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Hubbard School IT Infrastructure & Operations Specialist

Job Family: Information Technology

Position Type: Full-Time, Regular

UMN Job Classification Title: IT Pro 2-IT Multidiscipline

Job Code: 9702IM

Employee Class: Academic Professional and Administrative (P&A). Exempt

About the Job

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication is seeking a proactive IT infrastructure and Operations Specialist to manage foundational technology infrastructure and daily operations. This role requires a "root cause" problem solver who balances high-level technical skill with a commitment to documented, sustainable service. The work is built on three multidisciplinary pillars:

• System Support and Technical Resolution: As the School’s primary technical responder, you ensure Murphy Hall’s digital environment remains reliable and functional. You will manage day-to-day "fixing and doing" including resolving classroom technology issues, lab software errors and updates, loaner laptop maintenance, server access and Active Directory permissions, troubleshooting hardware and network connectivity. While you serve as the local expert, you will also navigate the University’s broader IT landscape, partnering with support teams to escalate complex issues and ensure timely, root-cause resolutions for the Hubbard community.

• Specialized Media & Lab Operations: Beyond standard IT support, you will own components of the specialized infrastructure required for a premier journalism school. This includes the deployment and maintenance of high-end media labs (Adobe Creative Cloud) along with media studios ensuring that technology is a seamless tool for student and faculty creators.

• Sustainable Process Improvement: To enhance long-term stability, you develop a documented service model. As a multidisciplinary lead, you will serve as the primary technical expert for Murphy Hall’s physical and digital infrastructure, providing the consistent technical follow-through necessary to support the School’s academic mission.

Job Responsibilities

• Systems Administration & Lab Maintenance (40%)
• Manage the software lifecycle for specialized journalism and strategic communication labs, including creating and maintaining custom scripts for automated software updates and system imaging.
• Ensure lab stability for high-performance media curriculum (Adobe Creative Cloud, ProTools, etc.).
• Manage the Hubbard School’s Google Workspace environment and shared storage (S Drive), optimizing permissions and structures.

• Apply root cause analysis to recurring technical issues to implement scalable, documented solutions.

• Communications & Office Technology Management (30%)

• Manage the full inventory and lifecycle of computing equipment (procurement to decommissioning).
• Serve as the primary point of contact for telephones; assignments, troubleshooting, and liaison with University phone services.
• Oversee the maintenance of office equipment, including networked scanners, copiers, and printers; manage vendor relationships and supply procurement (e.g., toner).

• Provide infrastructure and hardware support for the School’s digital signage systems.

• Network Infrastructure & Learning Space Support (20%)

• Provide technical support for classrooms, Zoom rooms, and meeting spaces to ensure instructional and administrative continuity.
• Monitor visible networks (Eduroam) and maintain the integrity of physical network jacks and connectivity.

• Act as the technical liaison for physical access control (key card systems) for rooms and labs.

• Leadership Support & Operational Sustainability (10%)

• Serve as the primary technical backup to the IT Supervisor/Technology Manager, stepping in to manage departmental needs and make time-sensitive decisions in their absence.
• Directly mentoring student 'first responders' to resolve Tier 1 hardware/software issues, ensuring high-quality service standards and documentation.
• Translate institutional knowledge into a sustainable "Knowledge Base" of documentation and customer service standards to empower student workers as first responders.
• Partner with the IT/Facilities workgroup to ensure infrastructure support follows through on faculty needs with high attention to detail.

Basic Qualifications

• Education: BA/BS plus at least 2 years of experience or Master's Degree
• Multidisciplinary IT Support: Proven experience managing at least three distinct technical areas (e.g., End-User Support, Systems Administration and Network Infrastructure).
• Multi-Platform Proficiency: Advanced troubleshooting and root-cause problem-solving skills in both macOS and Windows environments within a networked enterprise setting.
• Technical Documentation: Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining technical documentation (knowledge bases, standard operation procedures, or disaster recovery plans) to ensure operational continuity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Infrastructure Management: Experience managing server-side permissions, directory services (Active Directory), network troubleshooting (Ethernet/IP) and digital signage (Linux).
• Process Improvement & Change Management: Experience transitioning an IT environment from legacy, "person-dependent" workflows to proactive, standardized service models.
• Endpoint Automation: Proficiency with endpoint management tools (such as JAMF Pro) and scripting for automated software deployment and lifecycle management.
• Media & Production Technology: Experience supporting specialized hardware and software used in journalism or creative fields, such as Adobe Creative Cloud software, broadcast studio equipment, or podcast production.
• Relational Technical Support: Demonstrated ability to act as a "technical translator," communicating complex concepts effectively to non-technical faculty and students.
• Education or MSP Background: Experience in an academic environment (higher ed or K-12) or a Managed Service Provider (MSP) where managing diverse technical stacks and rigorous documentation was required.
• Student Mentorship: Experience training, directing, or supervising student employees or casual/hourly staff in a technical environment.

Work Location: Twin Cities Campus, East Bank. This position is not eligible for a consistent remote work schedule due to the hands-on nature of media production support and laboratory management.

About the Hubbard School

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication is the second-largest undergraduate major-serving unit in the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communication. The School serves nearly 1,000 undergraduate, professional, and graduate students in its degree-granting programs. The Hubbard School offers majors in Strategic Communication - Advertising and Public Relations, Professional Journalism, and Media and Information; and minors in Media and Information and Digital Media Studies. The Hubbard School offers an academic M.A. and Ph.D. in Mass Communication and a Professional M.A. in Strategic Communication.

Housed in Murphy Hall, a state-of-the-art facility for teaching and research of journalism, strategic communication, and emerging media studies, the Hubbard School is home to the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, the Minnesota Journalism Center, the Hubbard Digital Studios, and the Digital Information Research Center/Sevareid Library. Hubbard facilities also include the Murphy Hall conference center, multimedia classrooms, and psychophysiological communication research labs, and a focus group room, which is used to support graduate-level experimental research.

About the College of Liberal Arts

Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints—so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA

Working in CLA

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

A completed application will include both:

• Resume
• Cover letter

Candidates invited for finalist interviews will be asked to provide references.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).