Systems Administrator

Job Title

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Job Description

The IT Systems Administrator is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation and maintenance of the agency's IT infrastructure, especially focusing on the CAD/RMS operation and stability. The role involves installing, configuring, managing, and troubleshooting servers, software, and hardware. It's also important to have the capability and flexibility to assist as a backup to the Network Administrator, performing basic network administration duties as required.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Install, configure, administer, and maintain CAD/RMS servers, operating systems, software applications, hardware, and supporting infrastructure to ensure system reliability, performance, availability, and security.
• Administer and support the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS), including coordinating software releases, patches, upgrades, testing, deployments, and change management activities.
• Serve as the primary liaison with software vendors and third-party developers to coordinate interfaces, troubleshoot application issues, and facilitate the timely resolution of software defects, system issues, and enhancement requests.
• Monitor system and network performance, conduct regular backups and recovery procedures, implement security controls, manage user accounts and permissions, and assist with basic network administration, including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless infrastructure.
• Provide technical support to users, maintain comprehensive system and application documentation, collaborate with IT staff and business stakeholders on infrastructure improvements and future technology initiatives, and perform other IT-related duties as assigned by the Deputy Director.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Applicants must meet both the education and specialized work experience requirements below, as outlined in the substitution table:

Education Level - Required Specialized Work Experience

High school diploma or equivalent - 5 years

Associate's degree (in a related field)* - 3 years

Bachelor's degree (in a related field)* - 2 years

Master's degree or higher (in a related field)* - 1 year

A related field includes Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or a closely aligned discipline.

Specialized Work Experience must include professional-level responsibilities in one or more of the following areas:

• Server administration: Installing, configuring, and maintaining Windows/Linux servers in a production environment.
• CAD/RMS support: Managing, troubleshooting, or maintaining public safety dispatch or records management systems (e.g., ProPhoenix).
• Virtualization: Administering VMware environments (vCenter, ESXi), including provisioning, snapshots, and resource allocation.
• Network and cybersecurity: Conducting basic network administration and applying system security protocols (e.g., patching, endpoint protection, firewall configuration).

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry certifications such as CompTIA Server+, Network+, MCSA, MCSE, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with ProPhoenix CAD/RMS software.
• Experience with VMware virtual infrastructure.
• Strong documentation, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Standards to Perform Essential Job Functions

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate equipment including computer, office equipment, telephone, etc. Must be able to 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. May require bending, stooping and twisting. Physical demands are essentially those of sedentary work.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of documentation, accounts, files and equipment.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information; includes issuing and receiving assignments and directions. Requires the ability to tactfully and effectively interact with the public and with co-workers.

Language Ability: Requires ability to read and interpret a variety of technical data, policy and procedure manuals, codes, professional journals, etc. in moderately complex terminology. Requires ability to prepare forms and reports using prescribed formats and adhering to all rules of grammar, spelling, diction, and punctuation. Requires ability to communicate effectively in Standard English and articulate information to others.

Intelligence: Requires ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively with co-workers, the public and supervisors.

Numerical Aptitude: Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide; determine weight; calculate decimals and percentages.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape, and visually read various information.

Motor Coordination: Requires ability to coordinate hands and eyes accurately in operating modern office equipment and machinery.

Manual Dexterity: Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires ability to deal with people beyond receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under moderate levels of stress, imposed by frequent deadlines, peak workloads or public contact. Avoids violent behavior and any other type of behavior that could threaten the safety of other employees or the public.

Physical Communication: Requires ability to talk and hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to hear and understand communications through telephone and radio. Must be able to distinguish different alarm systems by sound.