Systems Administrator I

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Job End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

This is a one-year term position

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary
The Systems Administrator I designs systems software solutions, defines systems scope, and provides recommendations for all systems supported infrastructure as part of regular operations.

Organizational Status

UBC IT Communication and Collaboration Services provides a suite of services to the University community including Microsoft 365, SharePoint, FASmail, Email Relaying (Email delivery and spam/virus scanning), Voice Services and Digital Signage.

Reports to the Team Lead, Collaboration Services. Works independently and jointly within the Collaboration Services team.

Collaborates with management and staff from all sections of Information Technology, other administrative and academic offices, and faculty to coordinate application support. Interacts directly with other University technology professionals.

Work Performed

Specific Duties:

• Analyzes client unit requirements and business processes, and creates solution proposals for implementation, which may include diagrammed workflows, programming logic and equipment and software specifications.
• Participates in the assessment of client needs utilizing a structured requirements process (gathering, analyzing, documenting, and managing changes) to identify business priorities and recommends options.
• Builds and sustains good working relationships with customers and captures the customers business needs.
• Develop of scripts to automate and improve processes, monitor servers, extract and convert data.
• Develops and maintains relevant documentation, including operational procedures and guides for customers, end-users, and application support teams.
• Modifies applications and conducts testing of customizations to ensure specifications are met. Documents these changes and subsequent QA scenarios.
• Collaborates with peers/team members to identify, analyze, recommend and implement appropriate system enhancements that will improve existing information systems and improve business processes and productivity.
• Provisioning SharePoint, Exchange and other related service using tools such as Active Directory and relevant application admin tools, developing and coding business logic and workflows.
• Develops expertise in the functionality of vendor products. Works directly with the vendors technical support center to resolve product issues.

Core Duties:

• Designs solutions to resolve system related business problems, meet user requirements, and streamline system work flows.
• Formulates and defines system scope and objectives and recommends a strategy, potential solution, or "work-around".
• Monitors and analyzes systems issues and provides recommendations for all systems supported infrastructure as part of regular operations.
• Provides guidance and training to less experienced administrators.
• Writes and maintains systems documentation including user and technical manuals.
• Designs, provisions and configures systems.
• Acts as a liaison between technical groups and stakeholders to coordinate the system’s installation and ensure technical compatibility and satisfaction.
• Prepares documentation and defines system specific dependencies to assist in problem analysis.
• Provides recommendations for improving procedures and coordinating system implementation.
• Integrates development of best practices, standards, procedures and quality objectives across systems infrastructure or platforms.
• Maintains appropriate professional designations and up-to-date knowledge of current information technology techniques and tools.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Information Technology plays a key role in enabling the University to achieve its goal of becoming one of the world’s leading universities. The services supported by Information Technology require reliable application systems in order to provide critical functions that support all students, faculty and staff. These systems must be available on a 7x24 basis.

Decisions and actions taken by the Systems Administrator will have a direct impact on how efficiently and effectively the systems will perform and function. Errors in judgment, poor analysis, or failure to act decisively could have a detrimental effect on these systems. Unreliable systems or failure to meet contractual obligations for performance and availability will damage the reputation of Information Technology and UBC. This could adversely impact the University community, including the large majority of students, faculty and staff, and could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost productivity, funding and revenue.

Supervision Received

Receives day-to-day from the Team Lead and strategic direction from the Manager, Collaboration Services. The Systems Administrator may also receive daily direction from a Team Lead, Programmer Analyst, Network Analyst, Systems Administrator or Project Manager as assigned and must be able to work independently as well as contribute actively and collaborate openly as a team member.

Supervision Given

May mentor newly hired systems administrators and other resources within the group who assist with application support and maintenance.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Power Platform, including Power Automate flows for workflow automation and integration with M365 services.
• Demonstrated experience working with Microsoft 365 services, with a focus on SharePoint Online and the broader M365 ecosystem including Teams, OneDrive, and Exchange
• Experience developing with modern web technologies including React, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, and CSS; practical experience building or customizing SharePoint Framework (SPFx) web parts, extensions, and integrated components within the M365 platform.
• Experience configuring and developing for SharePoint is an asset.
• Good understanding and experience with testing best practices/concepts is required.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities and work under pressure to meet time sensitive and mission critical deadlines.
• Ability to take initiative and work with limited direction.

Core Competencies

Collaboration (Intermediate – I):

Actively solicits ideas and opinions from others to efficiently and effectively accomplish specific

objectives targeted at defined business outcomes. Openly encourages other team members to

voice their ideas and concerns. Shows respect for differences and diversity, and disagrees

without personalizing issues. Utilizes strengths of team members to achieve optimal

performance.

Communicating for Results (Intermediate – I):

Conducts discussions with and writes memoranda to all levels of colleagues and peer groups in

ways that support troubleshooting and problem solving. Seeks and shares relevant information,

opinions, and judgments. Handles conflict empathetically. Explains the context of interrelated

situations, asks probing questions, and solicits multiple sources of advice prior to taking action

when appropriate.

Problem Solving (Intermediate – I):

Applies problem-solving methodologies and tools to diagnose and solve operational and

interpersonal problems. Determines the potential causes of the problem and devises testing

methodologies for validation. Shows empathy and objectivity toward individuals involved in the

issue. Analyzes multiple alternatives, risks, and benefits for a range of potential solutions.

Recommends resource requirements and collaborates with impacted stakeholders

Accountability (Intermediate – I):

Sets objectives that meet organizational needs. Provides recommendations to individuals and

teams on ways to improve performance and meet defined objectives. Monitors and provides

feedback on individual and team performance against defined standards.

Information Systems Knowledge (Intermediate – I):

Resolves escalated problems of technical support. Identifies root causes. Sets up and integrates

new and enhanced information systems. Identifies customer needs and determines the

appropriate approach to apply and ensure resolution. Solicits the input of appropriate technical

experts and managers as required.

Initiative (Intermediate – I):

Seeks out new challenges that require risk taking. Determines the resources, team support, and

technical needs necessary to enable success and procures them. Keeps responding to the

challenge in spite of obstacles and setbacks.