Public Safety IT: Senior Network & Systems Admin

Pdssoftware; Bellefonte (Centre County); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Centre County Government is seeking a Dispatcher Trainee to support Public Safety Telecommunication and IT/Network operations. You will assist with call handling, incident coordination, and ensure reliable network and communications services in a dynamic environment.

Minimum education includes a high school diploma or GED, with preferred networking certifications or an associate degree. The position requires on-site work with potential travel for training and duties.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree or networking certification preferred.
• Five to seven (5-7) years of progressive IT experience with expertise in both systems and network administration.
• Hands‑on experience with Active Directory, Group Policy, Microsoft 365, VOIP, Windows Server, and virtualization technologies.
• Experience with network design, administration, and troubleshooting (IP addressing, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, routing, switching, and firewalls).
• Experience with backup solutions, disaster recovery planning, and systems monitoring tools.
• Must possess a valid Pennsylvania driver's license and a willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Leads the administration and support of the County’s network infrastructure, including switches, routers, firewalls, VPN, and wireless systems.
• Administers servers, storage, virtualization platforms, and enterprise applications, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Manages user accounts, security groups, group policies, and access controls across AD, Microsoft 365, and other enterprise systems.
• Monitors and optimizes network and system performance; analyzes logs, proactively identifies issues, and implements long-term solutions.
• Designs, implements, and maintains backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions.
• Oversees patch management, system upgrades, and firmware/software updates to maintain security and compliance.
• Implements and enforces network and systems security best practices, including firewalls, IDS/IPS, and MFA.
• Serves as escalation point for complex technical issues, working independently and with IT staff and vendors.
• Develops and maintains technical documentation, system inventories, and SOPs.
• Collaborates with IT leadership on strategic initiatives, project planning, and technology roadmaps.
• Mentors and provides guidance to junior IT team members.
• Manages vendor relationships and coordinates support for telecommunications, internet, and technology services.

Tools

Active Directory

Group Policy

Microsoft 365

VOIP

Windows Server

VMware/Hyper‑V (Virtualization)

Networking (DNS, DHCP, IP, VLANs)

Firewalls

Backup & DR tools

Job description

Centre County Government is seeking a Dispatcher Trainee to support Public Safety Telecommunication and IT/Network operations. You will assist with call handling, incident coordination, and ensure reliable network and communications services in a dynamic environment.

Minimum education includes a high school diploma or GED, with preferred networking certifications or an associate degree. The position requires on-site work with potential travel for training and duties.