FT - Systems Administrator

Job Details: Job Location: Dallas Campus - Dallas, TX, Position Type: Full Time, Salaried, Exempt, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Job Category: On Campus, Job Summary

The IT Systems Administrator is responsible for the reliable, secure, and compliant operation of Dallas Theological Seminary's on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure. This role ensures that core enterprise systems-servers, identity platforms, storage, visualization, and cloud services-are available, auditable, and aligned with both institutional priorities and regulatory requirements.

In keeping with Dallas Theological Seminary's mission, this position emphasizes operational excellence, security stewardship, documentation, and service-oriented support within a higher-education and ministry context.

Primary Responsibilities
Systems & Infrastructure Operations

Administer, maintain, and monitor Windows and Linux server environments (physical and virtual).

Manage virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware, vSphere/ vCenter or equivalent).

Support on-premises and cloud infrastructure, including Microsoft Azure services.

Maintain storage platforms, backup systems, and disaster recovery capabilities.

Ensure system availability, performance, capacity planning, and lifecycle management.

Microsoft 365 & Identity Platforms

Administer Microsoft 365 services, including Entra ID (Azure AD), Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and related services.

Support hybrid identity and authentication services, including MFA and Conditional Access.

Manage Active Directory, group policies, DNS, DHCP, and certificate services.

Enforce least-privilege access models and partner with IAM and Security initiatives.

Security Risk & Compliance (Security-Weighted)

Apply operating system and application patches in accordance with formal change controls.

Monitor systems for security events, configuration drift, and unauthorized access.

Support GLBA safeguards related to:

Access controls for systems storing or processing Restricted or Confidential data.

Audit logging, retention, and evidence collection.

Secure configuration baselines and vulnerability remediation.

Participate in security incident response, containment, and forensic support.

Assist in regulatory audits, risk assessments, and security control testing.

Backup, Recovery & Continuity

Ensure reliable, tested backups of all critical systems and data.

Document and periodically test restore and disaster recovery procedures.

Maintain data retention, off-site storage, and immutable backup protections where appropriate.

Documentation, Automation & Continuous Improvement

Create and maintain accurate system documentation, diagrams, SOPs, and runbooks.

Automate routine administrative tasks using PowerShell or equivalent tools.

Drive standardization and repeatability across infrastructure services.

Support & Collaboration

Provide Tier 3 escalation support for complex infrastructure incidents.

Collaborate with Service Desk, Network, Security, and Application Teams.

Coordinate with vendors and service providers as required.

Participate in infrastructure projects from planning through operational handoff.

Maintenance

Perform approved maintenance during defined maintenance windows.

Explicit ITIL Practice Alignment
The Systems Administrator contributes directly to the following ITIL practices:
Incident Management

Restore service availability for infrastructure-related incidents.

Act as Tier 3 escalation for unresolved service disruptions.

Provide root-cause input and technical findings for incident reviews.

Maintain incident documentation and operational notes.

Change Enablement (Change Management)

Implement infrastructure changes using approved change processes.

Plan, test, document, and execute changes with rollback strategies.

Participate in change reviews and post-implementation validation.

Problem Management

Identify recurring incidents and system weaknesses.

Perform root-cause analysis and recommend permanent solutions.

Implement preventative measures to reduce incident volume and risk.

Information Security Management

Maintain secure configurations and monitoring controls.

Support audit evidence collection and compliance reporting.

Assist in risk identification, mitigation planning, and remediation tracking.

Service Configuration Management

Maintain accurate configuration documentation and system inventories.

Ensure infrastructure changes are reflected in documentation and diagrams.

Qualifications: Required Qualifications
Technical Qualifications

5+ years of experience in systems administration or infrastructure engineering.

Strong experience with Windows Server and Active Directory administration.

Experience supporting Microsoft 365 and Entra ID environments.

Experience with virtualization technologies (VMware or equivalent).

Working knowledge of backup, disaster recovery, and storage concepts.

Proficiency with scripting and automation (PowerShell preferred).

Experience operating in regulated or compliance-driven environments.

Professional Qualifications

Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and documentation skills.

Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.

Service-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail.

Ability to manage competing priorities responsibly and calmly.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in higher education or nonprofit environments.

Linux server administration experience.

Familiarity with ITIL-aligned service management.

Experience supporting secure cloud and SaaS architectures.