System Administrator

About the University:

Manhattan University is nestled in the historic neighborhood or Riverdale, close to dozens of restaurants and shops as well as Van Cortlandt Park, and is only 35 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Manhattan University is nationally ranked and offers degree programs in the arts, business, education, engineering, and science. The University has approximately 2,900 full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in over 50 fields of study. It is committed to excellence in teaching a diverse student body and preparing students for successful careers and fulfilling lives. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees and faculty members can thrive personally and professionally.

Position Description Position Reports To: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) The System Administrator is responsible for the 24x7 operation of Manhattan University’s server systems and provides technical and application support to the University community. This position assists in designing, implementing, supporting, and optimizing campus systems, including Microsoft 365, Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, and the Moodle Learning Management System. The System Administrator identifies incidents and events, analyzes problem trends, oversees the management and resolution of issues, monitors system status, correlates events, and interprets alarm diagnostics and incident trends. This position troubleshoots and resolves issues within the scope of ITS-supported services and performs proactive activities that improve the overall operation of production services. Additionally, the System Administrator manages endpoint configuration and software deployment through Microsoft Intune and KACE, maintains standardized images for classroom and computer lab workstations, and develops scripts that automate provisioning, administration, and reporting. The position works closely with the Chief Information Security Officer and the Database Administrator to ensure the security, reliability, and compliance of the University’s systems environment.

Job Responsibilities General

• Collaboration with faculty, researchers, administrators, and ITS colleagues to resolve technical issues and meet project objectives.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and standard operating procedures.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices in systems administration.
• Perform other related tasks to support the broader enterprise systems as assigned.

Systems & Server Administration

• Ensure the 24x7 availability, performance, and security of all University server systems.
• Provision new systems from the ground up in both classic and virtualized environments.
• Plan and successfully implement system upgrades, patches, and configuration changes.
• Implement hardware and software upgrades or changes as needed.
• Monitor system status, correlate events, diagnose alarms, and analyze incident trends.
• Determine root cause and business impact quickly, and resolve issues to minimize disruption to University operations.

Identity & Microsoft 365 Administration

• Ensure the overall health and security of the University’s Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID environment.
• Administer the University’s Microsoft 365 tenant, including Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Manage Group Policy, organizational units, rights management, and directory synchronization.
• Maintain licensing, security, and compliance configurations within the Microsoft 365 environment.

Endpoint & Lab Computer Management

• Manage endpoint configuration, compliance, and application deployment through Microsoft Intune and the Company Portal.
• Build, maintain, and deploy standardized system images and software packages for classroom and computer lab workstations using KACE and related tools.
• Maintain software inventories, deployment schedules, and lab configurations aligned with academic department requirements.
• Coordinate with academic departments to ensure lab and classroom systems are ready in advance of each term.

Learning Management System Support

• Ensure the overall health, performance, and security of the Moodle Learning Management System.
• Support Moodle upgrades, integrations, and authentication with University directory services.

Automation, Security & Continuity

• Develop and maintain scripts to automate administrative tasks, provisioning, and reporting.
• Mine logs to discover meaningful information and trends, and support the Chief Information Security Officer in security monitoring and investigation.
• Design and implement backup strategies for University systems.
• Support business continuity and disaster recovery planning for server and systems operations.

Reporting & Collaboration

• Develop reports and analysis to support institutional initiatives, goals, planning, and objectives.
• Maintain technical documentation, configuration standards, and system records.
• Collaborate with the Chief Information Security Officer, Database Administrator, and other ITS teams on shared initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Background in Microsoft 365 administration and Active Directory / Microsoft Entra ID.
• Experience with Microsoft Intune, the Company Portal, and enterprise endpoint management.
• Experience imaging and deploying classroom and computer lab workstations.
• Scripting experience with PowerShell, Python, Bash, or an equivalent language.
• Working knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Knowledge of Moodle Learning Management Systems.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Key Competencies

• Systems and server administration.
• Identity and access management.
• Microsoft 365 administration.
• Endpoint management and workstation imaging.
• Scripting and automation.
• Technical troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Security awareness and log analysis.
• Backup, recovery, and business continuity.
• Documentation and configuration standards.
• Reporting and data analysis.
• Communication with diverse campus stakeholders.
• Collaboration and teamwork.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.

Supplemental Information Preferred

• Background in Linux system use and administration.
• Experience with KACE Systems Management and Systems Deployment appliances.
• Background in one or more of the following: Java, PERL, Python, PHP, Apache, MySQL.
• Windows and Linux server management, including shell scripting.
• Group Policy and Intune configuration profile design for managed lab, faculty, and staff endpoints.
• Knowledge of DNS, DHCP, PXE, and NFS.
• Server services such as DNS, DHCP, NFS, Print, IIS, RDS, WDS, WSUS, and Hyper-V.
• Web and database servers, including Microsoft SQL Server, Apache, and Nginx.
• Virtualization, clustering, high availability, and redundancy with Hyper-V.
• Containerization using Docker, containerd, or equivalent.
• Configuration management using Ansible, SCCM, or Intune.
• Backup and recovery operations.
• Knowledge of ZFS.
• Firewall, load balancer, and reverse proxy operations.
• Prior experience supporting higher education institutions.

Benefits

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Part-time employees who work an average of 20 hours per week over the course of a year, receive certain benefits on a pro-rated basis. To learn more details, visit our benefits page. Manhattan University is an E-Verify employer.

Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Catholic Lasallian institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. We expect our faculty, administration, and staff to be knowledgeable about our mission and to make a positive contribution to the mission.

Manhattan University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, caregiver status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity or expression, arrest or conviction record, criminal history, credit history, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, unemployment status and salary history. Manhattan University values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees. All interested, qualified persons are encouraged to apply.

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.