Network Administrator

WiseHR Group; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

WiseHR Group in Springfield, MO seeks an experienced IT Infrastructure lead to design, implement, and maintain network and server environments. You will ensure reliability, security, and cost-efficiency across on-prem and cloud resources, partnering with development teams and vendors.

The role requires a strong background in network design, firewall and security administration, disaster recovery, and automation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems or equivalent experience.
• 10 years hands-on experience in network design, enterprise wireless, firewall and security administration.
• Experience building and deploying networks, and supporting 24x7 production applications.
• Strong knowledge of web hosting components including firewalls and load balancers.
• Experience with disaster recovery planning and cloud/on-prem backups.
• Ability to create scripting and automation tools.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and vendor relations.
• Excellent communication and executive-facing support skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day network operations, diagnose issues, and ensure 24/7 high availability.
• Develop technology roadmap and align tools with business goals.
• Establish cost, value and risk analyses for new technologies.
• Collaborate with development and IT teams to ensure proper network functionality.
• Maintain backups, disaster recovery readiness, and security controls.
• Document problems and solutions for future reference and train staff as needed.
• Manage user accounts, access privileges, and network security.
• Coordinate incidents, changes, and ensure successful execution per process.

Skills

Network design

Firewall management

Security administration

Disaster recovery planning

Automation scripting

Backup and DR replication

Vendor management

Project management

Communication skills

Cost optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems

Tools

Load balancers

Web servers

Database servers

Networking equipment

Job description

The primary duties and job focus of this position will be to design, implement, and maintain all network and infrastructure and associated hardware and software relating to the company and to manage these systems to ensure a reliable, secure, and cost-effective Information Technology infrastructure and operation. Primary duties will include the company’s network, servers, and associated hardware and software.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the network including hardware/software support, diagnostics, and special projects. Ensures 24/7 High Availability on all systems and applications.
• Develop relationships to build confidence and trust in our direction, and create experience and communicating value.
• Assist in defining and developing technology roadmap including tool usage:
• Balance and understanding of resources, funding and risk to set technology goals that are achievable.
• Evaluate and align existing tools.
• Give guidance based on user experience and risk.
• Execute on the approved strategies for your team.
• Escalation for technical issues - available to assist technically.
• Ensuring future and existing technologies are fiscally responsible. Outline cost, value and risk of new technologies, and identify gaps in knowledge.
• Collaborates with Web Services development engineers and provides technical and procedural direction regarding network design and selection as well as other areas as needed and requested to ensure proper functionality of software applications and programs.
• Builds, and maintains the network, infrastructure, and associated hardware and software required for development work, internal testing, customer testing and production environments.
• Documents maintain and enhance existing network and associated hardware and software including but not limited to:
• Local switches, firewalls, wireless systems, analyzes and troubleshoots the company’s networking and security logs and tracks the nature and resolution of problems; monitors usage to ensure security of data and access privileges.
• Provides direction in complex problem-solving situations and participates in direct interaction with internal staff as required.
• Establishes and maintains network admin/user accounts, profiles, access privileges and security.
• Performs and/or oversees network and associated server software and application installation and upgrades.
• Maintains backup / restore systems & disaster recovery preparedness. Responsible for all of the company’s system backups.
• Establishes and performs maintenance programs following company and vendor standards. Ensures timely user notification of maintenance requirements and effects on system availability.
• Documents network and infrastructure problems and resolutions for future reference. Assists as needed and as requested by the Executive Director of Information Technology with the design, maintenance, and enhancement of existing network and associated hardware and software.
• Maintains proficiency and stays abreast of all current technology and opportunities concerning IT related hardware, software, and security news.
• Observes and adheres to the company’s Data Classification Standard.
• Observes company policies. Continuously finds processes that create improved efficiency while maintaining conformance to requirements. Acknowledges responsibility to satisfy the customer, reduce cycle time and eliminate waste.
• May perform related duties or fill in for others in the department or other departments when requested. May train or instruct fellow workers regarding their own duties.
• Monitoring all services and ensuring uptime and performance targets are met.
• Coordinate and manage incidents, changes, and ensure that all aspects of the event are executed successfully per process.
• Ensure the availability, security and scalability of IT systems to meet business needs.
• Implement and enforce cybersecurity measures to protect the organizations’ intellectual property and systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Computer Information Systems.
• 10 years of hands-on experience and strong proven background in network design and management, enterprise wireless systems design and management, firewall and security administration. Experience must include building and deploying networks, installing, maintaining and patching major brand hardware systems, and supporting production applications in a 24x7 environment.
• Strong working knowledge of complex web hosting configuration components, including firewalls, load balancers, web and database servers.
• Advanced knowledge in creating and maintaining disaster recovery plans and implementing such plans in practical applications. Experience with virtual, on-prem and in the cloud backup and disaster recovery replication technologies.
• Ability to maintain, enhance and create scripting and automation tools.
• Knowledge of controller-based WIFI networks and diagnostic tools.
• Sound understanding of the operational process coupled with proven business and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with ensuring that commitments and timetables are met.
• Ability to partner with internal stakeholders to design operational solutions.
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities. Ability to manage multiple projects, while ensuring that commitments and timetables are met.
• Ability to learn and support new systems and applications.
• Goal oriented, forward thinker that can provide solutions for complex technical problems.
• Be punctual, have a good work attitude, and work cooperatively with others in the department and company.
• Any other relevant, equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Ability to document technology roadmaps, timelines, and associated cost vs benefit analysis.
• Excellent communication skills to include:
• Composure and confidence for executive customer support role
• Seeks prompt feedback to ensure accurate communication
• Active listening to input from client/user/staff/peer
• Expresses ideas effectively to various organizational levels
• Communicates in a solution-oriented fashion
• Accept and benefit from constructive criticism
• Professional and diplomatic communication skills, verbal and written
• Ability to manage 3rd party vendors, managed service providers.
• Ability to negotiate costs and develop cost comparisons.
• Ability to identify opportunities for cost savings and optimization of IT related expenditures.
• Strong understanding and development of capacity planning, cyber security, disaster recovery, process, tools and documentation.