Systems Administrator - Education Resource Strategies

ERS is a national non-profit that empowers school system leaders to make transformative shifts in resources, structures, and practices so that all students – especially those with the greatest learning needs and those furthest from opportunity – attend a school where they can learn and thrive.

At ERS, we embrace teamwork and innovation to influence sustainable, equitable change in some of the country’s largest school districts.

If you want to join a team of talented and committed professionals within a mission-driven and collaborative culture, this is the place for you! 
 

Position Overview 

We seek a proactive team player with a growth mindset and a genuine passion for strategic administration and development of technological infrastructure. You will lead our organization’s automation, security, artificial intelligence (AI), data classification, and extendibility efforts. As the architect and manager of cloud-based infrastructure for software identity and services, you’ll ensure our systems are scalable, efficient, and secure. Teamwork and thought partnership are crucial aspects to this role, we're not just looking for technical expertise; we want someone committed to our mission, eager to learn, and energized by collaboration. 

The Systems Administrator will report to the Director of Information Technology and be based in our Watertown, MA office.  

The salary range for this role is currently $72,000 to $96,000. In the spirit of transparency, it’s important to note that we typically don’t offer salaries at the top of this range to create opportunities for team members to earn raises throughout their tenure in a role. A team member’s actual salary range may be higher or lower, depending on the individual’s experience and the needs of our organization at the time of hire. 
 

Responsibilities 

Azure and Microsoft 365 administration

• Manage and support Azure infrastructure and Microsoft 365 services.  
• Implement and maintain cloud-based solutions for scalability and performance.  
• Monitor system performance, availability, and security.  
• Develop and implement automation scripts and processes using PowerShell, Azure CLI, and other tools.

Infrastructure and SaaS management

• Design, support, and configure the organization’s cloud-based infrastructure tools and services, including: Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Intune, Salesforce, Asana, Zoom, Slack, Google Workspace, Aruba, and FortiGate.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, and align with our organization’s goals.  
• Manage on-premises networking infrastructure to ensure seamless and secure connectivity to cloud resources. 
• Administer Salesforce CRM platform backend by managing Salesforce configuration changes, including, but not limited to; flows, fields, page layouts, record types, actions, custom settings.
• Identify technical enhancements that optimize our use of Salesforce to actualize organizational objectives.
• Work with the Director of IT to evolve, optimize, and modernize our infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner.  

Collaboration and end user support

• Work closely with other IT team members to ensure seamless integration and support of cloud services.
  Provide end-user-support for issues, troubleshoot and diagnose issues to find the root cause, and provide coverage as an initial point of triage for our help desk when needed.

Security and compliance 

• Implement and manage security best practices across Azure and Microsoft 365 environments.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, including the completion of regular security assessments and audits.

AI and data classification 

• Integrate AI and machine learning solutions to enhance system capabilities and data insights.  
• Implement data classification policies and technologies to protect sensitive information.

• Manage identity and access control policies within Azure AD and Microsoft 365.  
• Implement single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and conditional access policies.  

Qualifications 

As an organization committed to developing inclusive, empowered teams, it’s important to name that candidates do not need the preferred qualifications outlined below to advance in our search. These are not mandatory requirements.  

Education and experience

• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in systems administration 
• Experience managing Azure and Microsoft 365 services (Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, etc.) (strongly preferred) 
• Experience managing cloud SaaS applications and platforms such as Slack, Google Workspace, and GitHub.  
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field (preferred)  
• Experience with Salesforce CRM platform administration (preferred)  

Technical skills 

• Strong scripting skills with PowerShell, Azure CLI, and other automation tools. 
• Solid understanding of (cloud) security best practices, identity and access management, and compliance. 
• Knowledge of AI and machine learning technologies and their application in cloud environments. 
• Familiarity with data classification techniques and tools. 
• Understanding of networks and network device configuration, including firewalls, WAPs, switching, VPNs, and routing. 

Interpersonal and communication skills  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with internal and external partners on cross-functional projects. 
• Able to work independently and prioritize incoming tasks.  
• Demonstrated ability to embrace change and effectively problem solve using strong analytical skills 
• Proactive in supporting colleagues while embracing our core values of impact, service, teamwork, learning, and people first.

Benefits 
We regularly benchmark our benefits. This honors our commitment to offering a comprehensive, competitive compensation package (salary & benefits) that meets employee needs.  

• Medical, dental, and life insurance benefits 
• 403b Retirement Plan, including employer matching  
• Education reimbursement 
• Three weeks paid vacation, 13 paid holidays, and up to three weeks of paid sick time (per year)  
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Dependent Care Accounts (DCA) 
• Access to office gym

As an organization, we still have so much to learn about the continuing impact of systemic racism and oppression. We also acknowledge that we must look inward to best actualize ERS’s mission. Therefore, we strive to develop an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist organization rooted in belonging for all team members.  

We remain committed to transforming the systems, structures, policies, resource decisions, and cultural messages that are driving inequitable outcomes by:  

• Helping our school district and school leader partners understand the patterns of structural racism and oppression that impact the students and families in their community.  
• Devoting organizational resources to support the ongoing learning of all ERS team members related to the causes and patterns of structural racism and oppression, how they impact the experiences we bring to our shared environment, and the ways we work with each other.  

ERS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, ancestry, pregnancy, or military service. 

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