Apple Systems Administrator

Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for our students and employees. Our faculty and staff are smart dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students.

Job Summary:

Job Description:

Endpoint Platform Strategy Engineering Lifecycle Management & Staff Leadership

• Serves as the Universitys primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Apple technologies (macOS iOS iPadOS) while contributing to the design and support of a diverse enterprise endpoint environment that includes Windows Linux and cloud-managed devices.

• Provides strategic technical and operational leadership supporting academic research and administrative functions.

• Designs implements and maintains secure scalable endpoint solutions across Apple and other supported platforms.

• Leads adoption of modern endpoint management solutions (e.g. Jamf Pro Microsoft Intune MECM) and Apple Business Manager for automated provisioning and lifecycle management.

• Establishes and enforces endpoint standards (hardware OS security compliance) across multiple platforms in alignment with university policies and cybersecurity frameworks.

• Conducts needs assessments and develops cross-platform technical solutions aligned with institutional priorities.

• Oversees full lifecycle management of endpoint devices including deployment configuration patching upgrades and retirement.

• Evaluates and approves technical specifications vendor solutions and procurement recommendations for endpoint technologies.

• Leads pilot initiatives and enterprise deployments across all campuses and hybrid environments.

• Supervises and supports technical staff and student employees including task assignment mentoring training and performance feedback.
  

Endpoint Deployment Support & Operations

• Coordinates and supports enterprise deployment and operational management of endpoint devices across multiple platforms.

• Manages large-scale device refresh programs for student labs and faculty/staff computing environments across Apple and non-Apple platforms.

• Implements modern provisioning methodologies replacing legacy imaging with automated policy-driven configuration and software deployment.

• Creates tests and maintains application packages for macOS and iOS devices (e.g. PKG scripts App Store apps) ensuring compatibility with operating systems and institutional standards.

• Deploys and manages application distribution to Apple endpoints using MDM platforms (e.g. Jamf Pro Microsoft Intune) including version control updates and license management.

• Develops and maintains automated application deployment workflows patch management processes and update strategies to ensure applications remain secure current and compliant.

• Provides Tier 2/3 escalation support for complex endpoint system and integration issues across macOS Windows and related platforms.

• Ensures endpoint security system performance and compliance with established standards.

• Collaborates with infrastructure cloud and network teams to ensure reliable connectivity authentication and system integration.

• Supports cross-platform solutions including virtualization VDI and cloud-based application delivery.
  

Security Governance Training & Continuous Improvement

• Supports secure operations governance user enablement and ongoing service enhancement across endpoint platforms.

• Implements and maintains endpoint security controls across platforms including encryption authentication and compliance enforcement.

• Develops and maintains policies standards and procedures for endpoint and device management across Apple and non-Apple systems.

• Participates in IT service lifecycle management including service evaluation enhancement and retirement.

• Monitors service performance and recommends improvements based on operational metrics and user feedback.

• Develops and delivers training sessions workshops and instructional materials for faculty staff students and IT personnel.

• Maintains standard operating procedures along with knowledge base content documentation and self-service support resources.

• Communicates service updates changes and best practices to the University community.

• Promotes effective secure and efficient use of University technology resources.
  

Collaboration Project Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Leads and participates in cross-functional initiatives to support University technology objectives.

• Collaborates with academic and administrative units to gather requirements and develop scalable cross-platform solutions.

• Leads and/or contributes to projects involving infrastructure cloud services identity and access management cybersecurity and academic technologies.

• Serves as liaison between University stakeholders IT teams and external vendors.

• Prepares technical documentation project plans and solution recommendations.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimal Qualifications:

1. Any one or any combination totaling 5 years (60 months) from the following categories:
A. College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT) IT Management Programming IT Systems or a closely related discipline as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:

• 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)

• Associates Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)

• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)

• Bachelors Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)

B. Work experience in IT-related functions such as hardware/software support programming network design network engineering IT systems integration or closely related field which includes supervisory or lead worker capacity.

2. Based on position requirements additional education training and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position may be required.

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERENCES

• Demonstrated experience administering enterprise endpoint management solutions (e.g. Jamf Pro Microsoft Intune or equivalent) including Apple Business Manager (ABM) and Automated Device Enrollment (ADE/DEP) for provisioning configuration and lifecycle management of devices.

• Experience creating packaging testing and deploying applications for macOS and iOS devices (e.g. PKG development scripting App Store distribution) along with maintaining patch management and software update processes.

• Working knowledge of cross-platform environments including Windows endpoint management tools (e.g. MECM/SCCM Intune) and/or Linux systems with the ability to support integration across platforms.

• Knowledge of endpoint security practices and tools including encryption technologies (e.g. FileVault BitLocker) endpoint detection and response (EDR) vulnerability management and compliance standards.

• Demonstrated experience supporting large-scale device deployments and lifecycle management in a multi-user environment preferably within higher education settings including instructional labs classrooms and faculty computing needs.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues independently while working effectively in a team-oriented cross-functional environment.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills including the ability to develop technical documentation knowledge base articles and training materials and to deliver end-user and technical training to diverse audiences.
  

Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am 5:00 pm. (On-call availability for emergency support during outages security incidents critical system failures and after-hours maintenance and/or upgrades).

Location: NEIU Main Campus (Requires travel to all NEIU campuses).

Setting: Remote work will be available on a limited basis (one day per week or on occasion). No permanent or full-time work from home is available.

Out of State Applicants:

• Once a final employment offer is completed the out-of-state candidate must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days of the start date for the designated position per the State Universities Civil Service Requirements.

• This position does not include relocation assistance.

• On a case-by-case basisNEIU willconsider applications from individuals who have valid work authorization in the United States (including those holding valid F-1 and H-1B status) and who currently reside in and are physically within the United States.

This position requires a background check.

Salary Range

Benefits

University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). Please visit ourEmployee Benefitspage to learn more about our comprehensive benefits packageincluding health dental and vision benefits sick and vacation days and participation in the State Universities Retirement System.

Northeastern Illinois University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from Women Minorities Veterans and Persons with Disabilities as well as other qualified Illinois Universitys positions are contingent upon the Universitys receipt of its State of Illinois appropriation.