System Administrator

The System Administrator is responsible for the 24x7 operation of Manhattan University’s server systems and provides technical and application support to the University community. This position assists in designing, implementing, supporting, and optimizing campus systems, including Microsoft 365, Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, and the Moodle Learning Management System.

The System Administrator identifies incidents and events, analyzes problem trends, oversees the management and resolution of issues, monitors system status, correlates events, and interprets alarm diagnostics and incident trends. This position troubleshoots and resolves issues within the scope of ITS-supported services and performs proactive activities that improve the overall operation of production services.

Additionally, the System Administrator manages endpoint configuration and software deployment through Microsoft Intune and KACE, maintains standardized images for classroom and computer lab workstations, and develops scripts that automate provisioning, administration, and reporting. The position works closely with the Chief Information Security Officer and the Database Administrator to ensure the security, reliability, and compliance of the University’s systems environment., General

• Collaboration with faculty, researchers, administrators, and ITS colleagues to resolve technical issues and meet project objectives.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and standard operating procedures.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices in systems administration.
• Perform other related tasks to support the broader enterprise systems as assigned.

Systems & Server Administration

• Ensure the 24x7 availability, performance, and security of all University server systems .
• Provision new systems from the ground up in both classic and virtualized environments.
• Plan and successfully implement system upgrades, patches, and configuration changes.
• Implement hardware and software upgrades or changes as needed.
• Monitor system status, correlate events, diagnose alarms, and analyze incident trends.
• Determine root cause and business impact quickly, and resolve issues to minimize disruption to University operations.

Identity & Microsoft 365 Administration

• Ensure the overall health and security of the University’s Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID environment.

• Administer the University’s Microsoft 365 tenant, including Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Manage Group Policy, organizational units, rights management, and directory synchronization.
• Maintain licensing, security, and compliance configurations within the Microsoft 365 environment.

Endpoint & Lab Computer Management

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

Learning Management System Support

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

Automation, Security & Continuity

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

Reporting & Collaboration

• Develop reports and analysis to support institutional initiatives, goals, planning, and objectives.
• Maintain technical documentation, configuration standards, and system records.

• Collaborate with the Chief Information Security Officer, Database Administrator, and other ITS teams on shared initiatives.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Background in Microsoft 365 administration and Active Directory / Microsoft Entra ID.
• Experience with Microsoft Intune, the Company Portal, and enterprise endpoint management.
• Experience imaging and deploying classroom and computer lab workstations.
• Scripting experience with PowerShell, Python, Bash, or an equivalent language.
• Working knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Knowledge of Moodle Learning Management Systems .
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with both 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., * Background in Linux system use and administration.
• Experience with KACE Systems Management and Systems Deployment appliances.
• Background in one or more of the following: Java, PERL, Python, PHP, Apache, MySQL.
• Windows and Linux server management, including shell scripting.
• Group Policy and Intune configuration profile design for managed 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 redundancy with 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 education institutions.