System Administrator (Standing Naval Forces) for NATO with security clearance in Northwood

Would you like to join the leading international intergovernmental organization? This position offers a unique opportunity to serve as a System Administrator within the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency), directly supporting the Standing Naval Forces (SNF). You will be embedded in a high-readiness environment, responsible for the integrity and availability of critical CIS (Communication and Information Systems) across multinational flagships.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Higher vocational diploma in IT.
• 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 Experience 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.

If you've read the description and feel this role is a great match, we'd love to hear from you! Click "Apply for this job" to be directed to a brief questionnaire. It should only take a few moments to complete, and we'll be in touch promptly if your experience aligns with our needs.