Job Description

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Core Values:

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.

• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.

• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.

• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

The posted salary range budgeted for this position is between $5,521.58 to $7,288.58 monthly. New hires will be typically brought into the agency at a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification in the Office of Technology unless the average pay exceeds the midpoint for the state position's classification salary group. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who far exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role.

Position Overview

The Systems Administrator reports to the IT Operations Manager and works within the Technology Operations Division. This position performs IT support work within the Texas Education Agency. The mission of the Texas Education Agency is to improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

This role performs advanced (senior level) computer systems administration work that involves troubleshooting and solving complex problems with IT systems, automating processes using scripting languages, creating procedures, forecasting resource needs, improving and updating existing IT systems, and designing and implementing new IT systems. This position is an individual contributor role, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume is a required attachment for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

About Office of IT

The Office of Information Technology works closely with all agency divisions to implement innovative technology solutions in a cost-efficient manner that supports the goals and priorities of the Texas Education Agency. The Office of IT provides efficient technology solutions and stellar customer services to internal staff, 20 Educational Service Centers, and 1,200-plus public-school districts and charter schools. The following services are provided by IT: leadership on IT initiatives; guidance on security/policy issues; new application development/enhancements; software acquisition; technical support; assistance with technical sections of purchasing documents such as Request for Information (RFI), Request for Offers (RFO), Request for Proposals (RFP); and oversight on the data collection process which helps to support and improve outcomes for all of Texas' 5 million-plus students.

Essential Functions

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Cloud Administration: configures and manages Microsoft 365 and Azure cloud environments to meet the organization's needs; creates and implements strategies and plans to migrate on-premises data and systems to the cloud

2. Server Administration: administers and maintains an enterprise IT environment consisting primarily of Microsoft Windows Servers

3. Customer Service: ensures that all customers' tickets opened in Jira Service Desk are resolved and closed in a timely manner based upon set service level agreements

4. Performs eDiscovery Work: works within the Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal to complete eDiscovery requests in a confidential and accurate manner; requests should be completed on-time and delivered to the requestor in a secure manner



Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

• Experience: At least five [ 5 ] years of experience as a systems administrator within an enterprise IT environment; must also possess at least two (2) years of experience performing cloud administration within either Microsoft/Office 365, or Microsoft Azure

• Substitutions: Each additional year of related experience above the required minimum may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

Other Qualifications

• Experience administrating a Microsoft 365 environment

• Experience administrating Active Directory Domain Services

• Experience using a Help Desk system to resolve customers' requests in a timely manner

• Experience using monitoring software and actively responding to alerts

• Ability to act as a technical escalation point for others, to help resolve technically challenging issues

• Skilled at documenting processes and procedures

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals at varying technical levels, using both verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information

• Willingness and ability to work occasional overtime and/or a flexible schedule as needed to meet required deadlines

• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.