Job Title: IT Systems Administrator II

Location: Gainesville, GA

Department: IT

Reports To: Director of Infrastructure Technology

Travel: Up to 10%

Normal Work Schedule: The typical working hours are 7:30 am to 4:00 pm with a 30-minute lunch.

Overview Of Company

Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has made a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Our purpose and promise of Great Food, Made Simple® drives us. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to- cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We proudly serve a broad portfolio of great-tasting, high-quality products sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our wide array of national customers includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr., and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth, it now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion . The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and its headquarters in Tyler, Texas.

Job Summary

The Systems Administrator II is responsible for the advanced administration, maintenance, and optimization of enterprise systems, servers, and infrastructure. This role is expected to own systems, lead technical initiatives, and contribute to infrastructure design and improvement efforts.

This position plays a key role in ensuring system reliability, security, performance, and scalability. The Systems Administrator II participates in architecture discussions, leads trouble shooting of complex issues, and supports both on-premises and cloud-based environments. They also provide technical guidance to junior staff and serve as an escalation point for system-related issues.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (Required)
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, system administration, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience required
3–5 years of system administration experience in a production enterprise environment
Strong knowledge of Windows Server environments and enterprise system administration
Strong knowledge of virtualization technologies (VMware or equivalent)
Solid understanding of networking fundamentals, hardware, and system security principles
Experience with backup, disaster recovery, and data protection strategies
Experience with scripting and automation tools (PowerShell or equivalent preferred)
Ability to troubleshoot complex, multi-layered system issues independently
Strong documentation, communication, and organizational skills
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with the broader IT team
Certifications in Microsoft, Linux, virtualization, or other system-related technologies are a plus.
Experience administering cloud-based server environments (Azure, AWS, or equivalent), including virtual machines, storage, and networking
Working knowledge of hybrid infrastructure integrating on-premises systems with cloud platforms
Experience managing cloud identity, access controls, and role-based permissions
Familiarity with cloud backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity concepts
Understanding of cloud security best practices, monitoring, and cost optimization
Experience supporting and troubleshooting cloud-hosted workloads and services

Key Responsibilities

NOTE: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may perform other related duties to meet the o rganization's ongoing needs; these duties are considered marginal.

Administer, maintain , and optimize enterprise systems, servers, virtualization platforms, and core infrastructure services
Independently manage system configurations, updates, patching, and lifecycle planning for servers and related technologies
Troubleshoot and resolve complex hardware, software, and system performance issues, serving as an escalation point for advanced incidents
Contribute to the design, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of backup, disaster recovery, and failover solutions to ensure business continuity
Contribute to the design, implementation, and improvement of secure server architectures and infrastructure standards
Manage and maintain system accounts, permissions, and access controls using Active Directory and related identity services
Optimize , tune and enhance virtualization environments (VMware or equivalent), including capacity planning and performance tuning
Develop and maintain system documentation, technical standards, and operational procedures
Identi f y opportunities for automation and efficiency improvements using scripting and automation tools
Collaborate with IT leadership and cross-functional teams to plan and execute infrastructure upgrades and technology projects
Provide advanced desktop and systems support when required , ensuring minimal disruption to business operations
Stay current with emerging technologies and recommend upgrades, improvements, and best practices aligned with business needs

Work Environment

This job is carried out in a professional office setting and involves using standard office equipment like laptops, desk phones, and smartphones. Regular visits to production facilities may also be required . During those visits, the employee is occasionally exposed to cold and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, cold temperatures, electrical shock and vibration risks. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Physical Demands

Employees must be able to stand, walk, or sit; use their hands for tasks; reach with their arms; and communicate verbally. Occasional lifting or moving objects is necessary, along with close, distance, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus .

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following:

Vacation / Sick days
Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
Telemedicine
Onsite Clinic – Tyler and Valley
Free annual health screening
401 (k) with company match
STD and LTD
Life insurance & other voluntary benefits
Career Development: We support professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities.

Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Applicants with disabilities needing accommodation during the application process can contact Human Resources at the relevant location.

Soules Foods will not discriminate against applicants who discuss their compensation. We also participate in the E-Verify program where required by law.

Unsolicited Assistance: Soules Foods does not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for U.S. positions. Resumes or candidate profiles submitted without a valid written request and search agreement from HR will be considered the property of Soules Foods. No fees will be paid for candidates hired through unsolicited referrals.

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Systems Administrator II