The Server Administrator is responsible for maintaining the stability, performance, and security of the organisation's server infrastructure. This role focuses on managing Dell server environments, supporting virtualisation platforms, and ensuring effective vendor engagement to meet service-level commitments. Through proactive monitoring, incident resolution, and continuous optimisation, the Server Administrator ensures reliable IT services that enable business continuity and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Server Infrastructure Management

• Administer and maintain Dell server environments, including configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Leverage Dell OpenManage tools for system health monitoring, firmware updates, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure high availability, performance, and security across all server systems.

Virtualisation & Platform Support

• Manage and support hypervisor platforms, with a preference for Proxmox.
• Deploy, configure, and maintain virtual machines and cluster environments.
• Monitor resource utilisation and optimise performance across virtualised infrastructure.

Vendor & SLA Management

• Serve as the primary liaison between the organisation and hardware/software vendors.
• Log, track, and escalate support incidents to resolution.
• Monitor and enforce SLAs to ensure timely service delivery.
• Manage maintenance contracts, renewals, and licensing requirements.

Collaboration & Reporting

• Partner with Systems and Platform Engineering teams to align infrastructure with business needs.
• Maintain accurate documentation of configurations, incidents, and vendor interactions.
• Provide regular reporting on system performance, risks, and operational metrics.
• Contribute technical expertise to infrastructure projects and initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• 3–5 years' experience in server administration or IT infrastructure roles.
• Strong hands-on experience with Dell servers and Dell OpenManage.
• Experience with hypervisors (Proxmox preferred; VMware or Hyper-V also considered).
• Proven experience managing vendors, including SLA tracking and escalation handling.
• Solid understanding of networking, storage, and system security principles.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and organisational skills.

Experience & Systems

Required

• Hands-on management of Dell server hardware, including troubleshooting and lifecycle management.
• Practical use of Dell OpenManage for monitoring and maintenance.
• Administration of virtual environments (VM deployment, clustering, performance tuning).
• Vendor management experience, including ticketing, SLA oversight, and contract coordination.
• Experience working within structured IT or engineering teams.

Preferred

• Exposure to VMware, Hyper-V, or multi-hypervisor environments.
• Familiarity with SAN/NAS storage and core networking concepts.
• Experience with monitoring and performance management tools.
• Understanding of ITIL or structured incident/change management practices.

Systems & Tools

• Dell OpenManage Suite
• Proxmox VE (or equivalent hypervisors)
• ITSM / Ticketing tools (e.g. ServiceNow, Jira)
• Monitoring tools (e.g. Nagios, Zabbix)
• Documentation platforms (e.g. Confluence, SharePoint)
• Collaboration tools (e.g. Microsoft Teams, Outlook)

Skills & Competencies

Technical

• Strong expertise in Dell server infrastructure and lifecycle management.
• Proficiency in virtualisation platforms and cluster management.
• Solid knowledge of networking (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP) and storage (SAN/NAS).
• Understanding of system security, patching, and access control best practices.

Professional

• Analytical problem-solver with the ability to resolve complex technical issues.
• Detail-oriented with strong documentation and reporting discipline.
• Collaborative team player able to work across technical and business teams.
• Clear communicator across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Adaptable and capable of managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.