Systems Administrator & Senior Systems Administrator - Champaign County, IL

Champaign County, IL (population 205,865), is seeking Information Technology professionals as candidates for two (2) Systems Administrator positions and one (1) Senior Systems Administrator position. At the crossroads of Interstate 57, 74 and 72 sits Champaign-Urbana, a micro-urban oasis that enjoys the benefits of a big city with the charm of a small town. With the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana as the hub of the community, the greater Champaign-Urbana area offers a thriving arts and culture atmosphere combined with top-notch dining options, sporting events, museums and technology and wide-open spaces.

Systems Administrator - Position Overview:

The two (2) positions function as members of the County Courthouse’s information technology team, supporting judicial systems and applications. Responsible for monitoring and maintaining the servers and data for the criminal justice and court management system. 

Essential Duties:

• Ensuring security, integrity, stability and availability of databases and servers.
• User management across relevant systems and platforms.
• Creating new and maintain existing reports and queries.
• Manages and administers databases and services.
• Maintains system integrity by performing system monitoring, analysis, and performance tuning.
• Troubleshooting system hardware, software, networks and operating systems.
• Designing and conducting training programs and creating thorough references and documentation.
• Works with team members in the planning and delivery of solutions.
• Implementation of improved processes and reporting to management.
• Provides computer and application support, troubleshooting basic desktop/laptop and networking issues, escalating intermediate and advanced issues to senior County IT staff and/or  vendor(s).
• Establishes system specifications by conferring with users, analyzing workflow and designing system infrastructure.
• Works with Senior Systems Administrator to develop system access, monitoring, control and evaluation; establishing and testing disaster recovery policies and procedures; completing back-ups; maintaining documentation.
• Upgrades systems by conferring with vendors; developing, testing, evaluating, and installing enhancements and new software.

The Ideal Candidate for the Systems Administrator will possess:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school and two years of experience in enterprise systems administration.
• Fundamental knowledge of structured query language (SQL) and familiarity with SQL report creation and modification.
• Experience with court management systems and applications that support court management systems is  preferred.
• Experience with IBM Power System (AS/400) preferred.

The hiring range for the Systems Administrator position is between $55,000 to $82,000. Residency is not required. Champaign County offers a competitive salary for a 37.5-hour work week and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision plans, paid sick and vacation leave, 14 paid holidays, as well as participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).

Senior Systems Administrator – Position Overview:

As a leading team member of the IT Department, the Senior Systems Administrator is responsible for the reliability and integrity of the County’s server and network infrastructure and works to ensure systems and services continue running smoothly and securely. The position serves as a technical expert for systems administration, providing tier 3 support for any escalated complex issues, as well as operating as the key staff member for cybersecurity-related functions. Duties can range from administering servers and networking equipment to finding, identifying, and mitigating network threats to safeguard assets. Work is performed under the supervision of the Chief Information Officer. 

Essential Duties:

• Installs, configures, and maintains server and networking equipment.
• Monitors performance of server and network infrastructure.
• Monitors and reviews system logs to proactively detect, troubleshoot, and resolve problems.
• Performs administrative duties regarding Windows Server 12/16/19 (including AD, Hyper-V, File Services, DNS, DHCP).
• Performs administrative duties of Azure Active Directory and M365.
• Reviews the work and proposals of team members, providing recommendations and guidance.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and enforcement of various hardware and software policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Conducts capacity planning and analysis suggesting necessary improvements.
• Aids in coordinating the development, training, and testing for an updated County disaster recovery/business continuity plan.
• Ensures that data protection measures are in place using techniques such as data encryption, email security configurations, malware prevention measures, and other security configurations.
• Functions as internal expert on matters relating to cybersecurity, including intrusion detection and incident response.
• Analyzes logs and alerts from various sources to identify threats and take appropriate action to safeguard County assets.
• Leads investigations and coordinated responses into discovered network intrusions/breaches or cyber security attacks.
• Discovers potential service problems by identifying patterns occurring across separate help desk tickets and customer reports.
• Evaluates vendor products and roadmaps, making recommendations for procurement/implementation.
• Collaborates with team to ensure the timely patching of systems/devices.

The Ideal Candidate for the Senior Systems Administrator will possess:

• Associate's Degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school required.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in systems administration preferred (networking and server) with a focus on network security and/or cybersecurity.

The hiring range for the Senior Systems Administrator is between $61,000 to $93,000. Residency is not required. Champaign County offers a competitive salary for a 37.5-hour work week and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision plans, paid sick and vacation leave, 14 paid holidays, as well as participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).

Application Information:

The deadline for applying for the Systems Administrator and/or Senior Systems Administrator position(s) is October 6, 2023, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Qualified candidates should apply online at www.GovHRjobs.com  with résumé, cover letter, and contact information for five professional references, Attn: Don Carlsen, GovHR USA, Tel: 847-380-3240.