Founded in 1803, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is Ohio's third-largest sheriff's office, with nearly 900 employees serving close to one million residents. Our IT professionals support mission-critical systems that directly impact public safety, emergency response, and countywide operations.
If you're an experienced Systems Administrator who thrives on ownership, architectural decision-making, and leading complex environments, HCSO offers the opportunity to do high-impact work in a purpose-driven organization.
Role Summary
The Systems Administrator provides advanced technical leadership for the design, security, and optimization of the Sheriff's Office enterprise infrastructure. This role serves as a technical authority within IT, leading system architecture decisions, complex troubleshooting, cloud and virtualization strategy, and major infrastructure initiatives across a multi-site environment.
This is not a remote or "work from home' role. This position will work in downtown Cincinnati and will occasionally travel to other locations within Hamilton County. This position will also rotate participation with another Systems Administrator in after-hours on-call rotation and scheduled maintenance windows (currently five weeks on call, five weeks off, and one Sunday per month, subject to change).
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a senior technical lead for enterprise infrastructure across physical, virtual (VMware), and hybrid Azure environments
- Architect, implement, and optimize Windows Server environments (2016–2025), Active Directory, Azure AD, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and Exchange Online
- Administer Microsoft 365 services, including Office 2016/365, SharePoint, Microsoft Identity Manager, OneDrive for Business, and Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS).
- Lead infrastructure modernization initiatives, including cloud adoption, system upgrades, migrations, and new platform implementations
- Own backup, disaster recovery, and high-availability strategies to ensure continuity of critical public safety operations
- Design and maintain secure network and systems architecture in collaboration with cybersecurity and network teams
- Establish standards and best practices for system configuration, security, patching, and monitoring
- Troubleshoot and resolve high-complexity infrastructure issues and serve as an escalation point for the IT team
- Leverage PowerShell and automation tools to streamline administration, improve security posture, and reduce operational overhead
- Evaluate emerging technologies and make strategic recommendations focused on scalability, resilience, and cost-effectiveness
- Rotate participation with another Systems Administrator in after-hours on-call rotation and scheduled maintenance windows (currently five weeks on call, five weeks off, and one Sunday per month, subject to change)
- Maintain comprehensive technical documentation and contribute to IT governance and policy development
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior administrators and IT staff
- Ensure systems comply with agency policies, security standards, and applicable regulatory requirements
- Perform other related duties as assigned
Required Technical Expertise
- Advanced experience with Microsoft Windows Server (2016–2025), Active Directory, Azure AD, Group Policy, and Microsoft 365
- Strong background in hybrid cloud infrastructure, including Microsoft Azure services and identity integration
- Hands-on experience with VMware and enterprise virtualization platforms
- In-depth understanding of TCP/IP networking, routing, VPNs, firewall configuration, and infrastructure security
- Proven experience implementing backup, disaster recovery, security audits, and patch management, and business continuity solutions
- Strong PowerShell scripting skills for automation and configuration management
- Proven ability to install, maintain, and troubleshoot hardware and software systems in a multi-user LAN environment
- Experience with monitoring, logging, and alerting platforms (e.g., SolarWinds or equivalent)
Professional Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker with the ability to balance operational stability and innovation
- Exceptional troubleshooting and analytical skills in complex environments
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate technical risk and recommendations to non-technical leadership
- Ability to work independently, lead initiatives, and manage multiple high-priority projects
- Commitment to security, reliability, and continuous improvement
- Collaborative mindset and experience working cross-functionally within IT teams
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
- 3-5+ years of progressively responsible experience as a Systems Administrator or Senior Systems Administrator
- Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to sites within Hamilton County
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and provide on-site support as needed
Preferred (Not Required):
- Microsoft Azure, VMware, or advanced Microsoft certifications
- Experience supporting government, public safety, or highly regulated environments
Appearance Standards
- Tattoos:No visible tattoos or body art on the face, head, neck, or hands
- Body Piercing or Alteration:Visible body piercing or alteration that deviates from normal anatomical features and is not medically required is prohibited
Benefits
- Generous paid time off, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave
- Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) with a 14% employer contribution and a defined benefit option
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability, tuition reimbursement, wellness incentives, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, free medical and prescription services through Marathon Health, robust EAP, and extensive behavioral and mental health resources
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
Applicants are subject to a background investigation which includes: review of criminal records, driving records, credit report, employment verifications, personal references, initial and panel interviews along with Computer Voice Stress Analysis. All applicants must pass a pre-employment exam and drug screening.
