Systems Administrator II (Hybrid)

Company Description

At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, 60+ retail stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth.

Job Description

We are currently seeking a Systems Administrator II to play a crucial role in ensuring the resiliency, security and efficiency of our global IT infrastructure, platforms and cloud environments. In this role, you will work closely with our global enterprise IT team to help safeguard our systems against vulnerabilities and ensure a seamless operational experience for our internal and external stakeholders. Applicants should have an understanding of or prior experience managing Microsoft licensing compliance. The ideal candidate also possesses excellent problem-solving, analytical and time-management skills. 

A day on the job looks like this: 

• Designing, deploying and managing the Active Directory infrastructure 
• Maintaining and supporting Active Directory domain controllers, DNS, DHCP, Group Policies and other related services 
• Implementing and enforcing security policies and access controls within the Active Directory 
• Designing and managing directory integration with SSO and third-party systems 
• Documenting and knowledge transfer for task execution by other service tiers 
• Installing, configuring and maintaining Windows Server operating systems, including server roles and features 
• Performing regular system updates, patches and security configurations 
• Troubleshooting hardware, software and network issues related to Windows Servers 
• Administering and supporting Microsoft 365 services, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Teams and other related applications 
• Managing Microsoft 365 tenant configurations, licensing and security settings 
• Monitoring and troubleshooting Microsoft 365 services and resolving issues promptly 
• Implementing and managing data retention, compliance and eDiscovery policies 
• Collaborating with end-users to provide training and support for Microsoft 365 applications 
• Providing technical support and guidance to end-users and other IT staff 
• Performing routine and scheduled maintenance of IT infrastructure to ensure optimal stability, security and performance while minimizing disruptions to operations 
• Installing, configuring and maintaining Windows Servers and systems 
• Monitoring software licensing and maintenance agreements and remediating when necessary 
• Serving as an escalation point and supporter for Level 1 Technicians on complex issues 
• Responding to incident escalations, following troubleshooting and recovery procedures, and escalating to other teams when necessary 
• Working collaboratively with IT team across different time zones 
• Seeking out opportunities to document, improve or automate support and maintenance processes to provide effective and efficient support 
• Taking on and supporting time-sensitive projects when needed 
• While on call, providing off-hours, evening and weekend support to accommodate maintenance windows and break-fix actions 

Qualifications

Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for: 

• Computer Information Systems or similar degree, or comparable experience 
• 5+ years of system administration experience, with at least three years managing Active Directory and Microsoft 365 
• Experience with migration from on-prem or hybrid Active Directory to pure Entra ID preferred 
• Demonstrated success with scripting and automation to reduce toil in AD management preferred 
• Understanding of Microsoft licensing and how different licenses apply features to different products preferred 
• Experience with administering Microsoft Purview, including setting up collections, assigning roles and integrating data sources; ability to create and enforce data classification, labeling and access control policies preferred 
• Experience with designing, deploying and managing Active Directory infrastructure 
• Experience managing hybrid Exchange implementation between on-prem and cloud
• Experience managing synchronization between Active Directory and Entra ID 
• Expert-level competency in managing and configuring Exchange, SharePoint, Entra ID and Teams
• Understanding of basic network concepts and flows; ability to utilize traceroute, ping and troubleshoot network issues
• Basic understanding of programming logic/scripting concepts and proficiency in scripting languages such as Bash, Python or Perl 
• Experience working with ticketing, monitoring and alerting tools in managing Information Technology operations 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Ability to multitask and make sound judgements in a fast-paced environment 

Additional Information

And here’s our end of the bargain! 

• Salary: $100,000 - $114,500 with an annual bonus of up to 10%
• Paid leave for new parents to support work/life balance and family bonding
• Excellent medical/dental and vision coverage—EPO, PPO and HSA
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (because you will retire someday)
• Flexible benefits—choose what you like, ignore the rest
• On-site preschool for our employees’ children
• On-site employee gym for all levels/fitness needs
• Generous employee discount
• Casual dress…and we really mean it

At Lakeshore, we know our diversity makes us stronger, and when everyone feels included and valued, we all win. We strive to embrace our differences and create an intentionally diverse and inclusive community that is representative of the teachers, families and children we serve.

We know we couldn’t do the extraordinary things we’re doing without the people on our team. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of this spectacular group, Lakeshore is more than a great place to work—it’s a great experience to be part of. Day in and day out, we give everything we’ve got to create products that instill a sense of wonder and foster a true love of learning. To help maintain this high bar for success, we’re constantly on the lookout for people to join us. So if you’re a down-to-earth professional who shares our desire for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you. 
To learn more about Lakeshore, visit www.lakeshorelearning.com/careers 
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
People are selected to become members of the Lakeshore family based on skill, merit and mind-boggling talent—not based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, domestic partnership status, military status, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, alienage, AIDS or AIDS-related complex status, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If things aren’t equal, we all lose.

To learn about how we collect and use Applicant information, please visit our Employee/Applicant Privacy Policy. INDRLL10