Intermediate Systems Administrator

The Opportunity Avondale Stores Limited is a privately held, family-owned convenience retail company operating 74 stores across Ontario, headquartered in Jordan Station in the Niagara region. We are looking for a hands-on Intermediate Systems Administrator to own day-to-day infrastructure operations alongside our Director of Technology. This is a player role — you will personally configure, deploy, patch, troubleshoot, and document infrastructure, not manage others doing it. You will work in a tight-knit team of three, with a structured 12–18 month knowledge transfer from a Director who has run this environment for years. What You’ll Own • Virtualization: VMware vSphere 8 / ESXi — cluster management, patching, capacity planning • Microsoft stack: Active Directory, Exchange 2019 on-premises, Windows Server • Networking: MikroTik routers and switches across 74 store locations, firewalls, VLANs, WAN circuits • Storage & backup: NAS, Veeam Backup & Replication, tape and cloud backup operations • Retail infrastructure: POS systems, payment terminals, surveillance, telephony, and digital signage across 74 stores where downtime directly affects revenue What We Require • 5–7 years of progressive hands-on IT systems administration experience • VMware VCP-DCV — required at time of application • At least one current Microsoft server infrastructure certification (AZ-802, AZ-104, or equivalent MCSE) — required at time of application • Strong working proficiency in VMware vSphere, Windows Server, Active Directory, and Exchange on-premises • Excellent verbal and written English communication skills — this role involves daily remote troubleshooting with non-technical store staff over the phone • College diploma or bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field • Fully on-site, Jordan Station, ON — no remote or hybrid option Assets That Will Make You Stand Out • Multi-site retail, convenience, hospitality, or food service experience • MSP or field-service background • Veeam VMCE, Cisco CCNA/CCNP, or CompTIA Security+ • AS/400 / IBM i familiarity Who Thrives Here Our team members stay for years — many for over a decade. If you are motivated by genuine ownership, a stable long-tenure environment, and building something you can be proud of over time, this role is a strong fit. If you’re looking for a large corporate ladder or a narrow specialty, it probably isn’t. On-call is part of the role — shared rotation, roughly one week in four. What We Offer • Discretionary annual performance bonus • Comprehensive health & dental coverage • Group RRSP or pension contribution • Three weeks vacation at hire, increasing with tenure • Cell phone, laptop, and on-call equipment provided • Mileage reimbursement for store travel How to Apply Send your resume and a brief cover note to careers@avondalestores.com. We review applications on a rolling basis and aim to acknowledge every submission within five business days. We particularly welcome cover notes that speak to your multi-site experience, your approach to documentation, and why a long-tenure family-business environment appeals to you. Pay: $85,000.00-$88,000.00 per year Benefits: • Casual dress • Company pension • Dental care • On-site parking Ability to commute/relocate: • Jordan Station, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required) Application question(s): • How many years of IT Systems Administration experience do you have? Education: • DCS / DEC (required) Experience: • Microsoft Exchange on-premises: 5 years (required) Licence/Certification: • VMware VCP-DCV certification (required) • Microsoft certification (AZ-802, AZ-104, or equivalent MCSE) (required) Work Location: In person