System Administrator

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

System Administrator

Job Profile Title

Systems Administrator C

Job Description Summary

We are currently seeking an experienced IT Administrator to join the Penn Vet team and provide comprehensive technical support in the dynamic university setting, encompassing classrooms, hospital facilities, farm operations, and research labs. This role is responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, maintenance, and support of the organization’s campus technology infrastructure. This includes hospital systems management, network engineering, phone systems, endpoint management, and coordination of technology-related facility operations. The role ensures the reliability, scalability, and security of all IT infrastructure, while managing vendor relationships and delivering exceptional service. The candidate is expected to have experience working closely with the school’s desktop support teams and other IT-oriented teams within the university.

Job Description

DUTIES:

This role will serve as the on-site networking liaison for the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center campus in Kennett Square, PA (alternatively at the Philadelphia campus as deemed necessary). This position provides essential local support, ensuring stable, secure, and resilient computing operations. The specialist performs hands-on field tasks and Tier I/II network support, including incident triage, routine maintenance, and coordination with central IT teams and vendors. This role ensures that network systems, fiber infrastructure, and wireless technologies are maintained in accordance with Penn’s technical standards and operational procedures. This position collaborates closely with the Penn Vet community, comprising faculty, staff, and students, to address technology-related needs.

Location:

This position is located in Kennett Square, PA (Chester County), which is approximately 33 miles outside of Philadelphia. There is no public transportation to this location. You must have your own transportation. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field experience (Master’s preferred). 2-3 years of experience in IT infrastructure, networking, and systems administration, with at least 1 year in a leadership role. Proven experience managing enterprise network environments and VoIP phone systems. Strong background in vendor management and facilities coordination.

· Certifications: CCNP, CompTIA Network+, or equivalent networking certification or equivalent is strongly preferred.

-Candidate must have their own transportation and a valid driver's license.

- The candidate must be comfortable working in a farm environment and around large farm animals.

Skills:

· Understanding of networking technologies (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, VPNs, routing, switching, firewalls), including physical tasks involving switches, routers, UPS, and fiber connectivity.

· Experience with enterprise VoIP platforms

· Knowledge of OSI and security models, networking protocols including Ethernet, TCP/IP, and SNMP.

· Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting network routers and Ethernet switches.

· Familiarity with virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V), cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure), and security best practices.

· Proficiency with monitoring tools, backup systems, and ITSM platforms.

· Strong verbal & written communication skills, collaboration skills, and ability to work under minimal supervision within the context of their job responsibilities required.

· Vendor management experience.

Key Competencies:

o Strategic Thinking: Ability to align projects and programs with the strategic goals and vision.

o Adaptability: Flexibility in managing changing priorities and unforeseen challenges in a dynamic environment.

o Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders at all levels.

o Detail-Oriented: Keen attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes.

Job Location - City, State

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Veterinary Medicine

Pay Range

$71,733.00 - $93,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay