2504 - Systems Administrator

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) supports the democratic aspirations of people around the world working to advance fundamental freedoms, justice, and human rights through grantmaking, research, and solidarity. We are united as a team in the pursuit of a world in which people determine their own future and are free to participate with dignity in their societies, endowed with equal rights and without repression.

As a 501(c)3 grantmaking foundation that receives an annual Congressional appropriation, NED is governed by a private, bipartisan Board of Directors. This unusual arrangement positions NED to play a unique role as America’s leading foundation for freedom, empowering the institution to be nimble, innovative, and risk-taking in support of democratic activists, civil society organizations, independent media, and the NED family core institutes (International Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, Center for International Private Enterprise, and the Solidarity Center).

Position Summary:

The Systems Administrator is responsible for managing, maintaining, and upgrading IT systems across on-premises and cloud-hosted environments. The Systems Administrator coordinates with IT staff and IT management to implement, review, and update policies and procedures for maximum efficiency and assists with the implementation, support, and management of current and future enterprise hardware and software technologies. 

Responsibilities:

• Support key on-premises infrastructure including, but not limited to network switches, routers, firewalls, and Wi-Fi.
• Manage and maintain server virtualization environments.
• Maintain network services such as DNS, DHCP, AD, SNMP, Radius, and other common network support services.
• Monitor and configure backup systems; work closely with senior staff to ensure that backup and archiving procedures are completed.
• Support and maintain production networks and systems by patching, monitoring, testing, and troubleshooting issues that may arise.
• Participate in the Help Desk as a tier-2 support resource.
• Review current systems and procedures to make technical/process recommendations for improving efficiency.
• Develop and present short technical presentations to Endowment staff and contribute technical solutions to the knowledge base.
• Stay current with relevant state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and/or systems. Evaluate new hardware and software technologies and present them to IT management for recommendation.
• Function collaboratively as part of a fast-paced, customer-oriented team.
• Other duties as assigned.
• The level of responsibility and independence in assigned tasks will increase with experience.

Qualifications: 

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 2+ years of experience with TCP/IP networks.
• 3+ years of direct support of end-users of information systems, or relevant experience in a technical environment.
• 2+ years of experience supporting enterprise servers and applications.
• Familiarity with key technologies: Cisco Catalyst switches, PaloAlto firewalls, Meraki Wi-Fi, and Microsoft Windows Server.
• Demonstrated technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Successfully present technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships among all levels of an organization.
• Ability to work under pressure and time constraints.
• Works well individually or in a group.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Administrative skills: organized, efficient, and versatile.
• Excellent organizational and time/task management skills.
• Available to work in the Washington, DC headquarters location.
• Network+ is desirable, but not required.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

This position is part of the NED Bargaining Unit.

To Apply: 

“Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time."

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, desired salary, and contact information for three professional references, of which one should be a supervisor. Please, no phone call inquiries. 

Located in Washington, D.C., the salary range for this role is $64,500 - $102,750 USD, plus benefits. The final offer for a successful candidate will be determined by a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations. 

At NED, we recognize that our most important asset is our people. We value the diversity of skills and perspectives our team brings to our work. We believe an inclusive and supportive work environment fosters a culture of respect and appreciation for all individuals. NED is committed to creating a workplace that allows everyone to be their authentic selves and make meaningful contributions to our organization, our grantees, and our world. 

NED strives to create a work experience that supports the well-being and healthy work-life balance of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package offers health insurance (includes no copay for mental health services), a generous retirement savings plan, paid parental, vacation, and sick leave, a hybrid workplace model, flexible work schedules, and wellness initiatives to ensure a positive work-life balance. 

NED is dedicated to creating an environment of respect and collaboration where everyone is encouraged to participate and take ownership of their work. We offer flexible work schedules and, for most positions, the opportunity for weekly telework days. This hybrid approach allows our employees to balance their work and personal lives while still participating in the collaborative process at the heart of our mission.