System Administrator-Durham

Join Team NCSSM at the #1 rated Best Public High School in America for 2025

POSITION TYPE: Permanent, 12-month, EHRA Exempt Professional Staff (EPS), FLSA Exempt, 1.0 FTE

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $72,000 - $76,810

Hiring salary will be determined based on education, experience, equity, budget, and market considerations.

NCSSM and Information Technology Services (ITS) foster an environment of collaboration across departments and divisions and support community-engaged service and research. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran or national guard. If you are an individual with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process, please contact us at hr@ncssm.edu.

Description of Duties:

Reporting to the Director of IT Infrastructure and Operations, this position will play a vital role in supporting the school's technology operations and infrastructure. The primary responsibility of this role is to provide centralized support for Windows and RHEL servers, systems, applications, and IT-oriented website needs. With a focus on team building, innovation, communication, customer focus, and technical knowledge, the System Administrator will work collaboratively with the ITS team to enhance the school's technology infrastructure and ensure effective and efficient IT operations.

This position will be eligible to be hybrid, with a portion of the work in-person and a portion remote.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Server configuration, management, and maintenance (institution-wide)

• Configuring new and existing Windows and RHEL servers in a virtualized environment

• Ensuring optimal performance and security of servers through regular maintenance and updates

• Troubleshooting server issues and outages

• Implementing and managing server backup and recovery processes

• Monitoring server resource utilization and capacity planning

• Documenting server configurations and procedures

• Staying current on server and virtualization technologies and best practices

System application administration and support (institution-wide)

• Ensuring the smooth operation and maintenance of systems and applications, including self-hosted, IaaS, and PaaS, to support NCSSM's operations

• Troubleshooting system issues and providing technical support to users

• Implementing system updates and upgrades as needed

• Monitoring system performance and ensuring optimal resource utilization

• Collaborating with other ITS staff to maintain a secure and efficient technology environment

• Staying current with emerging technologies and industry best practices

Website platform support (institution-wide)

• Overseeing the maintenance and troubleshooting of NCSSM's website CMS (WordPress)

• Ensuring website accessibility and security

• Collaborating with web developers and content managers to support website functionality

• Monitoring website performance, indexing, bad links, etc. and resolving any issues

• Staying up-to-date on website platform best practices and technologies

Project management (institution-wide)

• Overseeing the planning, implementation, and execution of relevant IT projects

• Coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget

• Managing project risks and issues

• Monitoring project progress and providing regular updates to stakeholders

• Ensuring adherence to project management best practices and methodologies

• Evaluating project outcomes and identifying areas for improvement

User support (institution-wide)

• Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance to NCSSM users, including students, faculty, staff, and other constituents

• Resolve user issues and complaints related to access and use of ITS' supported systems and services

• Assist users with account management and access to various systems and applications

• Install, configure, and support systems for customers

• Provide training and guidance to customers on the proper use of ITS' supported systems and services

• Create and maintain documentation for user support processes and procedures

• Stay up-to-date on emerging technologies and best practices in user support

  
  

Technical Expertise

• Demonstrated proficiency in administering Windows (and optionally Linux) server operating systems

• Experience managing server infrastructure in virtualized environments

• Strong knowledge of network technologies, protocols, and security principles

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, Google Cloud Platform, AWS) and hybrid deployments

• Expertise in backup solutions, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning

System Management

• Experience with system monitoring tools and performance optimization

• Skill in automating routine administrative tasks and deployments

• Proficiency in managing user accounts, permissions, and access controls

• Knowledge of server hardware maintenance and troubleshooting

• Ability to implement and maintain server patching and update protocols

Troubleshooting & Problem Resolution

• Strong analytical skills for diagnosing complex system issues

• Experience resolving server and infrastructure problems efficiently

• Ability to perform root cause analysis and implement preventative measures

• Skill in documenting technical problems and their resolutions

• Capacity to remain calm and effective during emergencies

Communication & Collaboration

• Ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical staff

• Experience creating clear documentation and procedural guides

• Skill in collaborating with other IT teams on cross-functional projects

• Proficiency in providing status updates on system maintenance and issues

• Ability to train end-users on system-related procedures and best practices

Project Management

• Experience planning and implementing system implementations, upgrades, and migrations

• Skill in managing multiple simultaneous technical projects with competing priorities

• Ability to accurately estimate resource requirements and timeline projections

• Knowledge of IT project management methodologies and best practices

• Talent for anticipating potential project risks and developing mitigation strategies

Educational Environment Experience

• Understanding of IT requirements specific to educational institutions

• Familiarity with student information systems (SISs), learning management systems (LMSs), and other academic applications

• Experience supporting specialized educational software and platforms

• Knowledge of compliance requirements relevant to academia and K-12 information technology

• Understanding of academic calendar cycles and associated IT demands

Security Implementation

• Experience implementing security best practices across systems

• Knowledge of threat prevention, detection, and mitigation strategies

• Understanding of data protection regulations and compliance requirements

• Ability to collaborate on the development and enforcement of security-oriented policies and procedures

Master's degree and 1-2 years of relevant experience, or bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of relevant experience.

Education can be substituted year-for-year with additional experience.

Team NCSSM Benefits

NCSSM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being, growth, and work-life balance of our employees. Highlights include generous vacation and sick leave; 12 annual holidays; paid parental, family medical, and community service leave; and flexible work schedules where applicable. Leave is earned monthly and pro-rated for part-time employees and those working less than 12 months. Employees also enjoy access to the State Health Plan, multiple retirement options (including TSERS and ORP), supplemental retirement savings plans, tuition waiver benefits across the UNC System, and free access to on-site facilities like a gym, library, and cafeteria. Additional perks include life insurance, disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, and membership eligibility with the State Employees Credit Union.

Please visit NCSSM Employee Benefits for more information.

About NCSSM:

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a world-class public high school with statewide reach empowering academically talented students from diverse backgrounds from every corner of the state to design their own future. We offer residential high school programs in Durham and Morganton for juniors and seniors or virtual high school courses and programs that students can take alongside their local curriculum, all tuition free. Our wide array of summer offerings for rising 5th- through 12th-graders includes free opportunities for in-state students alongside paid options for students from anywhere in the world. NCSSM Extended Learning partners with communities and regions to advance student learning and outcomes.

Specializing in science, technology, engineering, and math, and embracing the fine arts and humanities, NCSSM has become the model for 18 such specialized schools around the globe since its founding in 1980 and is a full constituent of the University of North Carolina System. NCSSM's Ignite + Transform comprehensive campaign seeks to raise $50 million in private support for our mission.

The new NCSSM-Morganton campus opened in 2022 for summer programs and its first fall academic term. NCSSM-Morganton focuses on the booming fields of data science and artificial intelligence, preparing the leaders of tomorrow to navigate a future driven by data and machine learning, with emphasis on the humanistic implications and ethical use of these tools.

Nearly two-thirds of NCSSM graduates earn a bachelor's degree in a STEM field -- over three times the national average, including 58 percent of our underrepresented minority graduates, which is nearly four times the national average. Nearly three-quarters have earned or are seeking a graduate degree. A 2020 economic impact study found that 54 percent of our alumni continue to live and work in North Carolina, catalyzing nearly $1.3 billion in annual economic activity. NCSSM values the diversity in our student body, and all members of the NCSSM community are expected to foster a safe environment of respect and inclusion for all faculty, staff, and students.

For more information, please read the NCSSM strategic plan and visit ncssm.edu.

How to Apply:

Submit electronic application via this link: System Administrator-Durham.

Please complete your application in full. All required Competencies, Work History, and Credentials must appear on the application in the Education and Work Experience sections of the application to receive consideration during the selection process. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the State Application form in its entirety. "See Attached Resume or an Embedded Text Resume" will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, along with the state application. Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If applicants are a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least six years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22 along with their state application.

Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require a motor vehicle check. If the highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree equivalency verified at www.wes.org or equivalent service. NCSSM participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Please refrain from submitting multiple applications. However, if multiple applications are submitted to a posting, only the most recent application received prior to the posting close date will be accepted. There is a 24 hour waiting period before an applicant can re-apply to a position.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy Fullgraf at fullgraf@ncssm.edu.

NCSSM is an EEO/eVerify/VEVRAA Employer