Senior Storage Administrator

Job description

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) manages the efficient flow of electricity on more than 11,000 circuit-miles of high-voltage transmission lines, dispatching power from hundreds of generating units across the state.

The Senor Storage Administration architects, manages and administers Storage Area Network (SAN), Network-Attached Storage (NAS), and all other systems classified as storage technologies and  backup technologies. This individual is responsible for system architecture, design, installation, configuration, testing, and implementation of storage management and backup management hardware and software,  upgrades, patching, system integrity, security, scripting, disaster recovery, and performance. Additionally, the Senior Storage Administrator creates, maintains and adheres to storage administration, backup administration and user standards and procedures and monitors use and availability of storage and backup resources. This individual leads and/or participates on project teams and collaborates with application developers and infrastructure peers, performs backup and restoration procedures, leads and/or supports audit efforts and ensures compliance with corporate and regulatory standards.

The Senior Storage Administrator mentors and trains associate and storage administrators and provides enterprise storage and backup expertise in strategic IT planning. This individual is expected to establish and maintain working relationships with IT partners, business customers, and vendor, as well as creates and maintain technical documentation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs advanced and/or highly complex work with minimal or no supervision.  Establishes work plan for department based on organizational goals; sets independent objectives to accomplish specific tasks supporting the larger plan.
• Leads functional or virtual departmental or inter-departmental teams and demonstrates accountability for completion of team-wide objectives. Acts as key contributor and team representative for larger organizational teams; regularly interacts with peer departments, business partners, market participants, vendors, and other external constituents.  Leads functional or virtual teams and demonstrates accountability for completion of team-wide objectives.
• Demonstrates the highest proficiency with assigned technology platforms and disciplines; has broad knowledge of ancillary information technologies, methodologies and platforms.  Has broad knowledge of IT service management, governance, continuity, financial, project, and lifecycle management.  Has basic understanding of the energy vertical, energy markets, the electric industry, and the NYISO’s business & operations.
• Represents the organization to external entities.  May speak or present at external conferences and seminars or write papers and formal correspondence on behalf of the NYISO.
• Creates, installs and maintains new versions and patch upgrades of enterprise storage and backup systems.
• Performs on-going performance tuning, hardware and software upgrades, and resource optimization.
• Monitors and maintains security and performance of enterprise storage and backup systems.
• Leads and participates in capacity planning and system lifecycle management
• In partnership with other subject matter experts and our Business Continuity department, design, test and implement complex solutions that support high availability and inter-site and intra-site fail over capabilities. This includes a monthly review of recovery plans and yearly testing for cyber infrastructure protection (CIP) assets.
• Performs storage capacity planning and generates capacity reports.
• Provisions and controls storage and backup user permissions and privileges with strict adherence to access guidelines following SOC1 and CIP standards.
• Provides technical support to software development, infrastructure, IT operations and inter-departmental teams.
• Participates in and/or leads in-depth troubleshooting and root cause analysis in inter-disciplinary teams.
• Designs and maintains enterprise storage and backup systems to adhere to all established NYISO and regulatory (i.e., NERC CIP, SOC1) standards. Requires ability to interpret and follow complex policies and procedures. Per compliance policies: maintain up to date written documentation, perform prescribed recovery tests, complete required paperwork and attestations. Subject matter expert is held accountable for adherence to these standards.
• Manages data and information requests to support internal and external audit requests. Audit requests are from external auditors as well as industry specific regulation agencies e.g., NERC, FERC. Investigate and resolve any compliance issue. Targeting zero deviations from the compliance policies and procedures.
• Provides 24x7 technical support on a rotational basis. Due to our industry, advanced troubleshooting skills and analytics are required to ensure production services are restored within very short timeframe. For example, some services require a restoration time within 30 minutes. Subject matter experts are expected to be available within five minutes.
• Mentors and trains associate and storage and backup administrators.
• Establishes and communicates NYISO enterprise storage and backup standards and policies and procedures.
• Participates in on-going IT strategic planning with primary focus on enterprise storage and backup technologies.
• Leads and/or participates in system lifecycle management.
• Participates in procurement activities and support contract management.
• Leads and/or participates in license management and compliance.
• Understands networking and storage technologies and participates in planning and troubleshooting network and storage services for Unix and VMware infrastructure.
• Creates and maintains detailed documentation of Linux, Unix and VMware configurations and functions.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Active Directory.
• Establishes and maintains working relationship with key strategic vendors to understand technical direction of enterprise storage and backup technologies. Subject matter expert is responsible to identify correct hardware and software for NYISO requirements, then size, configure and implement the identified solution.
• Direct impact and responsibility for the organization’s security posture as related to system integrity and security. This includes zero-day analysis and response, advanced security system hardening knowledge and techniques, analysis, and implementation of industry security protocols like CIS benchmarks. Subject matter expert is held accountable for adherence to all prescribed security standards and protocols.
• Develop and champion innovative solutions that improve operational efficiency through the automation of administrative tasks necessary to maintain portfolio of infrastructure assets.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree (BS), Computer Science, Information Systems, or similar technical program required; Master’s Degree (MS) preferred
• Minimum of five to seven years’ experience as a Storage Administrator.
• Additional experience as Backup Administrator preferred.
• HDS Certified Storage Manager, Brocade Switch Certification, or equivalent certification required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members of the business community.  Ability to speak effectively before other technical staff and stakeholders.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Intermediate competency in Windows operating environment using MS Office applications, e-mail and Internet programs.
• Advanced knowledge and skills related to network, operating systems, Storage Area Network (SAN), Network Attached Storage (NAS) and tape backup solutions.
• Experience with one or more enterprise storage system (Hitachi, EMC, NetApp, IBM).
• Experience with one or more enterprise backup systems. E.g., Veritas Netbackup.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to perform routine office tasks.  The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Contact with staff and public will occur.  Travel may be required to attend and/or conduct meetings, conferences and training.­­­­­­­­­­­­ This position may require work on nights, weekends or holidays.

Please note that this position will be filled at the level appropriate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

At the NYISO, we realize the importance of balancing the availability of remote work with the inherent value of bringing people together to attain success in the areas of maximum collaboration, relationship building and growth, teamwork, innovation and problem solving, as well as professional development and mentoring. In this role, you will be required to work onsite from our Rensselaer, NY location several days per workweek, with the option to work remotely on the remaining days. You will also be expected to respond to all business needs that may require any increase to the regular onsite requirements.

The NYISO takes pride in recruiting, developing and retaining highly talented individuals. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package and innovative reward programs.

All offers of employment will be made contingent upon the successful completion of a drug screening and background check.

The NYISO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.

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Salary Range

$89,600—$149,400 USD