Senior Systems & Database Administrator; Library Information Systems Assistant Manager

Overview

The Senior Systems & Database Administrator serves as the technical lead and deputy to the Information Systems (IS) Manager. This is a highly hands-on, senior technical role designed for an experienced IT professional who enjoys deep technical work, system modernization, and architectural problem-solving.

This position acts as the IS Manager’s full technical backup and plays a critical role in stabilizing, modernizing, and migrating legacy infrastructure to sustainable, cloud-forward solutions. The Senior Systems & Database Administrator leads database-focused initiatives, virtualization and server modernization, application replacement efforts, and contributes to network and security decisions. This role collaborates closely with a Systems Administrator and a Platform Administrator and helps guide technical direction across the department.

Leadership

• Serve as the IS Manager’s full technical backup, with authority to implement emergency infrastructure changes, approve technical designs, and escalate vendor issues as needed.
• Participate in project prioritization and help identify opportunities to improve system reliability, scalability, and sustainability.
• Act as a senior technical resource and informal mentor to IS staff through collaboration, design review, and shared problem-solving.
• Work independently, make sound technical decisions, and remain calm during incidents.
• Attend professional meetings, in-service programs, and external professional development events; keep current with developments in library technologies.
• Communicate professionally with diverse groups both verbally and in writing.
• Set priorities and meet deadlines; adaptability and judgment to reprioritize as needed.
• Model engaging and consistent customer service to both library staff and patrons.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with other staff and the general public; work collaboratively.

Database Administration & Modernization

• Provide advanced support for the Library’s mission-critical Integrated Library System (ILS) PostgreSQL database, including writing complex queries, updating tables, analyzing workflows, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Lead efforts to migrate non-mission-critical, internally hosted databases and applications to SaaS or cloud-based alternatives.
• Collaborate with the IS Manager on database-related responsibilities such as backups, performance considerations, upgrades, and disaster recovery planning.
• Support and modernize SQL-based workflows across PostgreSQL and other SQL platforms as systems are retired or replaced.

Infrastructure, Virtualization & Servers

• Maintain and support existing Xen/KVM virtualization environments.
• Lead virtualization migrations to robust open-source platforms such as XCP-ng or Proxmox.
• Plan and execute hardware refreshes, operating system upgrades, and server consolidations.
• Administer and modernize Ubuntu-based application, database, and utility servers (DNS, DHCP, cron jobs, automation scripts).

Application Modernization & Automation

• Analyze legacy systems and design sustainable, modern replacements.
• Lead replacement of legacy Perl CGI and PHP-based tools with modern, maintainable solutions.
• Design and implement workflow-based replacements using existing platforms such as Google Workspace, App Sheet, Airtable, and other cloud tools whenever possible.
• Build lightweight internal tools or scripts using Bash, Python, SQL, or small web frameworks (e.g., Flask) when appropriate.
• Occasionally integrate APIs and automate system workflows to reduce manual effort and technical debt.
• Support migration of infrastructure and applications to AWS or Google Cloud Platform, using primarily managed services.
• Perform limited hands-on cloud infrastructure work as needed.

Networking & Security Collaboration

• Perform hands-on network configuration and maintenance, including firewall rules, VLAN design, and routing changes.
• Review and validate network changes performed by other team members.
• Serve as a second set of eyes on network security decisions, patching strategies, vulnerability remediation, and incident response.

Documentation & Communication

• Produce clear, maintainable documentation for all systems and applications modernized or implemented.
• Occasionally present technical concepts and changes to non-technical staff in an accessible manner.
• Collaborate with vendors, cooperative partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Communicate and bring projects to completion.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field; three (3) or more years of progressively advanced experience in systems administration, infrastructure engineering, or related IT roles; or equivalent combination of training and experience as determined by GRPL management.

• Strong working knowledge of SQL and relational databases, with PostgreSQL experience preferred.
• Experience administering Linux-based server environments,…