Sr. IT Operations Administrator

Emmes Group; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Approved Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

401k Retirement Plan

Work From Home Anywhere in the US

Maternal/Paternal Leave

Casual Dress Code & Work Environment

Job summary

Emmes Group is seeking a Senior IT Operations Administrator to manage and secure the organization’s IT infrastructure in Rockville, MD. The role emphasizes on-prem until midweek with some flexibility, and requires strong leadership across IT operations.

You will mentor staff, lead incident response, and drive infrastructure enhancements within hybrid on-prem/cloud environments while ensuring compliance and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 4-6 years progressive IT operations experience in hybrid cloud and on-prem environments.
• ITIL, Microsoft Azure Administrator, CompTIA Network+/Security+ or equivalent preferred/required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee administration, monitoring, and maintenance of servers, networks, storage, and cloud infra.
• Lead incident response and problem resolution for complex IT issues.
• Manage performance, capacity, and availability to ensure business continuity.
• Plan, test, and implement system updates, patches, and upgrades.
• Mentor junior staff and provide technical training and support.
• Maintain asset inventory, CMDB, and operational docs.
• Collaborate with IT and business teams on infra projects and improvements.
• Ensure compliance with IT security, regulatory standards, and audits.
• Drive automation and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Participate in disaster recovery planning and backup verification.
• Monitor KPIs and provide reports with actionable improvements.
• Stay updated on emerging infra technologies and best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with policies.

Skills

IT infrastructure

Networking

Server administration

Storage systems

Cloud environments

Monitoring

Troubleshooting

Automation/IaC

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

4-6 years IT operations experience

IT certifications (ITIL, Azure Administrator, Network+/Security+)

Tools

Active Directory

Azure

Backup & DR

Hybrid on-prem/cloud environments

M365

Network engineering

SQL Server

VDI/Broadcom

Job description

Overview

Sr. IT Operations Administrator

Location

Rockville, MD

Work Arrangement

Onsite: Yes (on an as needed basis)

Synopsis

This is a sysadmin / network admin role with growth pathway to Principal IT Architect. On-prem 3 days a week - Tues to Thurs (some flexibility here). Not a helpdesk role but qualified to help if there's a critical issue and no one else available. T3 support when normal helpdesk staff can't solve a problem.

Sys Admin for

• Active Directory
• Azure
• Backup & DR
• Hybrid on-prem/cloud environments
• M365
• Network admin & engineering
• SQL Server DB
• VDI / Broadcom”

Company Overview

Be Part of One Team, One Purpose.

At Emmes Group, we’re shaping the future of clinical research—where human intelligence meets cutting-edge technology to drive meaningful advancements in healthcare. With over 47 years of scientific excellence, we’ve led groundbreaking research in cell and gene therapy, vaccines, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience.

Through our two business units—Emmes, a full-service CRO, and Veridix AI, our technology, data, and analytical solutions —we are modernizing clinical trials and accelerating the development of life-changing therapies.

We believe that every clinical breakthrough starts with people—people who are passionate, purpose-driven, and ready to make an impact. At Emmes Group, we bring People, Science, and Technology together to collaborate with our customers and deliver global health impact. Our culture is built on integrity, collaboration, and innovation, ensuring that every challenge is met with perseverance and accountability.

Job Description

The Senior IT Operations Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining the organization's IT infrastructure, ensuring reliability, performance, and security. This role provides technical leadership in day to day operations, supports complex incidents, leads system upgrades, and mentors junior staff. The senior administrator collaborates with IT teams, business units, and vendors to optimize IT services, implement best practices, and ensure compliance with organizational policies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the administration, monitoring, and maintenance of servers, networks, storage systems, and cloud infrastructure.
• Lead incident response and problem resolution for complex IT infrastructure issues.
• Manage system performance, capacity, and availability to ensure business continuity.
• Plan, test, and implement system updates, patches, upgrades, and configuration changes.
• Mentor and guide junior IT operations staff, providing technical training and support.
• Maintain IT asset inventory, configuration management databases, and operational documentation.
• Collaborate with IT and business teams to implement infrastructure projects and service enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with IT security policies, regulatory standards, and audit requirements.
• Drive process improvement, automation, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Participate in disaster recovery planning, backup verification, and business continuity exercises.
• Monitor operational metrics and KPIs, providing reports and recommendations for improvements.
• Stay updated with emerging IT infrastructure technologies, tools, and operational best practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all policies and standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Related field.
• In lieu of a formal education, 4-6 years progressive IT operations experience across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments
• Relevant certifications such as ITIL, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator, CompTIA Network+/Security+, or equivalent are preferred. Required
• 4-6 years in IT operations, system administration, or infrastructure management. Required
• 4-6 years Proven experience managing complex IT environments, including servers, networks, storage, and cloud services. Required
• 4-6 years Experience in incident management, troubleshooting, and performance optimization. Required
• 4-6 years Experience mentoring junior administrators or technical staff and leading IT operations projects Required
• Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, networking, server administration, storage systems, and cloud environments. High
• Proficiency in monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining enterprise IT systems. High
• Understanding of IT security principles, access management, and compliance requirements. High
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and decision making skills. HighExcellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with IT teams and business stakeholders. High
• Knowledge of ITIL processes, change management, and operational best practices. High
• Ability to lead and mentor junior staff, manage multiple priorities, and handle high severity incidents. High
• Familiarity with automation tools, monitoring solutions, and infrastructure as code practices is a plus. High

Benefits

• Flexible Approved Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Work From Home Anywhere in the US
• Maternal/Paternal Leave
• Casual Dress Code & Work Environment

Why work at Emmes?

At Emmes, your actions and hard work will have a direct impact on public health initiatives, both globally and in our local communities with opportunities for volunteerism through our Emmes Cares community engagement program.

If you’re looking for a career where your work advances global health and where scientific excellence meets real-world impact, join us and be part of something bigger. One Team, One Purpose.

One Team, One Purpose.

The Emmes Company, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability or protected veteran status.