Sr Learning Management System Administrator

Clarkson University; Town of Potsdam (NY); Remote; USD 70,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarkson University is seeking a Senior Learning Management System Administrator to own Moodle end-to-end, managing Linux servers, the Moodle database, and the application layer to support faculty and students.

This role blends systems administration with educational technology, requiring SQL tuning, cache optimization, and collaboration with instructional designers to ensure a high-quality user experience and data management.

Qualifications

• Completion of secondary education or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Computer Science, IT, Information Systems or related field.

Responsibilities

• Administer Linux servers for Moodle (web, DB, caches) and performance tuning.
• Own monitoring, analysis, and reporting to guide optimization decisions.
• Implement backups, access controls, and security hardening.
• Apply Moodle updates; plan major upgrades and migrations.
• Contribute to broader Linux system administration and DC maintenance.
• Participate in a 24x7 on-call rotation.
• Configure Moodle LMS plugins, themes, roles, and enrollments.
• Manage integrations for user accounts, permissions, and enrollments.
• Ensure LTI/SCORM integrations and connections function reliably.
• Troubleshoot across server, DB, and application layers.
• Partner with instructional designers to meet curriculum needs.
• Provide technical support and training to faculty and staff.
• Collaborate with IT on LMS integrations with other systems.
• Lead projects and supervise technical staff where applicable.

Skills

Moodle admin

Linux admin

eLearning standards

PHP

MariaDB

Apache

Web technologies

Monitoring

Troubleshooting

Communication

Collaboration

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/IS

Job description

Pay Range

USD $70,000.00 - USD $97,000.00 /Yr.

Overview

As the Senior Learning Management System Administrator, you will be responsible for owning our Moodle LMS end-to-end. You will manage the Linux servers and database it runs on, through the application layer, to the day-to-day experience of the faculty and students who use it. This role sits at the intersection of systems administration and educational technology. You should be equally comfortable tuning a SQL query, optimizing a redis cache, and helping an instructional designer get a course built correctly. You will work closely with the IT team, instructional designers, and educators to ensure that the LMS effectively supports course delivery, user experience, and data management. This position requires in-depth expertise in Moodle administration and Linux server management. You may also be tasked with maintaining other Linux systems. The Senior Learning Management System Administrator reports to the Director of Network Services.

You must reside in one of the following states to work remotely: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Responsibilities

Platform and Infrastructure

• Administer the Linux servers (web servers, database, file servers, and caches) that form the Moodle environment, including performance tuning and capacity planning
• Own system monitoring, usage-based performance analysis, and reporting to guide optimization decisions
• Implement and maintain backups, access controls, and security hardening to protect user data and system integrity
• Apply Moodle updates and security patches on a defined cadence; lead planning and execution of major upgrades and migrations
• Contribute to broader Linux system administration and data center infrastructure maintenance
• Participate in a 24x7 on-call rotation

Moodle Application and Integrations

• Configure and maintain the Moodle LMS (plugins, themes, roles, and enrollment workflows) to keep it performant and available
• Manage the integrations that drive user accounts, permissions, and course enrollments
• Ensure LTI and SCORM integrations and other system connections function reliably across the LMS and adjacent applications
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues spanning server, database, and application layers

End-User Experience and Collaboration

• Partner with instructional designers and educators to ensure the LMS meets curriculum and training needs
• Provide direct technical support and training to faculty and staff on LMS usage and best practices
• Collaborate with IT colleagues on seamless integration between the LMS and other University systems

Leadership

• Operate with a high degree of independence, exercising sound judgment on system and project decisions
• Lead projects and, where applicable, provide direct supervision to technical staff
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education:

• Minimal Qualifications: Completion of secondary education (high school) or equivalent
• Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems or related field

Experience:

• Minimal Experience: Five to seven years of system administration
• Minimal Experience: Design, planning and implementation of at least one major system or service
• Minimal Experience: Project lead of the implementation of at least one major project or service
• Preferred Experience: More than ten years of system administration demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility and leadership
• Preferred Experience: Knowledge of digital accessibility and WCAG 2.1 AA requirements
• Preferred Experience: Direct management of one part time or full-time technical staff member
• Preferred Experience: Project lead or manager on the implementation of multiple concurrent major projects or services

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in administering and maintaining Moodle-based Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Sakai, or other similar open-source LMS acceptable)
• Strong proficiency in Linux server administration
• Knowledge of eLearning standards (ie. SCORM, LTI)
• In-depth knowledge of PHP, MariaDB, and Apache web server or similar technologies
• Familiarity with web technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and XML
• Experience with system monitoring and performance tuning
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams

Physical Demands

The physical demands characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Health & Safety

Health & Safety:All staff has a statutory responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves, others and the environment and to prevent harm by their acts or omissions. All staff is therefore required to adhere to the University’s Health, Safety, and Environmental Policy & Procedures.

Disclaimer Statement

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, skills, and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

EEO Statement

Special Instructions to Applicants: An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, Clarkson actively seeks and encourages applications from veterans and people with disabilities.

All offers of employment are subject to the applicant successfully passing a background check (including, but not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, and criminal records