System Administrator

Manhattan University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Manhattan University is seeking a System Administrator to ensure 24x7 operation of server systems and to support the Moodle LMS, Microsoft 365, and identity services. You will design, implement, and optimize campus systems, respond to incidents, and automate provisioning and reporting.

You will work with the CISO and Database Administrator to ensure security, reliability, and compliance of the university’s systems, including endpoint management and IT governance.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 administration and Active Directory/Microsoft Entra ID.
• Experience imaging and deploying lab/workstations and using Intune/Company Portal.
• Scripting experience with PowerShell, Python, Bash, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Ensure 24x7 availability, performance and security of university server systems.
• Provision and upgrade systems in physical and virtual environments.
• Plan and implement patches and configuration changes.
• Develop scripts to automate provisioning, administration and reporting.
• Maintain Moodle health, upgrades and integrations.
• Collaborate with CISO and DB Admin for security and compliance.

Skills

PowerShell

Python

Bash

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

BS or MS in Computer Science/Engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

Active Directory / Microsoft Entra ID

Intune

KACE

Moodle LMS

SQL/NoSQL

Job description

Position Description

Position Reports To: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

The System Administrator is responsible for the 24x7 operation ofManhattan University’s server systems and provides technical andapplication support to the University community. This positionassists in designing, implementing, supporting, and optimizingcampus systems, including Microsoft 365, Active Directory,Microsoft Entra ID, and the Moodle Learning ManagementSystem.

The System Administrator identifies incidents and events, analyzesproblem trends, oversees the management and resolution of issues,monitors system status, correlates events, and interprets alarmdiagnostics and incident trends. This position troubleshoots andresolves issues within the scope of ITS-supported services andperforms proactive activities that improve the overall operation ofproduction services.

Additionally, the System Administrator manages endpointconfiguration and software deployment through Microsoft Intune andKACE, maintains standardized images for classroom and computer labworkstations, and develops scripts that automate provisioning,administration, and reporting. The position works closely with theChief Information Security Officer and the Database Administratorto ensure the security, reliability, and compliance of theUniversity’s systems environment.

Job Responsibilities

General

• Collaboration with faculty, researchers, administrators, andITS colleagues to resolve technical issues and meet projectobjectives.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and standardoperating procedures.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices insystems administration.
• Perform other related tasks to support the broader enterprisesystems as assigned.

Systems & Server Administration

• Ensure the 24x7 availability, performance, and security of allUniversity server systems .
• Provision new systems from the ground up in both classic andvirtualized environments.
• Plan and successfully implement system upgrades, patches, andconfiguration changes.
• Implement hardware and software upgrades or changes asneeded.
• Monitor system status, correlate events, diagnose alarms, andanalyze incident trends.
• Determine root cause and business impact quickly, and resolveissues to minimize disruption to University operations.

Identity & Microsoft 365 Administration

• Ensure the overall health and security of the University’sActive Directory and Microsoft Entra ID environment.
• Administer the University’s Microsoft 365 tenant, includingExchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Manage Group Policy, organizational units, rights management,and directory synchronization.
• Maintain licensing, security, and compliance configurationswithin the Microsoft 365 environment.

Endpoint & Lab Computer Management

• Manage endpoint configuration, compliance, and applicationdeployment through Microsoft Intune and the Company Portal.
• Build, maintain, and deploy standardized system images andsoftware packages for classroom and computer lab workstations usingKACE and related tools.
• Maintain software inventories, deployment schedules, and labconfigurations aligned with academic department requirements.
• Coordinate with academic departments to ensure lab andclassroom systems are ready in advance of each term.

Learning Management System Support

• Ensure the overall health, performance, and security of theMoodle Learning Management System.
• Support Moodle upgrades, integrations, and authentication withUniversity directory services.

Automation, Security & Continuity

• Develop and maintain scripts to automate administrative tasks,provisioning, and reporting.
• Mine logs to discover meaningful information and trends, andsupport the Chief Information Security Officer in securitymonitoring and investigation.
• Design and implement backup strategies for University systems.
• Support business continuity and disaster recovery planning forserver and systems operations.

Reporting & Collaboration

• Develop reports and analysis to support institutionalinitiatives, goals, planning, and objectives.
• Maintain technical documentation, configuration standards, andsystem records.
• Collaborate with the Chief Information Security Officer,Database Administrator, and other ITS teams on sharedinitiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, arelated field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Background in Microsoft 365 administration and Active Directory/ Microsoft Entra ID.
• Experience with Microsoft Intune, the Company Portal, andenterprise endpoint management.
• Experience imaging and deploying classroom and computer labworkstations.
• Scripting experience with PowerShell, Python, Bash, or anequivalent language.
• Working knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Knowledge of Moodle Learning Management Systems .
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, andcommunication skills, with the ability to work effectively withboth technical and non-technical audiences.

Key Competencies

• Systems and server administration.
• Identity and access management.
• Microsoft 365 administration.
• Endpoint management and workstation imaging.
• Scripting and automation.
• Technical troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Security awareness and log analysis.
• Backup, recovery, and business continuity.
• Documentation and configuration standards.
• Reporting and data analysis.
• Communication with diverse campus stakeholders.
• Collaboration and teamwork.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.

Supplemental Information

Preferred

• Background in Linux system use and administration.
• Experience with KACE Systems Management and Systems Deploymentappliances.
• Background in one or more of the following: Java, PERL, Python,PHP, Apache, MySQL.
• Windows and Linux server management, including shellscripting.
• Group Policy and Intune configuration profile design formanaged lab, faculty, and staff endpoints.
• Knowledge of DNS, DHCP, PXE, and NFS.
• Server services such as DNS, DHCP, NFS, Print, IIS, RDS, WDS,WSUS, and Hyper-V.
• Web and database servers, including Microsoft SQL Server,Apache, and Nginx.
• Virtualization, clustering, high availability, and redundancywith Hyper-V.
• Containerization using Docker, containerd, or equivalent.
• Configuration management using Ansible, SCCM, or Intune.
• Backup and recovery operations.
• Knowledge of ZFS.
• Firewall, load balancer, and reverse proxy operations.
• Prior experience supporting higher educationinstitutions.