Systems Administrator I

The Systems Administrator I will play a critical role in supporting and maintaining the county’s server infrastructure, ensuring the reliability, security, and performance of key IT systems. This role is a great opportunity for individuals who are enthusiastic about starting a career in server administration and wish to gain hands-on experience while contributing to the IT operations within the county. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in IT basics, a keen interest in technology, and a willingness to learn and grow in the field.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to complete the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations may be requested by contacting Pender County Human Resources.

· Server Support: Assist with the installation, configuration, and maintenance of physical and virtual servers, including operating system deployment, patch management, and performance tuning.

· Monitoring and Maintenance: Monitor server health and performance, respond to alerts and notifications, and address potential issues to maintain system availability and stability.

· Backup and Recovery: Perform routine backups and disaster recovery procedures to ensure data integrity and system resilience in case of hardware failures or other emergencies.

· User Management: Assist with managing user accounts, permissions, and access controls for server resources, adhering to security policies and procedures.

· Troubleshooting: Collaborate with IT team members to troubleshoot and resolve server-related issues, coordinating with vendors and external support resources as necessary.

· Documentation: Document server configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps, keeping accurate and up-to-date records to support knowledge sharing and operational continuity.

· Project Participation: Participate in IT projects and initiatives related to server infrastructure, contributing to the planning, implementation, and testing of new technologies and system upgrades.

· Professional Development: Stay updated on emerging trends and best practices in server administration and IT infrastructure management, seeking opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement.

· Education: Associate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field or High school diploma or GED with equivalent technical experience.

· Experience: Basic understanding of server hardware, operating systems (Windows Server, Linux), and networking concepts. Familiarity with server virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware) is a plus but not required.

· Certifications: Highly desirable but not required, candidates are encouraged to possess industry-recognized certifications that demonstrate proficiency in systems administration and IT infrastructure. Preferred certifications include CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate, and VMware Certified Technical Associate (VCTA).

· Technical Skills: Demonstrates proficiency in Windows Server administration, Active Directory, and Group Policy management, with a solid understanding of core network protocols such as DNS, DHCP, and firewall configuration. Experienced with virtualization platforms including VMware and Hyper-V, as well as system monitoring, patch management, and backup procedures. Possesses working knowledge of PowerShell and other scripting tools to support task automation and maintains a strong awareness of information security best practices and user access management.

· Communication & Professional Skills: Exhibits strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail, with excellent written and verbal communication skills that enable effective collaboration with technical and non-technical staff alike. Demonstrates professionalism, customer service orientation, and the ability to perform well both independently and as part of a team. Committed to adhering to established policies, procedures, and IT governance standards, while maintaining an eagerness to learn and apply new technologies in support of organizational goals.

Additional Requirements

· Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support system maintenance or special projects.

· The Systems Administrator I will be expected to participate in an on-call rotation to provide after-hours support as needed.

· Valid North Carolina Driver’s License.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires reaching with hands

and arms and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm's length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to the risk of electrical shock; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).