IT Systems Administrator

Onsite IT Systems Administrator: Location: Richmond, Virginia Metropolitan Area (A Well-Known Employer) Position Type: Contract-to-Hire Schedule: Onsite | Monday–Friday | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | 40 Hours/Week (No Telework) Requires Periodic On-Call Rotations and may require Weekend and Emergency Onsite Work Position Overview: Our client is seeking an experienced, customer-focused IT Systems Administrator to manage a hybrid environment spanning Microsoft 365 and on-premises infrastructure. You'll own day-to-day operations for Microsoft 365 (Entra ID, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Intune, Defender for Endpoint, etc.) and Windows Server/AD, backups, Hyper-V, and Nutanix, with mid-level Linux responsibilities. The role partners closely with leadership and the service desk to deliver reliable, secure services and to help departments get the most from the M365 platform. Key Responsibilities: Core Systems & Infrastructure Deploy, maintain, and harden servers, storage, endpoints, operating systems, and peripherals. Administer on-prem Active Directory (users/groups, OU/GPO design, File/Print) and Hyper-V; coordinate with VMware as needed. Own backup/restore across on-prem and cloud solutions; perform regular testing and validation; manage disaster recovery and business continuity requirements. Define and enforce IT policies and procedures (security, DR, standards, service provisioning). Serve as escalation for the Service Desk and partner on complex troubleshooting. Microsoft 365 Administration Manage Entra ID (Azure AD) and hybrid identity: user lifecycle, groups, access reviews, Conditional Access, MFA/SSPR. Administer Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Teams policies, permissions, external/guest access, and lifecycle/archiving. Configure and operate Intune (Endpoint Manager): device compliance, configuration profiles, app deployment, Autopilot, and Defender for Endpoint. Design and maintain SharePoint/Teams information architecture: site taxonomy, metadata/content types, templates, and hub strategy. Build and deliver role-based training (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, information management, and document retention best practices). Monitor health, capacity, and security posture; drive remediation from alerts, logs, and usage reports. Networking & On-Call Perform basic administration of switches, firewalls, VPNs, and Wi-Fi controllers/APs. Participate in a 7-day on-call rotation; provide weekend/emergency support as needed. Projects, Operations & Communications Lead systems migrations projects and drive adoption of technology through the organization. Maintain detailed documentation of issues, resolutions, and procedures. Communicate regularly with executives, department heads, and end users on IT initiatives and status. Uphold excellent customer service standards with a positive and collaborative attitude. Identify opportunities for automation to streamline departmental workflows. Contribute to policies and SOPs for security, disaster recovery, standards, and service provisioning; socialize updates with stakeholders. Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in IT/CS or equivalent experience; 6+ years total in IT operations, systems admin, backup admin, and security/compliance. 3+ years Microsoft 365 including Entra ID; experience with Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Teams. 3+ years on-prem Microsoft Server (AD, Group Policy, File/Print). 3+ years in Virtualization technology (Hyper-V and/or Nutanix preferred). 3+ years in basic network setup/management (routers/switches/firewalls/Wi-Fi) and connectivity (CAT5/6, fiber, wireless). 3+ years hardware troubleshooting and server hardware builds. 2+ years mid-level Linux administration (Oracle Linux/RHEL). Experience integrating SaaS applications for identity management (SSO/SCIM). Strong written/verbal communication, time management, and teamwork; able to work independently and participate in an on-call rotation. Desired Qualifications: Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate. Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate. Hands-on with Intune and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Ability to coach departments on effective M365 adoption (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Power Platform).