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Penn State Job Catalog

Systems Administrator – Senior Professional (PSU1104)

Additional Levels
Job Strings

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Systems Administration



Job Summary

Systems Administrators maintain the integrity of various computer systems including operating systems, physical servers, appliances, and specialized application environments; administer, install, and troubleshoot a variety of technical components, perform systems maintenance tasks such as resource utilization checks and back-up and recovery; perform configuration changes to address customer needs; schedule, install, and test system software upgrades; monitor and maintain software licensing and maintenance agreements.

Representative Duties

  • Install, configure, maintain, upgrade, and support systems and software
  • Develop plans, schedules, and requirements for deployment of systems
  • Create custom programs and scripts to aid in systems management
  • Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve system issues and/or respond to outages
  • Resolve service-related issues; determine immediate economic and financial consequences of an incident
  • Test and implement upgrades and patches to installed operating systems and software
  • Maintain reliability of systems by monitoring, running tests, and troubleshooting
  • Monitor backups and plans for installed systems; review adequacy of emergency response plans
  • Monitor, maintain, and execute automation processes and procedures
  • Monitor threats, alerts, security vulnerabilities; conduct regular reviews of security against policy goals
  • Evaluate organizational vulnerabilities within assigned area of responsibility
  • Manage, research, and resolve complex end-user escalation incidents
  • Evaluate and recommend new or existing system improvements and/or solutions
  • Create and maintain system documentation of departmental processes, procedures, plans, and configurations
  • May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level Matrix

Level:
Senior Professional
Base Description:
– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.
Level Summary:
– Demonstrates advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field. Works independently on moderately complex work assignments under limited oversight, reviews progress, and evaluates results. Monitors work and projects ensuring timeliness, quality, and efficiency. Identifies and mobilizes resources to achieve outcomes. Trains others and reviews progress with management. Presents ideas, concepts, and instructions in a clear and persuasive manner. Develops new techniques, concepts, and approaches and applies them to moderately complex and strategic and/or operational issues.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee
Fiscal Responsibilities:
– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
Problem Solving:
– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
Independence of Action:
– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines established by supervisor
– May review the work of others to verify accuracy and conformance to required procedures and special instructions
Communication and Collaboration:
– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Coaches others in using appropriate strategies for resolving conflict; negotiating reasonable compromises; and proposing and evaluating possible solutions
– Give candid and constructive feedback to others to influence and persuade managers and employees to accept and implement findings and recommendations
Salary Structure
  • Comp Grade – 13
  • Minimum – $86,300.00
  • MidPoint – $107,900.00
  • Maximum – $129,500.00
FLSA Exemption Status
Exempt
Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree
Minimum Experience
6+ years of relevant experience
Equivalency
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Additional Job Requirements