Sr IT Application Specialist

About NISC 

NISC develops and implements enterprise-level and customer-facing software solutions for over 960+ energy cooperatives and communication organizations across North America. Our mission is to deliver technology solutions and services that are Member-focused, quality-driven and valued-priced. We exist to serve our Members and help them serve their communities through our innovative software products, services and outstanding customer support. We are an AI-forward company committed to being a technology leader in our industry. NISC has been ranked in ComputerWorld's Best Places to Work for 23 years, and we are looking for qualified individuals to join our team. 

Position Overview 

We're looking for a technically skilled and self-driven professional to join our team. This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of key enterprise applications (such as Okta, Okta Workflows, Atlassian, Entra ID, Microsoft 365, Threatlocker, MDM platforms, email security and RingCentral) and grow into a subject matter expert in one or more of these areas. A practical understanding of code and API calls is important, as automation plays a significant role in our environment. 

A strong security mindset is essential, as this role involves managing systems and workflows that are critical to the organization's security posture. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who thrives in complex technical environments, demonstrates strong troubleshooting skills, and is comfortable working independently while collaborating across teams. 

Work Schedule 

• Hybrid (after an initial training period) from one of our office locations:    

• Cedar Rapids, IA 

• Lake Saint Louis, MO 

• Mandan, ND 

• Hybrid Schedule: Minimum of working 3 days per week in the office and ability to work up to all 5 days a week in the office, as needed 

• Required Days from an Office Location: Tuesday and Wednesday - the third required day will be up to the candidate and their supervisor to choose 

Essential Duties 

• Co-own the full lifecycle implementation of moderately complex internal, on premise or cloud-based applications that may span many users and integration points.  
• Assist and may own implementation of on premise or cloud-based applications. 
• Assist and may own the ongoing maintenance of broader and more moderately complex internal IT applications. 
• Leverage low‑level Windows and macOS operating system knowledge to support endpoint security tooling, with emphasis on understanding OS internals, security controls, background services/daemons, and permission models to resolve complex agent‑level issues.
• Serve as a subject matter expert within specific IT applications. 
• May be asked to train employees on technical applications and team processes.  
• May be asked to recommend and/or implement changes or enhancements to IT applications that lead to better efficiencies or security controls.  
• Support general business needs and moderately complex administration functions within and between other internal IT teams.  
• Interpret code to assist with and understand initiatives around automation and data transformation. 
• Write basic level scripts and utilize API calls to automate administrative tasks or conduct data transformation for specific systems  
• Leverage generative AI tools and technologies to enhance productivity, creativity, and problem-solving within the scope of the role. 
• May be asked to participate in proof of concepts for new solutions. 
• Generate Change Requests for significant system changes and manage their resolution. 
• Provide Tier 2 support in researching and troubleshooting to resolve IT application problems or issues. 
• Follow forced changes implemented by vendors.  May be asked to coordinate with other groups/departments in anticipation of the change.  
• May be asked to participate in new vendor selections. 
• Provide after-hours technical support as needed. 
• Other duties as assigned. 
• Commitment to NISC's Statement of Shared Values. 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• 5+ years of related experience preferred. 
• Moderate knowledge of API calls and how to use a programming language to automate repetitive tasks.  
• Working OS knowledge and troubleshooting ability (macOS, Windows) 
• Working knowledge of Identity Management/SSO solutions. (Okta, etc.) 
• Working knowledge of SaaS automation platforms. (Okta Workflows, Power Automate, etc.) 
• Working knowledge of administration of productivity suites. (Office365, GSuite, etc.) 
• Working knowledge of email/spam systems. (Proofpoint, Exchange, etc.) 
• Working scripting knowledge. (Bash, Python, Powershell, etc.) 
• Working knowledge of Active Directory. 
• Basic knowledge of telephony systems, VoIP, etc. 
• Working knowledge of security tools. (InsightVM, InsightIDR, Carbon Black, BeyondTrust) 
• Working knowledge of endpoint management solutions. (Kandji, NinjaOne) 
• Basic network knowledge (IPv4 & DNS). 
• Working level knowledge of Project Management processes and theory. 
• Excellent research and problem-solving skills. 
• Working level knowledge of business-related software applications and services. 
• Strong ability to demonstrate initiative and accountability. 
• Strong level ability to troubleshoot. 
• Strong ability to multitask and manage time. 
• Strong ability to make decisions based on the application of guidelines and procedures. 
• Strong level ability to organize, prioritize, and adapt to change. 
• Strong level ability to interact in a positive manner with internal and external contacts. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

Education Preferred 

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Computer Information Systems, Systems & Network Administration, Computer Engineering, any other business-related field or equivalent experience. 

Minimum Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made. While performing this role, employees must be able to see and communicate effectively. They are regularly required to remain stationary, move about, and operate computer keyboards or office equipment. 

Disclaimer 

Management may modify this job description by assigning or reassigning duties and responsibilities at any time. 

Key Words 

SaaS Management | Identity Management | Okta | Automation | User Lifecycle Management | Security | Cybersecurity | REST APIs | Scripting | Office365 | Powershell | Bash | Javascript | Asset Management | Exchange | IDP | SAML/OIDC | Project Management | Privileged Management | Active Directory | SIP/VOIP/Contact Center | Atlassian | Jira Administration | SAML | Exchange