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 seeking a Systems Administrator II to join our team. In this role, you will help ensure a stable, secure and high-performing IT environment. The position requires administering and supporting Active Directory, Microsoft 365, Windows servers, networking, backups and patch management. Applicants should bring expert-level skills in managing and configuring Exchange, SharePoint, Entra ID and Teams. The ideal candidate also possesses an understanding of Microsoft licensing and how different licenses apply features to different products.

This position supports both internal teams and external stakeholders and is based in Carson, California, with a hybrid work model that includes select days in the office.

A day on the job looks like this:

• Proactively monitoring systems and applications to identify and resolve potential issues before they impact operations
• Ensuring stability, availability and security of IT systems through ongoing maintenance and continuous improvement
• Administering backups, patching and updates—ensuring successful completion and resolving failures to maintain compliance and business continuity
• Analyzing performance and capacity trends, recommending and implementing optimizations to improve efficiency
• Supporting disaster recovery readiness by verifying backup integrity and participating in recovery exercises
• Collaborating with IT teams and stakeholders to improve processes, reduce disruptions and deliver a seamless technology experience

Qualifications

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

Required:

• Degree in Computer Information Systems (or similar) or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of system administration experience, including at least 3 years managing Active Directory and M365
• Hands-on experience designing, deploying and managing Active Directory infrastructure
• Proven ability to manage hybrid Exchange environments (on-prem and cloud)
• Experience synchronizing Active Directory with Entra ID
• Expert-level proficiency with Exchange, SharePoint, Entra ID and Teams
• Solid grasp of basic networking concepts troubleshooting tools (e.g., traceroute, ping)
• Familiarity with scripting logic and proficiency in Bash, Python or Perl
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical and time management abilities
• Ability to multitask and make sound judgments in a fast-paced environment
• Understanding of or experience with Microsoft licensing compliance
• Experience using ticketing, monitoring and alerting tools in IT operations

Preferred:

• Experience migrating from on-prem or hybrid Active Directory to Entra ID
• Demonstrated success in scripting and automation to streamline AD management
• In-depth understanding of Microsoft licensing and feature enablement across products
• Experience administering Microsoft Purview—setting up collections, assigning roles, integrating data sources, and enforcing data classification and access policies

Additional Information

And here’s our end of the bargain!

At Lakeshore, we pay local market wages for employees that reside within Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

For this position, new employees joining Lakeshore who live within Los Angeles and Orange Counties are typically brought into the organization at a salary rate between $82,000-$115,000 depending on relevant experience & skillset.

This range is indicative of projected hiring range. The annual base compensation will take into account each candidate's relevant experience, location, and skillset.

• Bonus eligible
• 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.

Lakeshore is an E-Verify employer. We use E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Please see the E-Verify Participation Poster and Know Your Rights Poster in English and Spanish for more information. INDRLL1