Sr. IT Operations Administrator

Sr. IT Operations Administrator

Location: Rockville, MD

Onsite: Yes (on an as needed basis)

Synopsis of the job: This is a sysadmin / network admin role with growth pathway to Principal IT Architect. On-prem 3 days a week - Tues to Thurs (some flexibility here). Not a helpdesk role but qualified to help if there's a critical issue and no one else available. T3 support when normal helpdesk staff can't solve a problem.

Sys Admin for:

• Active Directory
• Azure
• Backup & DR
• Hybrid on-prem/cloud environments
• M365
• Network admin & engineering
• SQL Server DB
• VDI / Broadcom

At Emmes Group, we’re shaping the future of clinical research - where human intelligence meets cutting-edge technology to drive meaningful advancements in healthcare. With over 47 years of scientific excellence, we’ve led groundbreaking research in cell and gene therapy, vaccines, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience. Through our two business units - Emmes, a full-service CRO, and Veridix AI, our technology, data, and analytical solutions - we are modernizing clinical trials and accelerating the development of life-changing therapies.

We believe that every clinical breakthrough starts with people - people who are passionate, purpose-driven, and ready to make an impact. At Emmes Group, we bring People, Science, and Technology together to collaborate with our customers and deliver global health impact. Our culture is built on integrity, collaboration, and innovation, ensuring that every challenge is met with perseverance and accountability.

The Senior IT Operations Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining the organization's IT infrastructure, ensuring reliability, performance, and security. This role provides technical leadership in day to day operations, supports complex incidents, leads system upgrades, and mentors junior staff. The senior administrator collaborates with IT teams, business units, and vendors to optimize IT services, implement best practices, and ensure compliance with organizational policies.

• Oversee the administration, monitoring, and maintenance of servers, networks, storage systems, and cloud infrastructure.
• Lead incident response and problem resolution for complex IT infrastructure issues.
• Manage system performance, capacity, and availability to ensure business continuity.
• Plan, test, and implement system updates, patches, upgrades, and configuration changes.
• Mentor and guide junior IT operations staff, providing technical training and support.
• Maintain IT asset inventory, configuration management databases, and operational documentation.
• Collaborate with IT and business teams to implement infrastructure projects and service enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with IT security policies, regulatory standards, and audit requirements.
• Drive process improvement, automation, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Participate in disaster recovery planning, backup verification, and business continuity exercises.
• Monitor operational metrics and KPIs, providing reports and recommendations for improvements.
• Stay updated with emerging IT infrastructure technologies, tools, and operational best practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all policies and standards

• Bachelor's Degree Related field.
• In lieu of a formal education, 4-6 years progressive IT operations experience across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments
• Relevant certifications such as ITIL, Microsoft Certified:
  Azure Administrator, CompTIA Network+/Security+, or equivalent are preferred. Required
• 4-6 years in IT operations, system administration, or infrastructure management. Required
• 4-6 years Proven experience managing complex IT environments, including servers, networks, storage, and cloud services. Required
• 4-6 years Experience in incident management, troubleshooting, and performance optimization. Required
• 4-6 years Experience mentoring junior administrators or technical staff and leading IT operations projects Required
• Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, networking, server administration, storage systems, and cloud environments. High
• Proficiency in monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining enterprise IT systems. High
• Understanding of IT security principles, access management, and compliance requirements. High
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and decision making skills. High
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with IT teams and business…