Systems Administrator

The National Congress of American Indians,; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) is seeking a full-time Systems Administrator to maintain core IT infrastructure, including AD, Microsoft 365, servers, networks, and security systems.

The role blends hands-on technical work with end-user support and serves as a resource for the Help Desk, reporting to the IT Manager to ensure uptime and disaster recovery readiness.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in IT, CS, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three years IT support experience, including help desk or desktop support.
• Experience administering servers (Windows and/or VMware) and Active Directory.
• Experience administering Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting network hardware and related protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, LDAP, HTTP/HTTPS, VPNs).
• Experience supporting VoIP/IP phones and video conferencing platforms.
• Experience with system backups, recovery, and disaster recovery testing.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Possess or able to obtain a driver’s license and be insured.

Responsibilities

• Provide Tier 1 help desk support and escalate complex cases to IT Manager.
• Maintain documented ticketing and escalation process; train end users.
• Act as a technical resource for IT staff and end users.
• Device, systems & server administration: procure, configure, deploy, image, patch, secure staff devices; manage asset inventory.
• Install software releases and upgrades; apply patches and resolve issues.
• Support on‑premises and virtual servers; monitor performance and capacity.
• Maintain Active Directory and Microsoft 365 security controls.
• Perform system backups, disaster recovery testing, and business continuity planning.
• Configure switches/routers/firewalls; support IP phones and Zoom Rooms.
• Troubleshoot network protocols and secure LAN/WAN; respond to alerts.
• Document configurations; coordinate with vendors; support new technologies.

Skills

Active Directory

Microsoft 365

Networking basics

Security monitoring

Help desk

Documentation

Cloud/hybrid infra

VPNs

Education

Associate's degree in IT / CS or related field

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

VMware

Windows Server

Google Workspace

Microsoft Entra ID / Entra

SharePoint / Teams

Zoom Rooms

Job description

Position Overview: The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) is seeking a full-time dedicated and knowledgeable Systems Administrator to maintain NWIFC's core IT infrastructure, from Active Directory and Microsoft 365 to servers, networks, and security systems. The role combines hands‑on technical work (patching servers, configuring firewalls, responding to security incidents) with front-line support, acting as the escalation point for Help Desk staff and a resource for end users. This role reports to the IT Manager and directly affects system uptime, data protection, and disaster recovery readiness

Job Description

Position Overview: The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) is seeking a full-time dedicated and knowledgeable Systems Administrator to maintain NWIFC's core IT infrastructure, from Active Directory and Microsoft 365 to servers, networks, and security systems. The role combines hands‑on technical work (patching servers, configuring firewalls, responding to security incidents) with front-line support, acting as the escalation point for Help Desk staff and a resource for end users. This role reports to the IT Manager and directly affects system uptime, data protection, and disaster recovery readiness

Skills & Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three years of IT support experience, including help desk or desktop support.
• Experience administering servers (Windows and/or virtualized, e.g., VMware) and Active Directory (users, groups, GPOs, DNS).
• Experience administering Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting network hardware (switches, routers, firewalls) and working knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, LDAP, HTTP/HTTPS, and VPNs.
• Experience supporting VoIP/IP phone systems and video conferencing platforms.
• Experience with system backups, recovery, and disaster recovery testing.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to explain technical issues to non-technical staff.
• Possess or able to obtain a driver’s license and able to be insured by employer driver’s insurance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field.
• Certifications such as CompTIA Network+, Security+, or Microsoft/VMware equivalents.
• Experience with endpoint/network security monitoring and incident response, and with Zoom Rooms or similar systems.
• Familiarity with cloud and hybrid infrastructure, Microsoft Entra services, and website/version‑control platforms (e.g., GitHub).
• Experience with relational databases/SQL, and interest in applying Generative or Conversational AI to NWIFC and Member Tribe workflows.
• Knowledge or familiarity of tribal governments and/or fisheries.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Help Desk & Front-End Support • Provide Tier 1 help desk support, resolving staff issues and escalating complex cases to the IT Manager or Applications/Database Developer.
• Maintain a documented ticketing and escalation process, and train end users on hardware, software, and IT best practices.
• Act as a technical resource for IT staff and end users, sharing best practices and supporting skill development.
• Device, Systems & Server Administration • Procure, configure, deploy, image, patch, and secure staff computers, phones, and tablets; maintain IT asset inventory and lifecycle replacement.
• Install software releases and upgrades, apply patches, and resolve hardware/software issues.
• Support on‑premises and virtual servers (provisioning, patching, monitoring), Google Workspace and track system performance, capacity, and availability.
• Identity, Cloud & Backup Administration • Maintain Active Directory, including users, groups, GPOs, DNS, and authentication services.
• Administer Microsoft 365 (Entra ID, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams) and related security controls.
• Perform system backups, recovery operations, disaster recovery testing, and support business continuity planning.
• Network Infrastructure & Security • Install, configure, and maintain switches, routers, and firewalls; support IP phones and Zoom Room conferencing.
• Troubleshoot network protocols and services (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, LDAP, HTTP/HTTPS, VPNs) and resolve LAN/WAN issues.
• Monitor endpoint and network security, respond to alerts and incidents (phishing, malware, containment), and support audits and reviews.
• Documentation, Vendor Support & Strategy • Maintain system documentation (server roles, configurations, dependencies) and follow change management processes.
• Coordinate with vendors on hardware, software, and telecom issues; support the IT Manager in evaluating new technologies.
• Recommend infrastructure improvements, identify automation opportunities, and provide professional, collaborative customer service.

Salary & Benefits

$79,000 - $94,000 annually (DOQ)