IT System Administration - Senior/Specialist

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• You may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change., In this role, you will be the senior Identity and Access Management Administrator, with responsibilities for Windows Domain Controllers and cloud-based identity management platform, including Azure. You will be responsible for architecting and modernizing Ecology’s Identity and Access Management strategy through the adoption of cloud-native technologies.

What you will do:

• Mentor and guide other Domain Administrators.
• Provide excellent customer service and collaborate with other teams to improve the security posture of Ecology’s Identity and Access Management strategy.
• Communicate effectively with Management to articulate Ecology’s strategy for modernizing Identity and Access Management.
• Assess the current Windows Domain Controller architecture and health and identify optimization opportunities.
• Assess the current Group Policy Objects architecture and health and identify opportunities to streamline.
• Assess and identify opportunities to improve the security posture of Ecology’s Identity and Access Management strategy and infrastructure.
• Assess and plan the adoption of Intune based policy management., Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued., We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That’s why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits: The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems’ web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website., * Seven years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which must include the following:

• Critical Thinking & Decision-Making - Proven track record evaluating risks, analyzing complex IAM, AD, DNS, and GPO issues, and making informed decisions to maintain secure and stable operations.
• Security & Compliance - Demonstrated ability to apply and uphold security policies, governance requirements, and best practices to maintain compliant and secure identity, directory, and DNS environments.
• Identity & Access Management Administration - Demonstrated ability to manage identity lifecycles, authentication, permissions, and roles to ensure secure and efficient access control.
• Active Directory & Entra ID Management - Proven track record configuring, maintaining, modernizing, and troubleshooting Active Directory and Azure Entra ID to ensure reliable identity and directory services.
• Group Policy Architecture & Management - Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and troubleshoot GPOs to enforce secure configurations and agency-wide standards. Ability to translate GPO’s to Intune and Azure Policies.
• DNS Administration & Architecture - Proven track record designing, implementing, securing, and troubleshooting on-premise and cloud DNS services to ensure accurate and reliable name resolution.
• System Maintenance & Continuity Planning - Demonstrated ability to apply updates, monitor performance, and implement disaster recovery strategies to maintain secure and resilient IAM, AD, and DNS operations.
• Education involving a major study in Computer Science, Information Technology (IT), Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), or closely related field.

This position does not require formal education. Instead, applicants may meet the qualification requirement through experience alone or through any combination of experience and education totaling seven years. Education in a related field may be applied year-for-year toward the seven-year requirement, as long as the applicant has at least three years of directly related experience and meets all the required competencies listed above. The examples listed below illustrate acceptable combinations of experience and education that satisfy this requirement. Examples of how to qualify:

• 7 years of experience.
• 6 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 4 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 3 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to provide transportation to and from office or offsite trainings or assignments.
• This position requires training to keep consistent with industry best practices. Leadership works with industry leaders to forecast changes in information technology and lists required training in this position’s yearly Performance Development Plan (PDP). Staff within this division are provided two (2) hours per week for training. It is expected that this position will take what is learned in their training and apply it to their daily work., * Cloud Infrastructure Familiarity - Ability to understand and work with broader Azure services (beyond Entra ID and DNS) to support identity integrations across cloud environments.
• Scripting & Automation - Ability to use tools like PowerShell to automate identity, AD, DNS, and GPO tasks to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) Tools - Ability to work with identity governance platforms and workflows to support lifecycle automation, attestation, and compliance.
• Hybrid Identity Architecture - Ability to design and support hybrid identity environments that integrate on-premise AD with cloud identity platforms.
• Network Infrastructure Awareness - Ability to understand related network components (firewalls, VLANs, routing) that affect IAM and DNS performance and security.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave) Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave Leave Sharing Parental Leave Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Leave Without Pay

The Information Technology Services Office’s (ITSO) mission is to create and support useful technology services that adapt for the future and support Ecology’s mission.

The Security Team’s mission is to guide Ecology in securing evolving technologies to meet business needs in an increasingly dynamic threat landscape. We accomplish this by utilizing a risk-based and proactive approach in a collaborative environment.

Team values:

• Expertise/Excellence: Encompasses the team’s commitment to high standards in cybersecurity knowledge and practice.
• Innovative and Forward-Thinking: Combining innovation with a forward-thinking approach to stay at the forefront of security concepts.
• Risk-Based and Proactive Strategy: Reflects a focus on identifying and managing risks proactively.
• Adaptability and Continuous Learning: Emphasizing the importance of evolving and learning in a rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape.
• Transparency and Customer Focus: Underscores the importance of being transparent in operations and centered on customer needs.
• Collaboration: Emphasizes the importance of working together within the team and with customers to achieve more comprehensive and effective cybersecurity outcomes.

About the Department of Ecology As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability., More than Just a Paycheck! Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.