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Active Directory Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Xinnovit

Active Directory Specialist

Oxford, AL

Microsoft Active Directory Architect supporting Transition & Transformation organization including the architecture and build out of an enterprise Active Directory environment and ensuring its ...

Berkley

Sr. Systems Engineer (Active Directory)

Wilmington, DE · On-site

$51.25 - $67/hr

The Sr. Systems Engineer (Active Directory) is an experienced Active Directory specialist to design, implement, and manage our enterprise-wide Active Directory/Entra Hybrid infrastructure. This is a ...

Sonsoft Inc

Active Directory,

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

... Active Directory, Vmware and Windows Skills At least 5 years of experience in Development/ Configuration/solutions evaluation/ Validation and deployment At least 5 years of experience in Business ...

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Active Directory Specialist information

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How much do active directory specialist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for active directory specialist in the United States is $46.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.41 and $54.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Active Directory Specialist?

To thrive as an Active Directory Specialist, you need a deep understanding of directory services, identity and access management, and strong troubleshooting abilities, often supported by relevant IT degrees or certifications like Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate. Experience with tools such as Microsoft Active Directory, Azure AD, PowerShell scripting, and security systems is essential. Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are critical soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for maintaining secure, efficient, and reliable access control within an organization.

What is the difference between Active Directory Specialist vs Network Administrator?

AspectActive Directory SpecialistNetwork Administrator
Primary FocusManaging and maintaining Active Directory environmentsOverseeing overall network infrastructure and connectivity
CertificationsMicrosoft Certified: Windows Server, Active Directory certificationsCompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA, or similar
Work EnvironmentIT departments, enterprise environments, data centersNetwork operations centers, corporate offices, data centers
Common TasksUser account management, group policies, permissionsNetwork setup, troubleshooting, hardware configuration

While both roles work within IT environments, an Active Directory Specialist focuses specifically on managing Active Directory services, user accounts, and permissions. In contrast, a Network Administrator handles broader network infrastructure, ensuring connectivity and network security across the organization.

What is an Active Directory Specialist?

An Active Directory Specialist is an IT professional responsible for managing, maintaining, and troubleshooting Microsoft Active Directory environments. They ensure that user accounts, permissions, and network resources are properly configured and secured. Their duties often include implementing group policies, managing domain controllers, and supporting authentication services for organizations. These specialists play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and security of an organization's IT infrastructure.

What are some common challenges faced by Active Directory Specialists when managing large enterprise environments?

Active Directory Specialists working in large enterprises often encounter challenges related to maintaining security while enabling seamless access for users across multiple domains and sites. Managing group policies, troubleshooting replication issues, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies can be complex due to the scale and diversity of users and systems. Additionally, coordinating with other IT teams—such as network, security, and application administrators—is essential to ensure that directory services support overall business needs without causing disruptions.
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Active Directory Specialist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Active Directory Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,891 per year, or $46.6 per hour.

Active Directory Specialist

Cognizant Technology Solutions

Sleepy Hollow, NY • On-site

$114K - $128K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago

Cognizant rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 85 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

52nd of 72 rated business consultants

Job description

Job Title: Active Directory Specialist
Job Location: Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA
Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future
We are seeking an experienced Active Directory / Azure AD (Microsoft Entra ID) Specialist to support and manage enterprise Directory Services operations within a large-scale hybrid identity environment. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on expertise in On-Prem Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Azure AD Connect, DNS, Certificates, Identity & Access Management, and Directory Services Operations.
The role requires extensive experience in troubleshooting authentication and access-related issues, managing Active Directory infrastructure, maintaining hybrid identity synchronization, supporting security and compliance initiatives, and ensuring the availability and performance of mission-critical directory services.
Experience supporting regulated environments with knowledge of GxP compliance is highly preferred.
Salary and Other Compensation:
The annual salary for this position is between $114,000 to $128,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.
In this role, you will
  • Administer and support enterprise Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) environments, ensuring high availability, security, and performance.
  • Manage user, group, computer, and service accounts, including provisioning, deprovisioning, and access control activities.
  • Support and troubleshoot Azure AD Connect synchronization, hybrid identity, authentication, and Single Sign-On (SSO) issues.
  • Administer and maintain AD-integrated DNS, public DNS (Cloudflare), domain registrations, renewals, and DNS security.
  • Manage PKI and Certificate Services, including Internal CA and external certificates (Sectigo), renewals, and troubleshooting.
  • Monitor and resolve Active Directory replication, Group Policy (GPO), authentication, LDAP, Kerberos, and permissions-related issues.
  • Provide advanced support for critical P1/P2 incidents, perform root cause analysis, and implement preventive measures.
  • Perform Active Directory health checks, Domain Controller maintenance, patching, OS updates, backup validation, and recovery activities.
  • Manage AD security tools including Quest RMAD, Quest Change Auditor, password auditing, and identity security monitoring solutions.
  • Support disaster recovery and business continuity testing, including Domain Controller recovery, AD object restoration, and failover validation.
  • Collaborate with application teams to onboard new applications and implement directory integrations using LDAP, Kerberos, certificate-based authentication, and standard identity patterns.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying operational gaps, documenting procedures, recommending best practices, and partnering with stakeholders to enhance directory services operations.

What you'll need to succeed (required skills)
  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related discipline.
  • 8+ years of experience administering Active Directory environments.
  • 5+ years of experience supporting Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) and Azure AD Connect.
  • Strong hands-on experience with:
    • Active Directory (On-Premises)
    • Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
    • Azure AD Connect
    • DNS Administration
    • Cloudflare DNS
    • Group Policy (GPO)
    • Identity & Access Management (IAM)
    • Certificate Services / PKI
  • Experience supporting hybrid identity environments.
  • Strong troubleshooting skills across authentication, synchronization, and access management issues.
  • Experience with incident management, problem management, and root cause analysis.
  • Excellent client-facing communication skills.

Required Technical Skills
Mandatory
  • Active Directory Administration
  • Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
  • Azure AD Connect
  • DNS Administration (AD Integrated & Cloudflare)
  • Group Policy Management
  • Hybrid Identity Management
  • Certificate Services / PKI
  • Incident & Problem Management
  • Authentication & Authorization Troubleshooting
  • Active Directory Replication

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with Quest RMAD.
  • Experience with Quest Change Auditor.
  • Experience managing Sectigo certificates.
  • Knowledge of DFS (Distributed File Services).
  • Experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, or regulated industries.
  • Familiarity with GxP compliance requirements.
  • Microsoft certifications related to Entra ID, Identity Management, Azure, or Windows Server Administration.

Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
  • Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
  • Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
  • 401(k) plan and contributions
  • Long-term/Short-term Disability
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Work model:
At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible, and we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs. Based on this role's business requirements, this is an onsite role requiring 5 days a week at client site in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.
The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.
We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.
Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
"Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization's unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] for roles based in the Americas or [email protected] for roles based in India.

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