Junior Systems Administrator
About The Position
The Urban Land Institute is hiring a third Junior Systems Administrator to expand its small IT team and support staff across its Washington, DC office, regional offices, District Councils, and National Councils. The role combines frontline technical support with hands-on systems administration, with most work focused on Tier 1 support and a growing share of Tier 2 tasks such as permissions and administrator-center changes. ULI uses Microsoft 365 and supports a mixed fleet of Dell and Apple laptops running Windows and macOS. The administrator will be a visible, in-office first point of contact for staff, helping resolve technical issues in a calm, clear, and service-oriented manner. The role includes account and access administration, onboarding and offboarding, device lifecycle management, security support, and assistance with ULI's Microsoft Azure environment and backup and recovery processes. The position also provides onsite IT support at major meetings and events, maintains documentation and training materials, and coordinates with vendors and consultants. The first 90 days include close coaching from the manager and teammates while learning ULI's systems, tools, and standard operating procedures. By six months, the administrator is expected to handle most Tier 1 tickets independently and confidently resolve Tier 2 issues.
Requirements
- 1 to 2 years of experience in an IT support or systems administration role; this should not be the candidate's first IT job.
- Hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 admin centers and Microsoft 365 applications.
- Working knowledge of Windows 10/11 and macOS, plus iOS, with the ability to troubleshoot common hardware and software issues on both Windows and macOS.
- Working knowledge of Active Directory and Entra ID (Azure AD).
- Experience with ServiceNow or a comparable IT service management platform.
- Experience with Microsoft Intune or a similar device management tool.
- A calm, patient, service-first temperament and comfort being the face of IT.
- A coachable, curious mindset, ability to learn new tools quickly, and willingness to take feedback.
- Clear verbal and written communication, including the ability to explain technical issues in plain language.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and remain professional in high-volume or high-pressure moments.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Microsoft Azure administration, such as virtual machines, storage, or identity.
- Experience with SolarWinds or similar monitoring software.
- Technology certifications such as CompTIA, Microsoft, or Cisco.
- Experience supporting staff in a nonprofit, association, or membership organization.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a visible, in-office IT presence and the trusted first point of contact for staff support needs.
- Resolve technical support requests through ServiceNow, keeping tickets documented, prioritized, and closed on time.
- Troubleshoot hardware and software issues on Windows and macOS devices, both in person and remotely.
- Use and contribute to standard operating procedures for recurring technical issues.
- Provision and deprovision user accounts, equipment, and access for new hires and departing staff across Active Directory, Entra ID (Azure AD), Microsoft 365, and Single Sign-On (SSO).
- Manage permissions and day-to-day changes in Microsoft 365 admin centers.
- Lead new-hire IT orientation and assist with occasional staff training sessions.
- Manage the lifecycle of ULI's Dell and Apple laptops, including imaging, deployment, troubleshooting, and retirement.
- Keep devices patched and secure using Intune or similar tools, working alongside Network Administrators.
- Help the Network Security Engineer investigate and respond to security alerts and incidents.
- Assist with administering ULI's Microsoft Azure environment, including virtual machines and storage.
- Support backup and recovery processes under guidance from senior IT staff.
- Provide onsite IT support at major ULI meetings and events as needed.
- Maintain clear, user-facing documentation and training materials.
- Coordinate with technology vendors and consultants.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Health, dental, and life insurance.
- Generous vacation leave.
- Retirement plan with employer match.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
