System Administrator (0097002T)

University of Hawaii•Honolulu, HI

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The System Administrator works for the University of Hawai‘i’s Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures, and Environmental Stewardship Center at the Mānoa Campus in Honolulu. This temporary, full-time role oversees technology operations, hardware asset lifecycles, network readiness, and security across distributed operational sites throughout Hawai‘i. The administrator serves as the primary IT liaison among ESC programs, central UH ITS, and federal partners, including the Department of Defense. The position maintains IT asset inventories and coordinates procurement, configuration, deployment, maintenance, logistics, and secure decommissioning. It supports compliance and audit readiness for Controlled Unclassified Information and Federal Contract Information, including implementation of NIST SP 800-171 controls, preparation of System Security Plans and Plans of Action and Milestones, and maintenance of SPRS scores. The role also provides technical support, access management, network and connectivity oversight, training, data management, and technology solutions for program operations. It supervises and mentors IT staff and may provide occasional after-hours support during critical security events or site deployments.

Requirements

Pertinent bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent experience, combined with 3–5 years of progressively responsible professional IT experience in IT administration, support, asset management, security, or systems analysis; an equivalent combination of education and professional experience may be considered.
At least two years of the required experience must be comparable in scope and complexity to the next lower pay band in the University of Hawai‘i broadband system.
Fluency in at least one computing language, such as Python, Bash, or Unix command line.
Considerable working knowledge of IT administration, support, asset management, security, and systems analysis, including pertinent standard and evolving IT concepts, principles, and methodologies.
Working knowledge of relevant technology, systems, hardware, and software.
Ability to recognize intricate problems, determine causes through reasoning and logic, and develop and implement practical, thorough solutions effectively and promptly.
Ability to understand, interpret, and implement administrative directives and guidance so IT operations align with organizational standards and industry best practices.
Ability to communicate information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally, and through reports and other materials.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, leaders, team members, and individuals.
For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead staff, manage work priorities and projects, and handle employee relations.
Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks and requirements, including CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, ISO 27001, SOC 2, SPRS, and DFARS 252.204-7012, 7019, and 7020.
Experience with MDM solutions such as Intune or Jamf for asset tracking and endpoint management.
Experience with enterprise identity management systems such as Active Directory, Entra ID, or Okta.
Understanding of network security fundamentals, including VPNs, firewalls, zero-trust, MFA, and BitLocker.
Ability to document IT processes, write technical SOPs, and maintain compliance records.
Strong problem-solving, organizational, and cross-functional communication skills.
Strong understanding of IT service management, cybersecurity principles, risk management, and compliance requirements.
Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining IT best practices, standards, and governance.
Experience handling CUI and FCI.
Practical IT project management and system implementation experience.
Ability to gather user requirements and translate them into IT solutions that maintain or improve program operations.
Experience with data integration, conversion, validation, and database querying.
Working knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle methodologies.
General knowledge of network and infrastructure considerations for web deployments.
Considerable knowledge of the limitations, capabilities, uses, and service requirements of computers, operating systems, platforms, and peripheral equipment.
Ability to travel throughout Hawai‘i, including by air, and a car to drive to program sites and implement IT needs.
Ability to pass a background check and maintain the suitability or clearance required to access federal program data and military partner networks and facilities.
Ability to obtain necessary security clearance or have a previous DoD/Federal suitability determination.
Ability to lift, transport, and install IT hardware and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds across varied site conditions.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing ecological and/or spatial data.
Knowledge of native Hawaiian ecosystems.
CompTIA Security+, CySA+, Network+, CISSP, or CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP) certification.
Experience with University of Hawai‘i ITS infrastructure, procurement, and data governance policies.
Experience designing and maintaining relational databases.

Responsibilities

Oversee technology operations, hardware asset lifecycles, and network readiness and security across distributed operational sites throughout Hawai‘i.
Serve as the primary administrative contact and liaison between ESC and its programs, central UH ITS, and federal IT partners, including the Department of Defense.
Maintain a centralized, real-time inventory of hardware, software, licenses, and peripheral assets.
Coordinate IT procurement, configuration, deployment, maintenance, hardware logistics, shipping, and secure equipment decommissioning with program data coordinators and specialists.
Maintain physical security controls, equipment labeling, and site locks across operational sites.
Participate in IT emergency incident response, disaster recovery exercises, and system outage remediation, including occasional after-hours support during critical security events or site deployments.
Follow, implement, and promote UH System ITS directives, guidance, recommendations, and best practices; monitor new recommendations and take timely action.
Lead initiatives to improve system reliability, security, and operational efficiency.
Supervise and mentor IT staff to ensure administrative directives and industry best practices are understood and followed.
Draft and maintain SOPs aligned with NIST SP 800-171 controls to safeguard CUI and FCI.
Create and maintain System Security Plans and Plans of Action and Milestones as required by DFARS 252.204-7019.
Create, calculate, and maintain SPRS scores for active programs and projects in alignment with DoD assessment methodologies.
Conduct local self-audits and continuous monitoring of endpoint protection, patch management, drive encryption, and MFA to maintain audit readiness.
Provide tier-1 and tier-2 technical support, manage access workflows, and collaborate with UH ITS on complex technical issues and security incidents.
Oversee remote network readiness, field internet connectivity, secure VPN access, and encrypted communications protocols.
Deliver onboarding and security awareness training on CMMC compliance, password security, mobile device policies, and safe CUI handling.
Support least-privilege and role-based access controls to restrict access to critical databases and upcoming organizational plans.
Ensure compliance with applicable UH ITS Information Security Office and DoD policies; maintain data governance and evaluate backup, recovery, and PII protection procedures.
Perform systems and data analysis and help LOCF and ESC program units develop technology solutions aligned with operational objectives.
Support program-unit data management and storage requirements and process improvements that increase work efficiency.
Propose, design, implement, and maintain document management initiatives and technology solutions.
Assess, design, and implement software and database solutions, collaborating with third-party vendors on maintenance and support.
Perform other duties as assigned.