Systems Administrator *Internal QS Applicants Only*

Role: Systems Administrator *Internal QS Applicants Only*

Location: Bangalore / Mumbai

Job type: Full time, permanent

Working arrangement: Hybrid

Why QS?

At QS, we believe that work should empower you. That’s why we foster a flexible working environment that encourages every employee to own their career whilst thriving personally and professionally. Our company values underpin everything we do – we collaborate, respect and support each other.

It’s our mission to empower motivated people around the world to fulfil their potential through higher education, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that change lives.

Our diversity makes us stronger. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another and achieve more together, driving progress across the sector.

At QS, you’ll be responsible for implementing real change in the international higher education landscape. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that see a positive impact across the business and the wider sector.

We’re confident you’ll feel right at home here. QS was named as one of Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® in the UK (October 2023), recognising the respect, trust and appreciation that drive our culture every day. And as a gold-accredited Investors in People organisation – putting us among the top 28% of workplaces globally – it’s official: QS is a place where everyone can thrive.

As a Systems Administrator,
this is what you’ll be doing:

We are seeking a highly skilled and security-focused Systems Administrator to administer, secure, and continuously improve our corporate IT systems, SaaS applications, and endpoint environment. This role plays a critical part in ensuring system availability and maintaining a strong security posture across identities, devices, and cloud services. The ideal candidate will have deep hands-on experience with Microsoft 365, Entra ID (Azure AD), Intune, and SaaS administration, along with a strong understanding of cybersecurity concepts and controls. You will work closely with IT Teams, Security & Compliance teams, and business stakeholders globally to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable IT operations.

Role responsibilities: 

  Microsoft 365 and SaaS Platform Ownership

Own the end-to-end administration, security, and reliability of corporate IT systems, Microsoft 365 services, SaaS applications, and endpoints.

Administer and secure Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Intune, etc) ensuring availability, data protection, service enablement, licensing governance and secure configuration.

Ensure platforms are configured securely in line with organisational standards and industry’s best practices.

Identify opportunities to optimise SaaS usage, reduce risk, and improve user experience.

Identity and Access Management Leadership

Manage identity and access controls using Entra ID (Azure AD), conditional access, MFA, privileged roles, and least-privilege access models.

Own user lifecycle management (joiner, mover, leaver) and ensure timely, secure provisioning and deprovisioning.

Lead endpoint management and security using Microsoft Intune and ManageEngine Endpoint Central, including device onboarding, configuration, compliance enforcement, patching, and hardening.

Design, implement, and maintain endpoint and identity security baselines, ensuring devices and users meet organisational security requirements.

Monitor system, identity, and endpoint security posture, proactively identify misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and risks, and remediate them effectively.

Investigate, respond to, and support remediation of security incidents related to endpoints, SaaS applications, or user access.

Enforce least-privilege access principles and manage privileged roles appropriately.

Administer and maintain Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and modern management configurations in hybrid and cloud-first environments.

Conduct periodic access reviews and remediate excessive or misaligned permissions.

Partner with the Security & Compliance team to reduce identity-related risk exposure.

Operational Excellence and Process Improvement

Provide Level 2/3 technical support for complex system, SaaS, and endpoint-related issues.

Drive continuous improvement in provisioning workflows, configuration standards, and access governance.

Identify opportunities for automation using PowerShell or scripting to reduce manual processes.

Ensure structured change management and documentation practices are followed.

Endpoint and Device Management

Lead endpoint administration using Microsoft Intune and enterprise endpoint management platforms.

Ensure device onboarding, compliance enforcement, patching, and security hardening are consistently maintained.

Maintain and improve endpoint security baselines in hybrid and cloud-managed environments.

Monitor compliance metrics and proactively address configuration drift or patching gaps.

Administer modern device management policies alongside legacy GPO configurations where required.

Governance, Audit and Collaboration

Collaborate closely with Security, Compliance, and Global IT team to implement security controls, support audits, and align IT operations with security best practices.

Support audit readiness through evidence gathering and configuration validation.

Participate in SaaS vendor onboarding reviews from an identity and access perspective.

Maintain high-quality and accurate system documentation, security standards, operational procedures, and runbooks

Continuously evaluate and improve IT and security processes, tools, and configurations to strengthen resilience against evolving cyber threats.

Support the monitoring and management of shadow IT risks and enforce access governance standards.

Ensure IT operations align with internal security policies and regulatory requirements.

 Key skills and experience:

Experience in a Systems Administrator, IT Administrator, or similar role.

Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field.

Strong hands-on experience administering Microsoft 365.

Solid experience with Entra ID / Azure AD, including conditional access and identity security.

Proven experience managing endpoints using Microsoft Intune.

Strong understanding of endpoint security, device compliance, and patch management.

Working knowledge of Group Policy, TCP/IP networking, and modern IT security concepts.

Experience administering and securing multiple SaaS applications.

Strong troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.

Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, globally distributed environment.

Nice-to-Have Skills & Qualifications

     Experience administering Jira (user access, permissions, workflows)
•   Exposure to Microsoft Defender (Endpoint, Identity, Office 365)
•   Experience with CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics, or similar)
•   Familiarity with ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, or similar security frameworks
•   Industry certifications such as Microsoft, CompTIA Security+, ITIL, or Atlassian

Personal Attributes

Strong security mindset with attention to detail.

Proactive and accountable, with a strong sense of ownership.

Comfortable balancing operational support with security priorities.

Customer-focused when supporting internal users.

Eager to learn and adapt to evolving technologies and threat landscapes.

So, who are we and what do we do?

QS is the world leader in higher education services, analytics, insights and intelligence. From consultancy to student mobility, academic partnerships to branding solutions, our services power both institutional and individual success.

We’re behind the world’s most widely read university rankings (Meltwater 2023). Our QS World University Rankings® reach hundreds of millions, shaping decisions and guiding futures.

Since launching in 1990, our impact and influence have only grown. Today, we work with more than 2,000 of the world’s leading higher education institutions, over 12,000 employers, and governments seeking change and socioeconomic development through higher education.

Join QS and you’ll join an 800-strong community of problem-solvers, creators, collaborators and change-makers based in 40+ countries and 11 international offices, including Australia, Malaysia, India, Romania, Singapore, France, Germany, the USA and our headquarters in London.

With every talented new hire, business acquisition and bold initiative, we’re strengthening our reach and delivering even greater value to institutions and learners worldwide. Are you ready to shape the future of higher education?

We take investing in our people very seriously.

As standard you will have: 

Competitive base salary  

Access to an annual bonus scheme (for qualifying roles only) 

21 days annual leave – increasing to 23 days after 5 years’ service + 8 days casual leave

14 days holiday for the year 2025

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave 

Access to Provident Fund and Pension Fund Scheme 

Group Medical Insurance

A vibrant social environment and multicultural and multinational culture

But that’s not all. Outside of these standard benefits we also offer resources to allow professional growth and wellness initiatives to nurture a healthy mindset:

Free subscription to the Calm App – the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation

A focus on welfare which is led by our global wellness team, with mental health first aiders globally

EAP (Employee Assistance Program) Service - dedicated services for enhanced EAP and comprehensive wellness with 24/7 helpline available through Truworth Wellness 

Access to a variety of diversity and inclusion initiatives and groups

Strong recognition and reward programs – including a peer-to-peer recognition platform, quarterly and annual QS Applaud Awards, Connect with your Career annual personal development event

Support for volunteering and study leave

Free subscription to LinkedIn learning – with over 5,000 courses and programmes at your fingertips

Options to join our outstanding global Mentorship programme

Like what you’ve heard? Great, apply now!

As a candidate, we know the application and interview process can be daunting and so it’s important that you have a great experience with us. Our dedicated Talent Team will work hard to ensure you are fully informed at all stages and you are really excited by this opportunity to do meaningful work in the education space.

Equal opportunities

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is proud to be a fair and equal organisation where everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background or personal attributes. We celebrate our diversity and believe through sharing our experiences we can learn from one another, be stronger together, and enable our business to thrive.