C004742 System Administrator (Standing Naval Forces) (NS) THU 28 May in Northwood

This role has been unpaused with the following clarifications:

Deadline Date: Thursday 28 May 2026

Requirement: System Administrator (Standing Naval Forces)

Location: Northwood, UK

Full Time On-Site: Yes

Time On-Site: 100%

Total Scope of the request (hours): 836

Required Start Date: 1 July 2026

End Contract Date: 31 December 2026

Required Security Clearance: NATO SECRET

Duties & Role:

• Involved in the transfer and activation of deployed CIS installations during the operational handover of Standing Naval Forces (SNF) NATO flagships.
• Provides on-site remote and off-site technical support to flagships of nations participating in the Standing Naval Forces (SNFs).
• Assists the Core Section Head with daily System Administration of the Hardware and Software for the current version of MS Windows Server, including management of Active Directory Services (Domain Controller, Group and Security Policies, Domain Naming Services), Exchange Server Services.
• Assists with the System Administration of Storage Area Network (SAN) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, including installing applicable firmware upgrades.
• Assists with the System Administration of VMware ESXi Server, VMware vCenter Server Appliance, including performing lifecycle and firmware upgrades.
• Assists with conducting routine backups as required by the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and in line with local Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Assists with the System Administration of Hardware and Software for end user devices.
• Aids in ensuring that all technical and service-oriented documentation related to assigned systems is prepared, stored appropriately, and kept current.
• Maintains close communication with other technicians and engineers within the CSU and the broader NCI Agency.

Specific Working Conditions:

• Must be able to lift items up to 25kg.
• This position requires physical work on deployed warships involving movement in small spaces.
• This position requires 25%-40% Temporary Duty away from site.
• This position requires personnel to be fully deployable.
• Deployable personnel must have individual medical and personal liability cover.
• The mandatory working time shall be 38 hours per week, to be performed Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 17:00.
• A daily unpaid lunch break shall be taken in accordance with local regulations and Agency practices.
• The Contractor shall maintain personal liability and comprehensive insurance coverage for the duration of the contract.
• Work may be performed on-site at the designated location and/or remotely, in accordance with project requirements and subject to prior approval by the Agency.
• The Contractor shall ensure reliable communication, availability during agreed working hours, and secure access to all required Agency systems, networks, and documentation platforms, in compliance with applicable security, information assurance, and data protection policies.
• Where required for official duties and subject to prior authorization by the Agency, the Contractor may be permitted to operate Agency vehicles. Any such use shall be undertaken at the Contractor's sole responsibility and in compliance with applicable Agency rules and traffic regulations.

Requirements Skill, Knowledge & Experience:

• The candidate must have a currently active NATO SECRET security clearance.
• Higher vocational diploma in IT AND minimum 3 years of relevant hands-on experience in enterprise infrastructure administration.
• Practical experience in VMware virtualization technology is required, including VCSA configuration, ESX upgrades, and bare metal deployment.
• Ability to deploy on short notice to address equipment failures in virtualized mission-critical systems.
• Experience in deploying signed certificates is necessary.
• Familiarity with configuring iSCSI targets for virtualized environments is required.
• Knowledge and experience in Microsoft Server Technologies, including Active Directory and Microsoft Exchange, are essential.
• Understanding of the ITIL IT service management model is necessary.
• Knowledge of incident and problem management processes is important, along with relevant experience.
• Ability to write technical documentation and user guides is required.
• Effective oral and written communication skills are essential.
• Knowledge of the SDE process, such as Ansible playbooks, is desirable.
• Strong problem-solving skills are required, utilizing logical methods to address complex issues and exploring all potential sources for solutions, while being able to identify hidden problems and think beyond initial answers.
• Customer focus: Focuses on customer needs and satisfaction; acts with customers in mind; high standards for quality and quantity; monitors and maintains quality and productivity; works in a systematic, methodical, and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.

Desirable Qualifications and Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related discipline.
• Postgraduate technical training in enterprise infrastructure.
• Military / operational CIS.
• VMware Certified Professional (VCP) certification.
• Microsoft infrastructure certification (e.g., Windows Server or Identity).
• ITIL Foundation certification.