Systems Administrator II

Systems Administrator

The Information Technology Department at the Wisconsin Historical Society manages the technology and computer infrastructure that drives the Agency’s business systems and automation requirements. The IT department maintains and implements systems and web applications that support the business needs and mission of the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Under the general supervision of the Chief Information Officer the Systems Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining our Windows-based server infrastructure, ensuring the successful execution of a datacenter migration project (changing service providers), and setting up best practices for system administration.

This role is vital for ensuring the availability, performance, and security of our IT systems and will play a pivotal role in the project involving the migration of servers, M365, applications, and databases from one datacenter to another.

This role will partner closely with Systems Administrators at the Division of Enterprise Technology, our main service provider, as well as in-house developers, engineers, analysts, and support staff.

Post migration there will be an emphasis on performance tuning, cost optimization, security, backups, disaster recovery, and continuous improvement.

WHS is exploring containerization (RedHat OpenShift) and cloud solutions for a variety of use cases as the organization continues to modernize rapidly, this role is an exciting opportunity to learn, mature, and grow individually and as an organization.

Qualified candidates will have a strong background in Windows system administration, a passion for optimizing system performance and security, and experience with large-scale and/or multi-faceted migrations.

Responsibilities:

• Support the effort to migrate servers, M365, applications, and databases from one datacenter to another, minimizing downtime and data loss.
• Help facilitate data transfer of M365 and File Hosting data using tools like BitTitan MigrationWiz, ShareGate, AWS Datasync Agents, and Robocopy.
• Plan, design, and request server infrastructure that aligns with project requirements and future scalability.
• Monitor and optimize system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure seamless access to applications and databases.
• Implement and enforce best practices for system security, access control, and data protection, including backups, patch management, and encryption.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including database administrators, application developers, and network engineers, to ensure system integration and data consistency.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of system configurations, procedures, and policies.
• Automate routine system administration tasks to enhance efficiency and reliability.
• Stay updated with Microsoft technologies and industry best practices, making recommendations for system improvements.
• Perform regular system audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
• Become quickly familiarized with commercial of the shelf applications in the WHS Application Portfolio to support application patching and various integrations.
• Monitor and optimize performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure the availability of data to end-users.
• Implement and enforce best practices for data security and access control, including backups, encryption, and access permissions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including application developers and database administrators, support staff, and power-users.
• Create and maintain documentation of system configurations and procedures.
• Automate routine maintenance tasks to improve efficiency and reliability.
• Perform periodic audits of systems to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
• Implement best practices and operational standards in support of core organizational functions
• Development of technical documentation and subsequent revisions
• This position is expected to participate in cross-functional teams in needs assessment, gathering business requirements, design, testing, implementation and post-production support and evaluation.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Experience as a Windows System Administrator in an enterprise environment. Experience with server migration and/or datacenter relocation projects.
• Strong knowledge of Windows Server operating systems and Active Directory.
• Experience with M365 administration, including Exchange Online, SharePoint, and Teams.
• Strong understanding of network and security principles, including firewall configurations and access controls.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with outstanding communication and collaboration skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of industry best practices and a commitment to implementing them. Scripting and automation skills (e.g., PowerShell).
• Familiarity with security principles, including encryption, authentication, and authorization.
• Ability to conduct research into systems issues and products as required.
• Ability to communicate ideas in both technical and user-friendly language.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to quickly master new technologies as needed.