IT Systems Administrator I/II

City of Kennewick; Kennewick (WA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Kennewick is recruiting for a Level I or Level II IT Systems Administrator to support the stability and integrity of the City’s network and infrastructure. The role collaborates with the Network Administrator to install, monitor, and maintain server hardware and software, AD, DNS/DHCP, and backup systems.

Level II adds responsibility for designing new server environments, leading projects, and providing technical leadership, with 30‑minute incident response expectations and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or related field.
• OR equivalent combination of education and experience totaling at least 6 years.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands‑on experience with current Windows Server editions, Active Directory and Group Policy administration, Microsoft Exchange/365 administration, backup and recovery systems, VMware vSphere or Hyper‑V, network file shares, and DNS/DHCP.

Responsibilities

• Administer, monitor, and maintain on‑premises and cloud‑based servers, storage systems, and network infrastructure.
• Configure and support AD, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, file sharing, and print management services.
• Install, configure, and maintain Hyper‑V virtualization platforms.
• Manage enterprise backup and recovery systems and ensure DR procedures.

Skills

Active Directory

Group Policy

DNS

DHCP

PowerShell

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, Information Systems, or related field

OR equivalent education/experience totaling 6 years (Level I)

Tools

Hyper‑V

VMware vSphere

Backup & Recovery Tools

Job description

The City of Kennewick is hiring for either a Level I or Level II IT Systems Administrator; only one position is available.

Current Monthly Salaries

Level I: $7,675 - $9,824

Level II: $9,223 - $11,806

Target Hiring Range: The City anticipates hiring within Steps 1–5 of the applicable salary grade, depending on qualifications (DOQ).

CORE VALUE STATEMENT

The City of Kennewick will provide excellent public service and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community and one another through the empowerment of each employee. We value integrity, inclusiveness, stewardship and communication. We are accountable to our community for innovative and collaborative efforts that anticipate needs, leverage resources and deliver solutions.

SAFETY STATEMENT

We expect our employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/DOSH regulations and by the City’s Accident Prevention Plan. This includes but is not limited to actively identifying and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co-workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action; emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans.

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY

Under general direction of the Information Technology (IT) Manager, the IT Systems Administrator works with the Network Administrator to ensure the stability and integrity of the City’s network & infrastructure systems; participates with the installation, monitoring, maintenance, support and optimization of all server hardware, software and communication links; assists with maintenance related activities for all hubs & switches; responsible for administration and maintenance of un‑interruptible power supplies, enterprise backup systems, UCS, Active Directory, SAN, and web services. Systems & Network Administrators/Engineers work together as a team to distribute the workload for network administration and infrastructure support.

This position is a two‑level series. The IT Systems Administrator II is distinguished from the IT Systems Administrator I by the increased complexity of assignments and the greater degree of independence with which it operates, and the experience required to perform the work.

WORK SCHEDULE

The initial work schedule for this classification will be full‑time, Monday through Friday. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work may be occasionally required. Overtime may be occasionally required. This classification is exempt under the FLSA.

Participation in after‑hours on‑call rotation for critical infrastructure issues may be required.

Infrastructure Management

• Administer, monitor, and maintain on‑premises and cloud‑based servers, storage systems, and network infrastructure.
• Configure and support Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, file sharing, and print management services.
• Install, configure, and maintain Hyper‑V virtualization platforms.
• Manage enterprise backup and recovery systems, ensuring compliance with disaster recovery procedures.
• Support network hardware including switches, routers, wireless access points, and UPS systems.
• Maintain server hardening, security configurations, system patches, and vulnerability remediation.

User and Security Management

• Develop and manage user profiles, security roles, and access control systems.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity stakeholders to ensure compliance with security standards and role‑based access protocols.
• Participate in vulnerability scanning, remediation planning, and security tool configuration.
• Support multi‑factor authentication systems and secure connectivity solutions.
• Ensure compliance with audit requirements (NIST, CJIS, CIS standards).

Technical Support and Analysis

• Provide tier‑2 and tier‑3 support for escalated service tickets.
• Anticipate, identify, troubleshoot, and resolve complex hardware and software problems.
• Perform root cause analysis on system issues and implement preventive measures.
• Analyze system performance and recommend optimization strategies.
• Monitor server and system health including disk space, CPU/memory usage, and network performance.

Strategic Planning and Development

• Research emerging technologies and contribute to strategic IT roadmaps.
• Evaluate new products, services, and protocols to support procurement and development efforts.
• Participate in IT change management processes.
• Support IT disaster recovery and business continuity planning initiatives.

Documentation and Compliance

• Create and maintain comprehensive system documentation, configurations, and procedures.
• Manage hardware and software asset inventories and licensing compliance.
• Generate reports in response to business needs and regulatory requirements.
• Document changes and procedures in ticketing systems.

Level II Additional Responsibilities

• Design and implement new server environments and complex infrastructure solutions.
• Participate in infrastructure upgrade projects from planning through execution and may lead specific functions or projects.
• Develop and execute comprehensive backup and disaster recovery strategies.
• Automate routine tasks using PowerShell scripting and management tools.
• Participate in strategic planning and policy development for IT infrastructure.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to IT staff.
• Participate in technical evaluations for major system acquisitions and vendor selections.
• Must be available to respond to critical infrastructure or security incidents within 30 minutes of notification, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as part of Incident Response and Cyber Incident Response Teams.
• Required to maintain functional communication devices and secure access to enterprise systems at all times to enable immediate incident triage, containment, and resolution activities.

Level I

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or related field.
• OR equivalent combination of education and experience totaling at least 6 years.

Experience

Minimum of 2 years of hands‑on experience with:

• Current Windows Server editions.
• Active Directory and Group Policy administration.
• Microsoft Exchange/365 administration.
• Backup and recovery systems (Veritas Backup Exec, Veeam, or similar).
• VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper‑V virtualization.
• Network file shares, print services, and OWA.
• Basic troubleshooting of DNS, DHCP, and network services.
• Cisco/Arista switch and router configuration.

Required

• Valid Washington State driver's license.
• Successful completion of criminal background investigation.
• CJIS security certification (must obtain and maintain).
• Ability to maintain mental and physical fitness required for essential job functions.
• Participation in after‑hours on‑call rotation for critical infrastructure issues.

Level II

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or related field.
• OR equivalent combination of education and experience totaling 9 years.

Experience

Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible IT infrastructure experience, including demonstrated expertise with:

• Virtual host and enterprise SAN storage systems.
• Infrastructure monitoring tools.
• Enterprise Security Information and Event Management tools.
• PowerShell scripting and automation.

Required

• Valid Washington State driver's license.
• Successful completion of criminal background investigation.
• CJIS security certification (must obtain and maintain).

Mandatory Certifications

• CompTIA Security+ or equivalent security certification.

Preferred Certifications

• ITIL 4 Foundation (strongly preferred).
• CompTIA Server+
• Advanced PowerShell scripting certifications.

Knowledge of

• Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and data privacy practices relevant to municipal IT operations.
• Current systems software, networking protocols, security standards, and best practices.
• ITIL Foundation principles and IT service management practices.
• Modern virtualization technologies, cloud computing concepts, and hybrid infrastructure.
• Backup and recovery methodologies, disaster recovery planning.
• Cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, CIS) and compliance requirements.

Skills and Ability to

• Perform advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis on complex technical issues.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non‑technical audiences across all organizational levels.
• Document technical configurations and maintain comprehensive knowledge base articles.
• Prioritize multiple tasks, work under pressure, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Work independently and collaboratively in a team‑oriented environment.
• Learn new technologies quickly and apply them effectively.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and systems.
• Work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Apply logical and analytical thinking to solve complex technical problems.
• Provide excellent customer service while maintaining professional demeanor.

Level II Additional Skills

• Lead technical projects from conception through implementation.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to staff.
• Participate effectively in vendor negotiations and technical evaluations.
• Develop comprehensive technical documentation and training materials.
• Design and implement enterprise‑level infrastructure solutions.

Physical Requirements

To perform the essential functions of the classification, incumbents must be able to meet the following physical requirements: must regularly talk, hear/listen, see/observe, sit, stand and walk; must regularly demonstrate fine motor skills; must occasionally exert up to 50 pounds of force.