Messaging & Identity Systems Specialist

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

The Messaging & Identity Systems Specialist will provide trusted administration and operational support for enterprise messaging, Active Directory, and related infrastructure services within APL’s Server Systems Group. The role manages service queues, supports continuous improvement, conducts reporting and data analysis, and coordinates with customers, subject matter experts, Service Managers, and technical teams. Initial work focuses on Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, enterprise mailing lists, and related fulfillment activities. The specialist will also triage operational work across Server Systems and coordinate attention to requests that are aging, stalled, or otherwise require follow-up. The position will evolve as APL expands its use of Microsoft 365 and modernizes collaboration, identity, and provisioning services. The specialist supports messaging and identity requests and services, troubleshoots Outlook calendaring and resource scheduling, and provides direct support to executive administrative staff. The role includes security-sensitive administration, operational activities such as commissioning and decommissioning infrastructure and recurring audits, documentation, cross-training, and identifying opportunities to automate work and improve customer self-service.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
Experience administering Microsoft Active Directory and supporting Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, Microsoft 365, or similar enterprise collaboration technologies.
Experience performing security-sensitive administrative functions within enterprise IT systems.
Strong troubleshooting, customer service, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to independently manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Sound judgment when administering enterprise accounts, permissions, and services.
Proactive approach and comfort following up with colleagues when operational work requires attention.
Experience developing or maintaining technical documentation or operating procedures.
Motivation to learn new technologies and take on additional responsibilities as enterprise services evolve.
Ability to obtain Secret-level security clearance. Selected candidates will undergo a government security clearance investigation and must meet requirements for access to classified information, including U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Microsoft Exchange Server or Exchange Online.
Experience with Microsoft 365 collaboration, provisioning, or identity service configurations and management.
Experience administering shared mailboxes, resource mailboxes, distribution groups, delegated permissions, security groups, or service accounts.
Experience with PowerShell scripting or process automation.
Experience with ServiceNow or another enterprise IT service management platform.
Understanding of identity and access management concepts and enterprise account lifecycle processes.
Experience supporting executive customers or senior leadership administrative staff.
Experience with enterprise mailing list platforms such as LISTSERV.
Demonstrated initiative in improving operational processes through automation, documentation, workflow improvements, or customer self-service.

Responsibilities

Support enterprise Messaging and Active Directory services, including shared mailboxes, distribution groups, resource mailboxes, delegated access, security groups, service accounts, and administrative accounts.
Configure and troubleshoot Outlook calendaring and resource scheduling solutions, working with customers to understand requirements and resolve issues.
Provide direct support to executive administrative staff for calendaring, resource scheduling, shared mailbox, and delegation needs.
Perform security-sensitive administrative functions within established access, naming, governance, and operational standards.
Work with Active Directory, Messaging/Exchange, and other Server Systems engineers on requests, escalations, operational issues, and new capabilities.
Support emerging Microsoft 365 fulfillment and provisioning activities as collaboration and identity services evolve.
Manage and triage ServiceNow queues associated with Server Systems services; identify aging or stalled requests and coordinate with Service Managers and technical teams when work requires attention.
Facilitate operational activities such as infrastructure commissioning and decommissioning, recurring audits, monitoring updates, and account administration.
Identify opportunities to automate repetitive work and improve customer self-service using technologies such as PowerShell, ServiceNow workflows, Microsoft 365 capabilities, APIs, and AI-assisted tools.
Develop and maintain knowledge articles, operational procedures, and technical documentation.
Cross-train across appropriate Server Systems services to improve operational coverage and team resiliency.