Senior Systems Administrator (Infrastructure Services)

Grade 8

The role of a Senior Systems Administrator is to ensure that the day-to-day running of services that are key to a customer department are as efficient and trouble free as possible. The post holder is expected to initiate new developments that are appropriate to the continuing development and enhancement of the service, based on customer demand and new technologies. Many of the services over which this post has responsibility are very high profile services for the University.  While always able to seek the advice of other colleagues, their section manager or more senior management on any matters relating to their work, it is implicit in the autonomy of this post that the post holder will take full responsibility for dealing with the most complex of technical IT administration and problem solving without supervision.

The successful candidate will work within a specific Infrastructure Services group, reporting to the Team Leader, not only proving third-line support to essential University services but assisting in their development and enhancement.

Teams that have this role include: Nexus, HFS, Chorus, Unix Platform Services, Microsoft Platform Services, Cloud Services and Network Support & Development.

The skills required of the post holder will make them equal to the best among their peers within the University and beyond.

Essential selection criteria

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject or comparable level of experience
  • A good working knowledge of modern server hardware and its management using lights out technology
  • Experience of maintaining security of systems through patching, systems configuration and monitoring
  • Good logical diagnostic skills; ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues related to the work of the post
  • Ability to automate tasks using appropriate scripts (for example, NT Batch, Powershell, Visual Basic)
  • Able to prioritise work in a large complex environment
  • Evidence of good organisational and record keeping skills and self-motivation.
  • Ability to work on own initiative as well as being a team player
  • Experience in developing and executing disaster recovery plans for systems managed
  • Willingness to work across the entire campus of the University in multiple units, department and colleges
  • Experience of writing technical documentation of systems

Desirable selection criteria

  • Good understanding of modern systems and their capabilities
  • ITIL foundation qualification or higher
  • Experience in exercising warranty and maintenance agreements with suppliers and third parties
  • Understanding of enterprise level systems
  • Experience in using an electronic service request helpdesk
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability work with staff at all levels in the University, and able to communicate with both technical and non-technical people
  • The skills and experience to become an effective member of the team as quickly as possible
  • Project management skills
  • Database management skills
  • Demonstrable experience of supervisory experience

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