IT Systems Administrator

Job Summary

IT System Administrator serve as the backbone of the Colleges academic, research, and administrative computing environment, ensuring seamless, secure, and efficient technology operations.

This role blends hands-on technical expertise in system design, installation, troubleshooting, and secure computing with strong customer service, training, and supervision of student technicians.

Acting as both a problem-solver and proactive partner, the administrator will engage with faculty, staff, and students to anticipate evolving IT needs, implement best practices, and recommend innovative solutionsall while upholding the highest standards of security, reliability, and professionalism.

The IT System Administrator will lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of critical technology systems supporting the Colleges academic, research, and administrative missions.

This role combines technical expertise with leadership, overseeing secure and reliable computing environments while managing hardware/software lifecycles, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and university standards.

The IT Manager will collaborate closely with faculty, staff, and students to deliver exceptional support, identify opportunities for innovation, and supervise student technicians to foster a responsive, service-oriented IT culture.

Key Responsibilities:

Oversee and maintain IT systems supporting academic, research, and administrative operations, including hardware, software, backups, and secure computing environments.

Provide technical support and solutions by troubleshooting issues, training users, and partnering with faculty, staff, and students to anticipate and meet evolving technology needs.

Ensure compliance and security by adhering to federal, state, university, and college IT policies, standards, and regulations.

Lead and mentor student technicians, managing their training, workload, and performance while fostering a culture of professionalism and service.

What Were Looking For:

Strong knowledge of Microsoft operating systems with experience in Linux/UNIX and macOS, plus familiarity with scripting (Python, PowerShell, shell scripting, etc.).

Proven ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues, communicate effectively with diverse users, and provide excellent customer service.

Experience managing IT operations, purchasing, software licensing, and secure computing environments.

Ability to complete and maintain required training and certifications to support secure research environments.

Leadership skills with the ability to train, supervise, and mentor students while adapting to rapidly changing technologies

Why Join Us?

Play a key role in advancing the Colleges academic, research, and outreach mission through innovative and secure IT solutions.

Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and campus partners in a supportive, service-oriented environment.

Lead and mentor student technicians, contributing to both their professional growth and the success of the Colleges IT operations.

Enjoy opportunities for ongoing training, certification, and professional development to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Perks of the University of South Carolina:

Downtown COLA Location: Enjoy working in the heart of Columbia, SC, with easy access to vibrant city life, dining, and cultural events.

Energetic Leadership: Thrive under the guidance of an energetic and innovative leadership team dedicated to transforming IT at USC, making your role impactful and exciting.

Tuition assistance program (up to 16 credit hours per year) and dependent/spouse education benefits

Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance coverage for employees and their families.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience Requires job related accreditation from a technical school or an applicable skilled trades program and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials Preferred Qualifications Bachelors degree in Information Technology Systems or related field, or an applicable skilled trades program, or equivalent experience; and four years of experience in computer systems development, management, and modifications; computer lab management, or equivalent.

Experience working with student IT staff, IT operations, and IT project management preferred.

Prefer higher education IT experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Ability to support diverse research computing needs with custom and creative hardware, software, networking, and instrumentation solutions;

Proficiency in Microsoft server and desktop operating systems, Linux/UNIX variants, and Macintosh OS;

Experience with MDM tools, GPO, and enterprise end device security;

Programming or scripting skills;

Strong analytical abilities for project planning and supervision;

Excellent organizational and technical writing skills for thorough documentation;

Effective collaboration and communication; ability to present data and maintain detailed records;

Relationship management with users, vendors, and employees;

Self-training to keep pace with evolving technology; and

The ability to translate organizational needs into standardized, efficient, and scalable technology solutions.

Job Duties Job Duty Design, install, configure, maintain, monitor, troubleshoot, and upgrade hardware and system software configurations to support the CEC departments administrative, academic, and research missions.

Manage hardware and software lifecycles; negotiate pricing and purchasing.

Manage, troubleshoot, and verify user workstation backups and network services to user workstations.

Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures.

Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures.

Failure in compliance will result in failing this job duty.

Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 25 Job Duty Proactively partner with faculty, staff, and students to further university goals by providing technical assistance, troubleshooting, training, and consulting related to information technology services and resources.

Assist users with issues and seek solutions to solve users technology needs.

Build and manage positive relationships with faculty, staff, and students to best understand their diverse technology needs and implement information technology best practices that fit the current and future anticipated needs.

Develop trust by being knowledgeable, dependable, and responsive.

Observe and analyze business processes to advise on where additions or technology changes may provide increased efficiency, accuracy, or otherwise add value or improve the existing process.

Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures.

Failure in compliance will result in failing this job duty.

Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 25 Job Duty Use the enterprise IT ticket system to manage workload.

Coordinate with other staff as needed to complete goals.

Train and supervise student employees.

Clearly communicate task steps and goals.

Monitor task progress.

Regularly provide updates on progress to supported users.

Note and update tickets in the enterprise IT ticket system to keep all staff informed of work in progress.

Maintain physical space, tools, and equipment in IT offices to a reasonable standard of neatness and efficiency.

Create and maintain related documentation, inventories, standard operating procedures, and training documents.

Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 20 Job Duty Manage computers and computing resources in secure research environments.

Understand the required regulatory frameworks for secure computing.

Assist faculty, staff, students, and researchers in managing, deploying, and troubleshooting computer and computing resource issues in compliance with secure research needs and regulations.

Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 20 Job Duty Obtain and maintain job training and certifications as required by job responsibilities.

Self-train and maintain pace with rapidly changing technology as required.

Participate in communities of practice.

Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 5 Job Duty Perform additional duties as required.

Essential Function No Percentage of Time 5 Position Attributes Hazardous weather category Non-Essential Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR Drug and Alcohol Testing.

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