Systems Administrator

We are seeking a seasoned Systems Administrator with experience in large, distributed campus environments to join our 45+ person ITS team at Hillsdale College. You will be responsible for designing, provisioning, monitoring, and troubleshooting the server infrastructure that supports the College’s academic and operational missions. As a vital member of the Network and System Administration team, you will ensure the reliability and security of both on-premises and cloud-integrated systems that serve our faculty, staff, and students.

Working closely with the broader ITS department, this role focuses on maintaining a robust hybrid environment
. You will serve as an expert in the design and optimization of Windows servers and Hyper-V virtualization within a large enterprise network. This position requires deep technical expertise in managing Azure Cloud infrastructure
, specifically focusing on Azure Active Directory (Entra ), Single Sign-On ( SSO ), and Multi-Factor Authentication ( MFA ) to ensure seamless and secure access across the College’s digital landscape.

• Server Infrastructure Management and Support
• Design, deploy, and manage the College’s server infrastructure, including physical hardware,
  Hyper-V clusters
  , and storage platforms (Pure Storage) to ensure high availability and performance.
• Maintain and optimize Virtualization environments, focusing on Hyper-V administration, disaster recovery (DR) operations, and performance tuning for a large enterprise network.
• Administer Microsoft Defender Suite
  , including Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Identity, and Defender for Cloud, to proactively identify threats, manage vulnerabilities, and respond to security incidents across the hybrid environment.
• Manage Identity and Access by serving as an expert in Windows Active Directory
  , Group Policy ( GPO ), and the hybrid integration of Microsoft Entra (formerly Azure AD), including SSO and MFA .
• Administer Web and Application Servers
  , providing management and support for Microsoft IIS ( ASP . NET /. NET Core) as well as Linux-based stacks (Apache, MySQL, PHP ).
• Automate and Streamline administrative tasks using Power Shell scripting to increase efficiency, reduce manual errors, and improve service levels across the server fleet.
• Monitor and Analyze system health using tools like Zabbix and Azure Monitor to proactively identify bottlenecks, security vulnerabilities, and hardware trends.
• Perform Lifecycle Management
  , including predicting hardware needs, purchasing, and implementing upgrades, patches, and reconfigurations for both on-premises and cloud-based systems.
• Ensure Data Protection & Cyber Resilience by managing immutable cloud-based backups using Dell APEX / Druva
  . This includes configuring policies to protect against ransomware, accidental deletion, and unauthorized data modification.
• Collaborate on Network Services
  , managing critical services including DNS , DHCP , SNMP , and HTTP / HTTPS , while maintaining a solid understanding of routing and VLANs.
• Support Modern Endpoints by managing Windows Intune for device configuration and supporting Microsoft 365/Office 365 collaboration tools.
• Provide periodic after-hours support and travel to remote campus locations as needed to address critical infrastructure issues and meet the demands of a 24/7 residential campus.

• Collaborate across all ITS
  Teams to align server infrastructure with the College’s academic and operational goals.
• Document and Share Knowledge by contributing to a central knowledge management system, including server configurations, troubleshooting guides, and recovery procedures.
• Prepare and present reports for ITS leadership on infrastructure health, capacity planning, and security compliance.
• Engage in at least 40 hours of continuing education annually to stay current with Windows Server advancements, virtualization technologies, and security best practices.

Education and Experience

Experience: At least 4 years of experience as a Systems Administrator in an enterprise or educational environment, with a proven track record of managing high-availability infrastructure.

Education: Associate degree or higher in BIS , MIS , Computer Science, or equivalent professional experience.

Desired Training and Certifications

• ITIL 4 Foundation
• Microsoft Certified:
  Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
• CompTIA Security+
• MCSE / MCSA (Legacy certifications)

Other Skills

• Hyper-V &…