IT Administrator

The Village of Palatine Department of Information Technology is seeking a detail‑oriented, customer‑focused IT Administrator to join our Information Technology team. This professional, hands‑on position coordinates, monitors, and maintains comprehensive network and system activities, performing core technical and administrative work in planning, design, project coordination, and installation of new systems, security protocols, and solutions. It provides resource support, technical guidance, and mentorship to other technical staff, while planning and prioritizing projects to meet departmental and organizational deadlines. IT Administrator - Information Technology (Full‑Time, 35 Hours/Week) Essential Job Functions Configures, installs, upgrades, designs, and maintains network hardware, software, and telecommunications services such as routers, switches, firewalls, and copper/fiber optic cabling. Monitors and manages all aspects of Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN). Collaborates actively in a team environment, working closely with the IT staff and external contractors to cross‑train on vital systems and ensure seamless coverage across all operational tiers. Organizes, manages, and prioritizes projects, workflows, and time‑sensitive deployments to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Serves as a technical consultant on cross‑departmental projects and infrastructure lifecycles. Implements and maintains secure firewalls, anti‑virus systems, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to guarantee secure remote access, reliable connectivity, and sufficient speeds. Participates in the development, architecture, and deployment of disaster recovery procedures and plans. Helps manage the backup environment, including configuring backup jobs, deploying clients, and performing system restores. Interacts, negotiates, and coordinates with external technical vendors, suppliers, distributors, and contract consultants to facilitate system enhancements and project execution. Contributes to and implements department documentation, detailed design/construction blueprints of networks, monthly reports, I.T. asset inventories, and standard operating procedures. Performs configuration, regular system enhancements, preventive maintenance, and imaging on servers, desktops, laptops, printers, and peripheral devices. Leads in troubleshooting simple to complex problems while providing advanced technical guidance and mentoring to junior team members. Conducts continuous research and evaluates emerging technologies, software packages, and system trends for long‑range strategic implementation. Participates in a scheduled weekly rotation for 24x7 on‑call support. Requires after‑hours and weekend work to perform essential maintenance on critical production systems, infrastructure devices, and equipment, or to provide emergency technical support for municipal end users. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree or technical school equivalent and five years of experience in an advanced technical role, though progressive field experience in network administration and hardware/software support may be considered in lieu of a degree. While public sector experience is a plus, technical and project management certifications are also highly desirable. This role requires advanced knowledge of core enterprise technologies—including Active Directory, Azure, Microsoft 365, SQL databases, virtual server environments, network protocols like IPv4 and wireless standards, and Windows desktop/server operating systems—along with a high aptitude for rapidly learning emerging tech. The desired candidate requires exceptional problem‑solving skills. Because the position involves providing support across multiple municipal buildings, a valid driver's license is required. Starting Salary & Benefits This full‑time, 35‑hour‑per‑week position offers a starting salary range of $104,000 - $130,000 annually (based on qualifications), with a maximum salary of $139,595. The Village of Palatine provides a competitive benefits package that includes participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), comprehensive health insurance with a 10% employee contribution, paid time off, and additional employee benefits. Hours Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and requires scheduled rotating 24/7 on‑call/after‑hours support duties. #J-18808-Ljbffr Village of Palatine