SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR SPECIALIST

JOB DESCRIPTION

SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR SPECIALIST
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Human Resources Department
700 Town Center Drive, Suite 200

Newport News, VA 23606
NEWPORT NEWS, VA Phone: (757) 926-1800

CITY OF OPPORTUNITY Fax: (757) 926-1825

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Under general supervision this position is responsible for performing entry level technical work in
the support of servers, applications and databases. Reports to the Lead Systems Administrator.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Provides advanced technical helpdesk support for hardware and software questions and problems.
Installs new and rebuilds existing servers and configures hardware, peripherals, services, settings,
directories, storage, etc. in accordance with standards and project/operational requirements.
Perform daily system monitoring, verifying the integrity of systems and key processes. Coordinates
with the help desk staff to ensure documentation is complete and prepares status reports as necessary

Reviews system and application logs, and verifies the completion of scheduled jobs such as backups.
Ensure that all required file systems and system data are successfully backed up to the appropriate
media recovery tapes or disks are created, and media is recycled and sent off site as necessary.

Applies Operating System patches and upgrades as needed; supports and maintains one or more
enterprise services such as application servers, database servers, and email servers.

Develops custom applications in a variety of programming languages to automate repetitive tasks
and assist departments with operational needs.

Performs other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE STANDARD

Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community
and the organization through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s Values. Employees are also
expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE


Information Technology – Understanding of the basic principles of server and storage
virtualization, multi-user operating systems, storage technologies and TCP-IP networking. 

Computer Programming – Understanding of the basic principles of object-oriented programming
and experience writing various scripting languages. 

Customer Service — Understanding of the principles and processes for providing customer
service. This includes meeting quality standards for services and evaluation of customer
satisfaction.

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REQUIRED SKILLS


Interpersonal Relationships – Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships
with employees and all levels of management to include representatives from other departments,
organizations and vendors. 

Critical Thinking – Uses logic and reasoning to understand, analyze, and evaluate complex
situations and then to research information to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative
solutions, conclusions or approaches to the situation. Applies general rules to specific problems
to produce answers that make sense. Combines pieces of information to form general rules or
conclusions.

REQUIRED ABILITIES


Communication – Ability to communicate ideas effectively, to include the preparation of reports
and logs. Ability to listen and understand information and ideas being presented verbally and in
writing. Ability to handle a variety of customer service issues with tact and diplomacy and in a
confidential manner. 

Time Management – Ability to plan and organize daily work routine and estimate expected time
of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Ability to
implement work activities in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a closely related field or an equivalent
combination of education and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Requires an acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check.
May also require a federal criminal history check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. 

Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10
pounds). 

Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or work station.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS 

Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals. 

Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES

Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions

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