wiring, as required.
• Monitors system, network, and service alerts and escalates potential outages, performance issues, or other concerns to appropriate IT staff.
• Troubleshoots basic server, network, endpoint, authentication, and connectivity issues and escalates complex issues as appropriate.
• Maintains accurate documentation of system configurations, equipment assignments, procedures, and troubleshooting activities.
• Assists with system upgrades, software deployments, configuration changes, and other IT projects as assigned.
• Performs other related work of a similar nature and level.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of fundamental networking concepts, including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, and network connectivity.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), and Microsoft 365 administration concepts.
• Knowledge of fundamental system administration concepts, including user account management, permissions, software deployment, system updates, and backups.
• Skill in troubleshooting hardware, software, network, authentication, remote access, and endpoint issues using established diagnostic procedures.
• Skill in administering user accounts, permissions, devices, and IT services across multiple systems and platforms.
• Skill in using scripting and automation tools, particularly PowerShell, to perform routine administrative tasks and improve IT processes.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively with IT staff, end users, and other college personnel.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks, respond appropriately to changing priorities, and maintain accurate technical documentation.
• Ability to learn new technologies, systems, and procedures and apply that knowledge to support the college's IT infrastructure.
• The ability to actively contribute to a work and learning environment that treats everyone with respect and dignity, while engaging diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences to enhance the College's mission, vision, and promise.

Working Conditions/Environment

Work involves frequent interruptions and responding to on‑demand questions and requests by phone, in person, and electronically. The position works in a variety of campus environments, including offices, classrooms, and server rooms, and may occasionally require work outside normal business hours to support system maintenance, upgrades, or deployments. The position requires the ability to independently lift and carry up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis and perform physical tasks associated with the installation, relocation, and maintenance of IT equipment

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Higher Education Certificate or equivalent in computer related field.
• One year of experience in IT-related service field.

OR

• Equivalent combination education and experience sufficient for the person to perform the duties.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher education setting in a technical capacity.
• Associate degree or higher in Computer Information Science or equivalent.
• Three or more years administering IT systems in a large production environment.
• Communicate both verbally and in writing using excellent grammar, punctuation, and spelling to document and explain.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Licensure, Certification & Other Necessary Requirements

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check and sexual misconduct review.
• Occasional travel to meetings, conferences and training sessions may be required.

Salary

• This is a 12-month, full-time AFT (American Federation of Teachers) Staff represented position with an annual salary range of $79,066.00-$79,066.00.

Benefit Package

• The position comes with a full benefit package, including health, dental, life, long‑term disability insurance and a retirement plan.
• Accrues 8 hours per month of sick leave and 16 hours per month vacation leave.
• Additionally, as a Washington State, public higher education institution, WCC offers the following:
• Whatcom Community College is a qualified employer for the PSLF program. If you work for the College full time, have had Direct Loans and are on an eligible repayment plan, you are eligible to apply.
• Full‑time employees are eligible to apply and participate in the Whatcom Community College Employee Tuition Program, which provides a tuition waiver for available and eligible WCC courses.

Start Date

• As soon as can be arranged with the successful candidate.

Application Due Date

• For guaranteed consideration, applications should be received by Monday, October 26th, 2026, at 5:00pm. Position open until filled.

Mission, Vision & Promise

Whatcom Community College contributes to the vitality of its communities by providing quality education in academic transfer, professional‑technical, and lifelong learning, preparing students for active citizenship in a global society.

Vision

Whatcom is a supportive community, empowering lives through education.

Promise

We transform lives through education. We accomplish this by supporting student growth, respecting student investment, embracing diversity, promoting excellence and creating opportunities .

EEO Statement

Whatcom Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender presentation, ancestry, ethnicity, family status, immigration status, citizenship, socioeconomic status, genetic information or age in its programs and activities.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director for Human Resources, by phone: [phone] or email: [e-mail] , 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226.

For Title IX compliance: Title IX Coordinator, by phone: [phone] or email: [e-mail] , 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226.

WCC publications are available in alternate formats upon request by contacting the Access & Disability Services office by phone: [phone], email: [e-mail] , or Washington Relay: 711