System Administrator

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

System Administrator

Job Profile Title

Systems Administrator C

Job Description Summary

The Divisional IT Systems Administrator, reporting to the Executive Director of Security Technology, will be a creative self-starter with a high energy level. Responsibilities include: management of SaaS and IaaS environment; management of the physical and virtual server infrastructure; installation, maintenance, and security of all servers, configuration and management of firewalls, network switches, intrusion detection mechanisms to secure IT infrastructure; development of technology solutions to advance the objectives of the Division of Public Safety; support other DPS IT staff and service as tier 2 escalation point for IT infrastructure troubleshooting; working with identified partners to ensure that technology solutions are appropriate and functional within the university; perform regular system administration tasks such as: backup/restore, server monitoring, patch management, system documentation, and recommendation of new technologies for implementation; and supervision of one direct report, IT Support Specialist. The Divisional IT Systems Administrator will support the Critical Infrastructure IT Systems Administrator in collaborating with our contracted partners and the Security System Administrator’s in maintaining and supporting the electronic security infrastructure including CCTV, access control, burglar alarms, emergency phone systems, and related security technology systems, emergency telephony, land mobile radio, mobile data terminals, and proprietary dispatch and police software.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as systems administrator for the Division of Public Safety.
• Provide system management by managing all aspects of primarily Windows, server and desktop administration, systems security, systems installation, and information security.
• Manage the infrastructure as it pertains to cloud-based,  virtual, and physical server environment to support all systems.
• Create user accounts, maintain permissions, ensure system integrity, reliability, scalability and security via Active Directory and associated server management tools.
• Assist in management of vendor service contracts and contracted professional support.
• Assist in preparation of the annual fiscal year and five-year budget as it pertains to IT solutions for DPS.
• Develop and implement solutions to meet established goals of the Division of Public Safety including hardware/software lifecycle management and pilot testing of new technologies.
• Work to support Division of Public Safety IT staff to serve as tier 2 support for all IT systems owned and maintained by the Division of Public Safety, including backup support of technology systems within the PennComm center and end user devices such as desktop PC’s, laptops, mobile devices, and applications.
• Assist the Critical Infrastructure IT Systems Administrator to collaborate with contracted security partners, University ISC staff, and other necessary staff in maintaining and supporting the electronic security infrastructure.
• Apply and enforce both DPS and University of Pennsylvania established physical and electronic security standards as they apply to IT systems deployed across the Division through hardware and software firewalls, spam/virus protection, and intrusion detection measures.
• Supervise direct report within the Security Technology Department and provide training for professional development.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

About the Division of Public Safety:

The Mission of the University of Pennsylvania’s Division of Public Safety is to enhance the quality of life, safety, and security of our community. The Division accomplishes its mission through the delivery of a comprehensive and integrated safety and security program, in partnership with the community that we serve.

The members of the Division of Public Safety reflect our community. We pledge to deliver professional safety and security services that value and respect the rights and differences of all members of the Division, as well as those of the University of Pennsylvania and the University City communities that we all proudly serve.

We are committed to the professional and personal development of all members of the Division of Public Safety, and in turn we expect all of our employees to be models of excellence. Ultimately, we strive each and every day to earn the trust, confidence, and respect of our community.

To learn more, visit us at:https://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/

Department / School

Division of Public Safety

Pay Range

$71,733.00 - $99,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay