Learning Technology Systems and Infrastructure Specialist

NorthWest Arkansas Community College; Arkansas; On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) seeks an Academic Technology Infrastructure Specialist to manage and enhance locally administered academic technology infrastructure, including instructional networks, servers, virtualization, local cloud environments, and AI-supporting computing resources.

This is a 100% in-person position working with faculty and IT teams to ensure reliable, secure systems in classrooms and labs.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent in networking, cybersecurity, information systems, or related field.
• Four years of experience supporting networks, servers, virtualization, cloud environments, or instructional technology.
• Experience troubleshooting and maintaining networked systems in educational or laboratory environments.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot instructional networks, servers, storage, virtualization, and local cloud environments.
• Support learning platform systems and approved web updates.
• Monitor system health, security, and access; coordinate infrastructure improvements.
• Provide campus IT support for classrooms, labs, and offices.

Skills

Networking

Server administration

Virtualization

Cloud environments

Instructional technology

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Collaboration

Education

Associate degree in networking, information systems, or related field

Job description

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas. As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education. NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers. NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success.

The Academic Technology Infrastructure Specialist helps manage, support, and enhance locally administered academic technology infrastructure, including instructional networks, servers, virtualization platforms, virtual desktop infrastructure, local cloud environments, cybersecurity labs, data and analytics systems, and AI-supporting computing resources. This position focuses on systems used in academic programs and laboratory environments that are separate from the college's enterprise administrative infrastructure. The position also supports learning platform systems, approved web updates, and related IT services for assigned buildings and across campus as needed. Responsibilities include monitoring system and network health, maintaining secure configurations, troubleshooting technical issues, supporting instructional technology environments, and coordinating infrastructure improvements. Responsibilities also include assisting with approved web updates for learning platforms and related digital resources and providing building and campus IT support as needed. The specialist works with faculty, academic departments, information technology teams, and vendors to maintain reliable, secure, and instructionally effective systems. This position is governed by state and federal laws and agency/institution policy. This is a 100% in-person position and is not eligible for remote work.

Essential Duties: Installs, configures, maintains, and troubleshoots locally managed instructional networks, servers, storage, virtualization platforms, virtual desktop infrastructure, local cloud environments, and related academic computing infrastructure. Supports instructional technology environments, including classrooms, laboratories, cybersecurity labs, virtual labs, AI-supporting resources, specialized applications, and approved learning platform systems. Maintains secure system and network configurations, user access, authentication, permissions, patches, updates, backups, and system readiness in coordination with faculty and technology teams. Monitors system and network performance, reviews logs and alerts, tracks capacity and availability, and responds to outages, access issues, equipment failures, and connectivity disruptions. Troubleshoots complex network, server, storage, virtualization, cloud, VDI, application, integration, hardware, software, and performance issues affecting instructional environments. Provides building-based and campus-wide IT support as needed, including classroom, lab, office, endpoint, connectivity, and instructional technology support. Completes approved web updates for learning platform systems, Workforce-related pages, and instructional technology resources in coordination with content owners and institutional standards. Works with faculty, academic departments, centralized information technology teams, vendors, and service providers to identify needs, resolve issues, and implement practical infrastructure solutions. Maintains documentation, including network diagrams, configuration standards, inventories, support procedures, reporting, and disaster recovery or continuity materials. Assists with planning, testing, installing, and improving instructional laboratories, equipment, platforms, and academic technology initiatives to support reliability, security, scalability, usability, and instructional effectiveness. Additional duties may be assigned as necessary to support the goals and objectives of the department and college.

Rate of Pay: $65,061 annualized *Higher compensation may be considered based on qualifications directly related to position.

Minimum Qualifications: The formal education equivalent of an associate degree in networking, cybersecurity, information systems, computer technology, server administration, cloud systems, data systems, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and related experience. Four years of experience supporting networks, servers, virtualization platforms, cloud environments, instructional technology, or related infrastructure. Experience troubleshooting and maintaining networked systems in laboratory, classroom, technical, or organizational environments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of network infrastructure, server environments, virtualization platforms, storage systems, virtual desktop infrastructure, local cloud platforms, and related security fundamentals. Knowledge of secure systems administration practices including identity management, authentication, permissions, access controls, patching, backups, and configuration management. Familiarity with instructional technology environments, learning platform systems, virtual laboratories, cybersecurity ranges, web content updates, digital accessibility expectations, and academic computing resources. Ability to monitor infrastructure, analyze complex technical issues, troubleshoot connectivity and performance problems, and implement effective solutions with minimal disruption to instruction. Ability to configure, maintain, document, and improve network, server, virtualization, storage, cloud-based, and instructional technology systems. Ability to manage multiple technical priorities, provide responsive building and campus IT support, and coordinate effectively with faculty, staff, students, vendors, academic departments, and centralized technology teams. Skill in maintaining technical documentation, network diagrams, inventories, configuration records, service management records, monitoring reports, and support procedures. Ability to remain current with networking, server administration, virtualization, cybersecurity, cloud computing, analytics, AI infrastructure, and emerging instructional technology practices.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The following physical activities are representative of those that must be performed by an employee to successfully complete the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is: Frequently: Manipulating items with fingers, including keyboarding. Sitting. Standing. Walking. Constantly: Hearing. Performing repetitive motions. Talking. The employee may occasionally be required to lift, move, install, or reposition computers, servers, networking equipment, cables, and other technology-related materials. The employee must have sufficient close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, view computer terminals, read technical documentation, inspect equipment, and perform detailed technology-related work. Environmental Conditions: The work environment typically includes professional offices, classrooms, instructional laboratories, server rooms, network equipment areas, and academic computing spaces. Noise levels may range from moderate office noise to elevated equipment noise in server rooms or technical laboratories. Work may also include providing technology support in assigned buildings and other campus locations as needed. The position may require work in confined technology spaces, beneath desks, near equipment racks, or in locations containing cables and electronic equipment. Employees may occasionally visit storage areas, outdoor locations, or other campus facilities where temperature, lighting, noise, and environmental conditions may vary. Occasional work outside normal operating hours may be required to complete maintenance, installations, upgrades, or emergency repairs while minimizing disruptions to instructional activities.

NWACC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding areas. As the largest community college in Arkansas, it offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training that can lead to careers in business, computer science, art, communications, culinary, nursing, construction and more. NWACC faculty and staff are committed to the success of our students and helping them develop intellectually, personally and interpersonally. NWACC professors are exceptional scholars who mentor traditional and nontraditional students within a campus and online environment that values and encourages diverse perspectives and ideas. Northwest Arkansas is one of the most economically stable regions in the nation and serves as the base of operations for Walmart, Tyson Foods Inc., and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Their close proximity to the college offers opportunities for internships, career training and post‑graduation employment, as well as access to world‑class art, culture and entertainment. Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains also offer wonderful outdoor experiences and hiking trails within a short drive of the college. With its strong economy, beautiful surroundings and high‑end amenities, Northwest Arkansas is also often ranked by publications as one of the nation's best places to live. With its steady growth in population, it's on track to soon become one of the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. Such growth has increased cultural diversity, as well as opportunities to support various cultural events, cuisine, businesses and services.

NWACC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution, and welcomes applications without regard to age, race, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity.