IT System Administration - Journey

The Office of Secretary of State (OSOS) offers some of the most unique and diverse job opportunities in state government. Its critical responsibilities include: ensuring a fair and accurate elections process; connecting Washingtonians through the power of libraries; protecting our important government records; and registering corporations and charities. The Secretary of State also administers vital community programs that inspire giving, document our history, and assist crime survivors in avoiding further abuse. This independent office under the state Constitution operates from facilities in the Olympia area and statewide. 

The OSOS is looking for top-performing employees who embody its core values of integrity, service excellence, visionary leadership, collaboration and teamwork. It is committed to both employee growth and work-life balance. The benefits of working in state government also include potential eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Visit our website at: www.sos.wa.gov.
 
The Division of Information Technology (IT) is a support arm of the entire organization--touching every program, every division, all staff members, and most stakeholders. IT is a division comprised of several teams that drive the OSOS IT operations. These teams include Applications Development, ServiceDesk Support, IT Project Management, System Administration and Architecture.
 
This position reports to the System Admin Sr. Spec Supervisor. 

The IT System Administrator is a fully competent professional who, aligned with the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework, uses IT Service Management (ITSM) to support and manage systems.  This position utilizes experienced knowledge to accomplish tasks and an understanding of IT concepts.  This position strives to improve the systems this position supports through learning and understanding OSOS’s business needs, interacting with end users and attending statewide technical groups.
 
This position provides system administration and network and telecommunications skills primarily for the Washington state election system, but will also be assigned to other agency systems, as needed. This position looks beyond current best practices, standards, policies, procedures and uses experience and advanced professional knowledge to take the agency into the future and mature our organization’s infrastructure. The incumbent exercises independent responsibility and judgement in setting standards, as well as designing, developing, and implementing IT solutions that integrate and secure networks throughout the agency.
 
As the networking subject matter expert (SME), this position has comprehensive networking knowledge and has professional level expertise in multiple IT disciplines including IT Networking, Security, Network, Telecom, and System Administration in order to effectively anticipate impact, combat security threats, create sustainable strategies, troubleshoot complex multi-system problems and implement and audit advanced technical configurations. Duty: Administers and maintains IT systems, services and applications as a technically competent IT professional.
Serves as an agency’s system administrator and technical subject matter expert of assigned agency wide services, applications, and systems such as VoteWA, Microsoft Backend Infrastructure (Active Directory, Group Policy, IIS, SQL, file and print services, Azure Active Directory, Email, M365 application configuration and security), System monitoring tools (Azure app insights, Data Dog, etc.), and Physical and Virtual Servers. Deploys, troubleshoots, maintains, and manages network topology, circuits, IPv4, IPv6, IP addressing, segmentation, security, NTP, DHCP, DNS, certificates and all other WAN and LAN technology.
Tasks:

• Manages all aspects of existing systems, working with journey and entry positions to coordinate security, privacy, networking, data management, system design and integration.
• Oversees the installation, configuration, and maintenance of operating systems and system software.
• Plans and executes system upgrades and migrations.
• Manages and maintains server infrastructure, including both physical and virtual servers.
• Implements security measures to protect systems from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cyber threats.
• Monitors system performance and troubleshooting issues to ensure optimal uptime and performance.
• Manages and optimizes cloud infrastructure and services (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Develops and implements backup and disaster recovery plans to minimize downtime and data loss.
• Manages user accounts, permissions, and access controls to ensure security and compliance with company policies.
• Collaborates with other IT teams to integrate systems and ensure compatibility across the network.
• Conducts regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential risks.
• Automates repetitive tasks and processes to improve efficiency and productivity.
• Documents system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps for knowledge sharing and training purposes.
• Keeps team members and other stakeholders informed on system changes, schedules and technology updates. 
• Implements and maintains monitoring tools to proactively identify and resolve issues before they impact users.
• Manages software licenses and ensuring compliance with vendor agreements and usage policies.
• Collaborates with vendors and third-party service providers to resolve issues and implement solutions.

Duty: Network and Telecommunications

• Works with agency IT architects to design, of complex network infrastructure including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points.
• Monitors network performance and troubleshoot connectivity issues, ensuring maximum uptime and reliability.
• Independently implements and manages network security protocols, including firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection/prevention systems.
• Evaluates and recommends network hardware and software upgrades to improve performance and efficiency.
• Collaborates with vendors to procure network and telecommunications equipment and services.
• Develops and maintain network documentation, including diagrams, configurations, and policies.
• Leads network infrastructure projects, including planning, implementation, and post-implementation support.
• Collaborates with other IT teams to integrate network infrastructure with other systems and applications.
• Responds to and resolve network and telecommunications-related incidents and service requests in a timely manner.
• Coordinates with third-party service providers for network and telecommunications maintenance and support.

Keeps Current with Technology/Training – Stays current with the latest system administration and network support best practices, trends, technology, and threats. Works with IT staff, system users, and agency management when needed. 
 
Tasks include:

• Proactively keeps current with industry standards and practices for system administration and networking by attending classes, attending seminars and webinars, and reading industry publications.
• Attends trainings, conferences, and other events to maintain or develop skills.
• Maintains awareness of potential external threats or risks to the security posture of the application portfolio.

Miscellaneous:

• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• 4* or more years of professional information technology experience such as troubleshooting, installing and/or maintaining server software or hardware, virtual servers, firewalls or network infrastructure equipment.
   
  *College level degree or completion of accredited training program may substitute for up to 2 years of experience. (Associates would be substituted for 1 year, Bachelors would be substituted for 2 years, and Masters would be substituted for 3 years).
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• One year or more of PowerShell Experience
• CompTIA Certificates such as A , Network , Security , and/or Cloud Essentials.
• Microsoft Certifications such as Azure, IIS, SQL, Servers and Cloud Applications.
• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Certification

Working Conditions:
In this position, the incumbent works primarily in an office environment where sitting for long periods of time and extensive use of the keyboard is required. The standard work hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM though work can be required outside of standard hours to include evenings, weekends, and holidays, particularly when emergency situations arise.  Coordination of personal work schedule with that of the team may be required to ensure consistent availability.  Regular travel to local offices is required. The incumbent must have the ability to move and maneuver objects weighing approximately 50 lbs. with or without reasonable accommodation. The incumbent must also be able to listen attentively, identify issues, provide options, address requests and resolve complaints or conflicts.  The incumbent in this position must be able to represent the Office of the Secretary of State in a competent, confident, and professional manner, including professional dress.

How to Apply:

• To be considered for this position you must attach the following:
  • Letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the duties and qualifications of the position
  • Current resume
  • Three professional references
• You must complete the supplemental questions at the end of this application.  Incomplete responses such as "see resume" will not be considered.  In addition, if the employer you identify in the additional information section is not included on your resume or work experience profile and/or you do not identify an employer, you will not receive credit.
• All veterans must include a copy of your DD214 to receive preference in the hiring process.  You must black out your social security number before attaching it to your application.
• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Must have current Washington state driver's license or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation

The Office of the Secretary of State is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We do not discriminate on the basis of religion, age, sex, marital status, race, color, creed, national origin, political affiliation, military status, sexual orientation, or any real or perceived sensory, mental or physical ability. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this announcement in alternative format, should call (360) 480-4871.