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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for IT Specialist

💰 $55,000 - $110,000

Information TechnologySystems AdministrationNetwork Administration

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking an IT Specialist — a hands-on technical professional responsible for maintaining reliable, secure, and efficient IT systems across desktops, servers, networks, cloud services and end-user devices. The ideal candidate combines strong systems administration experience (Windows/Linux), networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP), endpoint and security management, and effective communication skills to diagnose complex issues, deliver solutions at SLA, and drive small-to-medium IT projects. This role supports both daily operations and continuous improvement initiatives; it serves internal business users and liaises with vendors, security, and application teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Help Desk Technician / Desktop Support
  • Junior Systems Administrator
  • Network Support Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Systems Administrator
  • IT Infrastructure Engineer
  • Network Engineer
  • IT Manager / Infrastructure Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Cloud Engineer (Azure/AWS)
  • Cybersecurity Analyst / Security Engineer
  • DevOps Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide frontline and escalation-level support for Windows and macOS desktops and laptops, resolving complex hardware, OS, driver, and configuration issues to restore user productivity within defined SLAs.
  • Administer and maintain Active Directory, including user and group provisioning, Group Policy Objects (GPO) creation and troubleshooting, password resets, account lifecycle management, and delegation of administrative rights.
  • Install, configure, patch and maintain Windows Server and Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu/CentOS) systems, including role-based services (DNS, DHCP, file/print, IIS), applying security updates and performing controlled reboots.
  • Manage virtualization infrastructure such as VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V: deploy and manage VMs, monitor cluster health, perform host maintenance and participate in capacity planning.
  • Implement and manage cloud services (Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud) for hybrid workloads; configure identity integration, IaaS instances, storage accounts, and automate resource provisioning via templates or IaC.
  • Maintain and troubleshoot network infrastructure: configure and support routers, switches, VLANs, wireless controllers, VPN concentrators, and QoS settings to ensure secure and performant connectivity.
  • Administer and harden perimeter and internal security devices such as firewalls (Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, Fortinet), intrusion detection/prevention systems, and ensure firewall rule hygiene and change control.
  • Administer Microsoft 365 / Office 365 tenant services: Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive; manage licenses, mail flow, retention policies, security & compliance settings, and user provisioning.
  • Configure, deploy and manage endpoint protection and EDR solutions (e.g., CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, Symantec), perform threat triage and coordinate remediation with security teams.
  • Maintain backup, recovery and business continuity solutions (Veeam, Commvault, Azure Backup): test restore procedures, validate backups, and develop disaster recovery playbooks.
  • Perform patch management across endpoints and servers using SCCM/Intune/WSUS or third-party tools: schedule deployments, handle exceptions, and report compliance metrics.
  • Create and maintain runbooks, standard operating procedures and technical documentation for systems, configurations, incident postmortems, and onboarding processes to ensure knowledge continuity.
  • Support voice and unified communications platforms (VoIP systems, Teams telephony), troubleshoot call routing, QoS and endpoint provisioning.
  • Manage endpoint lifecycle including imaging, thin client deployment, mobile device management (Intune, JAMF, AirWatch), asset tagging and inventory reconciliation.
  • Use scripting and automation (PowerShell, Bash, Python) to streamline repetitive tasks: account provisioning, log parsing, scheduled maintenance, and configuration drift corrections.
  • Monitor system and network health with observability tools (SolarWinds, Nagios, Datadog, Azure Monitor): set alerts, analyze trending metrics, and escalate capacity or performance issues.
  • Coordinate with vendors and third-party service providers for warranty claims, hardware replacements, software licensing renewals and project delivery; negotiate SLAs and track performance.
  • Lead or participate in cross-functional projects such as network refreshes, cloud migrations, server consolidations, or security hardening efforts; create technical designs and assist with testing and cutover.
  • Enforce compliance controls for regulatory frameworks (HIPAA, PCI, SOX) and internal IT policies: perform audits, implement remediation plans and provide evidence for compliance reporting.
  • Provide remote support and secure remote access solutions for distributed teams and contractors; configure VPN, zero-trust access tools and monitor remote session security.
  • Perform routine capacity planning, storage allocation and lifecycle management for critical infrastructure to ensure availability targets (e.g., 99.9% uptime) and cost optimization.
  • Troubleshoot and tune application dependencies (database connectivity, middleware, DNS resolution), liaising directly with developers and application owners to resolve production incidents.
  • Participate in incident response, root cause analysis and after-action reviews; maintain incident logs, update stakeholders and implement corrective actions to reduce recurrence.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist with user training sessions, create user guides and run periodic knowledge transfer workshops for common IT procedures.
  • Help evaluate new tools and technologies, conduct pilot tests, and prepare business cases for procurement and adoption.
  • Maintain spare inventory of critical hardware components and coordinate on-site hardware swaps or depot repairs as required.
  • Support cost tracking for IT operations (licensing, cloud spend, hardware depreciation) and suggest optimization opportunities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Windows Server administration (2016/2019/2022): Roles, Active Directory, GPO, PowerShell automation.
  • Microsoft 365 / Office 365 administration: Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, licensing and security.
  • Networking fundamentals and protocols: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, routing, and VPN configuration/troubleshooting.
  • Virtualization platforms: VMware vSphere ESXi, vCenter, or Microsoft Hyper-V – VM lifecycle, snapshots, HA/DR.
  • Cloud platforms and services (Azure and/or AWS): IaaS, identity integration (Azure AD), storage and networking.
  • Endpoint management and MDM (Intune, SCCM, JAMF): imaging, software distribution, patching, mobile device policies.
  • Security technologies: firewalls (Palo Alto, Cisco, Fortinet), endpoint protection, EDR, IDS/IPS and email security.
  • Backup & disaster recovery tools (Veeam, Commvault, Azure Backup), restore testing and retention policies.
  • Scripting and automation: PowerShell (preferred), Bash, basic Python for automation and orchestration.
  • Monitoring and observability: SolarWinds, Nagios, Datadog, Azure Monitor, or comparable tools.
  • Configuration management and change control processes; familiarity with ITIL concepts and ticketing systems (ServiceNow, Jira).
  • Hardware troubleshooting and lifecycle management for servers, storage arrays and network appliances.
  • Basic database and application troubleshooting skills (SQL connectivity, logs, dependency mapping).
  • VPN, remote access technologies and zero-trust access solutions (ZTNA).
  • Familiarity with compliance frameworks and security controls (HIPAA, PCI, SOX) and audit support.

Soft Skills

  • Strong customer service orientation and ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
  • Problem-solving mindset with structured troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
  • Time management and prioritization in high-pressure, multi-incident environments.
  • Team player who collaborates effectively across IT, security, and business stakeholders.
  • Adaptability and continuous learning attitude to keep up with evolving technologies.
  • Clear documentation and knowledge-sharing habits to reduce single points of failure.
  • Project coordination and vendor management skills.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems or equivalent hands-on experience (technical certifications may substitute).

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology / Systems
  • Network Engineering
  • Cybersecurity

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of progressive IT support, systems or networking experience.

Preferred: 3–7 years of hands-on systems administration and network experience, including exposure to cloud platforms (Azure/AWS), virtualization, and security tooling. Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, CompTIA Network+/Security+, MCSA/MCSE, VMware VCP, or ITIL Foundation are strong pluses.

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