IT Sr Specialist

At Novus our goal as a company is to inspire every animal producer and owner on the planet. As relentless advocates for intelligent nutrition, we deliver advanced technology, rooted in scientific research designed to help their animals reach their full potential.

Driven by our passion for science and our intrinsic innovation, we will transform the animal nutrition industry through the power of intelligent nutrition. Working alongside animal producers and owners around the globe, we will help create a world where we feed solutions instead of treating problems.
Novus' employees help bring this Vision and Mission to life. Our employees support our customers in over 85 countries worldwide. We are always looking for dynamic people who share our mission to inspire animal producers and help animals reach their full potential.

General Responsibilities

Infrastructure Design and Implementation:

• Design, plan, and implement IT infrastructure solutions based on business requirements, with a focus on Microsoft Azure, Windows, and VMware virtualization technologies.
• Develop architectural designs and deployment plans for server, storage, network, and virtualization environments.
• Ensure scalability, availability, and performance of infrastructure components.

Microsoft Azure Management:

• Manage and maintain Microsoft Azure cloud services, including Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Active Directory, Azure Storage, and Azure Networking.
• Implement and optimize Azure infrastructure for cost efficiency and performance.
• Monitor Azure resources and implement security best practices.

Server Administration:

• Administer Linux/Windows server environments, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of server operating systems.
• Manage Active Directory services, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and other Windows server roles.
• Implement security measures to protect servers from threats and vulnerabilities.

VMware Virtualization:

• Manage VMware vSphere infrastructure, including ESXi hosts, vCenter Server, and virtual machines.
• Design and implement virtualization solutions to optimize resource utilization and improve efficiency.
• Perform capacity planning, performance tuning, and troubleshooting of virtualized environments.

Infrastructure Security:

• Implement security policies and controls to safeguard IT infrastructure against unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber threats.
• Conduct regular security assessments and audits to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Respond to security incidents and implement remediation measures as necessary.

Documentation and Knowledge Sharing:

• Maintain comprehensive documentation of IT infrastructure configurations, procedures, and policies.
• Provide technical guidance and training to junior staff members and other IT teams.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to share knowledge and best practices.
• Act as technical project lead for various IT projects and initiatives.
• Troubleshoot and resolve incidents reported via CA Service Desk.
• Participate in calls with vendors and local technical contacts to implement complex solutions at global company sites.
• Act as point of escalation for critical incidents.
• Perform maintenance and upgrades within off-hours maintenance windows, including nights and weekends as necessary.
• Ensure business continuity through configuration backups, system redundancy, and support contract monitoring.
• Assist IT Infrastructure Manager in the development of strategic planning initiatives related to Backoffice activities.
• Adhere to the Novus Management System (NMS), Novus Integrity System (NIS) and all policies and procedures related to position assignment.

General Guidance for Key Knowledge/Skills/ Experience

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) in Computer Science or another IT field from a four-year college or university required.
• 5-7 years of experience in an IT infrastructure management, with a focus on Microsoft Azure, Linux, Windows, and VMware virtualization.
• Strong understanding of cloud computing principles and hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure services.
• Proficiency in Windows Server administration, Active Directory, and related technologies.
• Experience with VMware vSphere, including deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, VMware Certified Professional (VCP), or equivalent are preferred.
• Must be flexible and able to adapt quickly to change.
• Must be eager and willing to assist others with various issues
• Must be driven and be able to operate independently and think critically.
• Some travel will be required to help maintain plant and warehouse facilities.
• Requires excellent interpersonal and communications skills including the ability to address problems using a team approach, the flexibility to work well with coworkers in a variety of situations, and the ability to communicate issues and concerns to management in a timely manner.

Other Essential Requirements:

• Fluent in English

Cross-Functional Relationships:

Work with our IT Coordinators, Application Development, Operations and SAP groups to ensure corporate network efficiencies for internal and external customers, and respond to their issues in a timely fashion.

WIN as a TEAM and COLLABORATE with:

• Manufacturing & Plant teams
• Logistics, Customer Service, R&D, Legal and other internal Novus functions
• Mitsui/Nisso (our owners)
• External service providers
• External network vendors