Employment

IT Operations Consultant Needed, Chicago Metropolitan Area

DESCRIPTION

A hands-on IT Operations consultant who will work in partnership with clients, to maintain and improve the reliability and efficiency of their IT systems, as well as advising them how to use information technology in order to meet their business objectives or overcome problems.

Moreover, this position requires that the consultant manages and performs technical duties relating to network operations, server operations and end-user operations and support. The consultant must be resourceful, capable of managing projects, able to perform creative solutions to IT projects or preexisting problems that require resolution.

Together with our team, consultant must participate in prioritization of tasks, proposal compilation and the meeting of service level commitments, in conjunction with professionalism and technical best practices. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

DUTIES

-    Implements IT operations solutions or repairs problems with existing systems.

-    Performs periodic maintenance or new system implementations.

-    Monitors and prioritizes service requests from multiple clients.

-    Manages root cause analysis and problem resolution of IT systems problems.

-    Performs work via remote Internet access from personal office or on-site within the Chicago metropolitan area.

-    Ensures that appropriate documentation is developed or kept up to date for all client environments to support ongoing service requests and operations.

-    Uncovers IT needs to ensure proper coverage of any and all issues that may arise in a client environment.

-    Prepares project plans and proposals for larger engagements.

CANDIDATE CHARACTERISTICS

-    Customer service attitude with a high degree of professionalism.

-    Patient and helpful under pressure.

-    Excellent written and oral communication skills.

-    Expert knowledge of IT operations best practices and procedures.

-    Experienced in large corporate or enterprise environments providing IT Operations services.

-    Strong technical competency and problem solving skills; resourceful.

-    Organized and efficient; tracks and follows through on commitments.

-    Comfortable moving between different projects and client environments each day.

-    Ability to project and forecast both granular and full-project needs for budgeting of time and resources.

TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENT

Demonstrated ability to manage an environment that includes these technologies

-    IP networking, subnets, VLANS, routing

-    Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7

-    Mac OS X and Linux variants, a plus

-    Office 2003 and 2007

-    Outlook client configuration and usage; email, calendar, contact management

-    Outlook delegates and permissions

-    Outlook Web Access and Outlook Anywhere

-    Windows server operating systems 2000, 2003 and 2008; 32 bit and 64 bit

-    Windows networking services; DHCP, DNS, file sharing, printer sharing

-    Windows 2008 Hyper-V, administration, configuration, DR protection

-    MS Active Directory, users, sites, domain trusts

-    Active Directory policy management

-    Windows User Profiles

-    Windows Terminal Services, application mode, license server

-    Network admin level MS SQL Server administration; deep SQL Server experience a plus

-    Internet Information Server (IIS), web site configuration, secure cert implementation

-    Exchange email; installation, support and user management

-    Modus Mail email experience a plus; installation, support and user management

-    Email administration, POP3, IMAP

-    Remote workstation support using remote-control utilities

-    Internet service installation and configuration to firewalls; cable, DSL, T, etc.

-    Virus system implementation; virus detection, prevention and removal techniques

-    Image creation tools (e.g. Symantec Ghost)

-    BlackBerry enterprise activation and device troubleshooting

-    Wi-Fi network implementation, connection setup and troubleshooting, wireless security

-    Thorough and senior level understanding of networking topics

-    Sonicwall firewalls; enhanced OS, routing, rules, NAT, UTM add on services

-    Sonicwall CDP appliances

-    Layer 2 network switches

-    Backup systems; Backup Exec and CDP technologies

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

-    BS in Information Systems or related discipline

-    5-10 years experience in IT Operations roles in medium to large enterprises

-    experience in an IT consulting role

Our office is located in the far Southwest Chicago metropolitan area. Only local candidates should apply.