Application Specialist (SIS)

Alpine School District; Aspen (CO); On-site; USD 71,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Alpine School District is seeking an Application Specialist (SIS) to act as the district's technical expert and system administrator for the Student Information System (SIS). The role involves configuring, maintaining, and supporting Skyward Qmlativ, training staff, and serving as the liaison to the SIS vendor for escalations.

Reports to the Director of Innovative Engineering. Some after-hours work is required to support maintenance, upgrades, and vendor-driven changes beyond the school day.

Qualifications

• The candidate should have experience administering and configuring a large-scale SIS in a K-12 environment.
• Strong knowledge of SIS data structures, security models, and reporting tools.
• Ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences and manage projects.

Responsibilities

• Configures and maintains the SIS environment (Skyward Qmlativ), including calendars and gradebooks.
• Manages user accounts, security roles, and access permissions district-wide.
• Coordinates patches, upgrades, and maintenance with vendor and district teams.
• Delivers training and creates self-service guides for SIS users.
• Provides Tier 3 escalation support for complex SIS issues.

Skills

SIS administration

Security roles

Troubleshooting

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS

Tools

Skyward Qmlativ

PowerSchool

Infinite Campus

Job description

Application Specialist (SIS)
Lane D- F Contract and Benefits
250 Day Contract
Starting Date: 07/01/2027
Hours a day: 8
Hourly rate: $35.32 - $41.82
Contact Information:

• Name: Mac Porter
• Phone: [phone]

Position Summary

The Application Specialist (SIS) is the district's technical expert and system administrator for the Student Information System (SIS), such as Skyward Qmlativ. This role configures and maintains the SIS environment, trains staff on its use, provides Tier 3 escalation support for complex issues, and serves as the district's primary liaison to the SIS vendor for technical escalations.

Reports To:Director of Innovative Engineering

FLSA Status:Exempt

Schedule:Some work outside standard business hours (evenings/weekends) is required to support system maintenance, upgrades, and vendor-coordinated changes that cannot be performed during the school day.

Key Responsibilities

SIS Configuration & Administration

• Configures and maintains the district's SIS, such as Skyward Qmlativ, including calendars, scheduling, gradebooks, attendance, discipline, enrollment workflows, and fee management.
• Manages user accounts, security roles, and access permissions for all SIS users district-wide.
• Coordinates SIS patches, upgrades, and server image maintenance with the vendor and the District Engineering team, scheduling maintenance windows to minimize disruption.
• Monitors SIS application performance and availability to prevent outages and processing delays.
• Administers the security of the SIS environment.

Training & User Support

• Designs and delivers training and in-service sessions on SIS applications and workflows for teachers, registrars, and administrators.
• Creates user job aids, quick-reference guides, and a self-service knowledge base for SIS users.
• Provides Tier 3 escalation support for complex SIS issues referred by the Help Desk and building-level staff.
• Responds to inquiries from district departments and personnel, providing technical advice and operational assistance.

Technical Infrastructure & Systems Integration

• Maintains working knowledge of the server, database, and network infrastructure underlying the SIS environment, coordinating with the Systems Engineer and Network Engineer as needed.
• Supports integration between the SIS and downstream systems, such as identity provisioning, rostering, and data warehouse feeds.
• Assists in correcting and validating data for state and clearinghouse reporting to ensure accuracy.
• Serves as the district's primary technical point of contact and subject matter expert for the SIS vendor.
• Escalates unresolved technical issues to vendor support and tracks cases through resolution.
• Evaluates vendor patches, upgrades, and new feature releases for impact on district configuration and workflows.
• Represents the district in vendor user groups, webinars, and beta or preview programs as appropriate.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintains records of permission levels, security access, licenses, and work logs for audit and reference purposes.
• Prepares written documentation, procedures, and reports related to SIS operations and configuration.
• Participates in meetings, workshops, and trainings relevant to SIS functions and district data needs.

Qualifications

Education:Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience accepted in lieu of degree.

Experience:Demonstrated experience administering and configuring a large-scale Student Information System (e.g., Skyward Qmlativ or a comparable platform) in a K-12 or similarly complex environment.

Knowledge & Skills:Strong understanding of student information system data structures, security/access models, and reporting tools, gained through experience with Skyward Qmlativ or a comparable SIS platform (e.g., PowerSchool, Infinite Campus); ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences; strong troubleshooting, project management, and communication skills.