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FIMS Administrator

Fermilab · Batavia, IL · $79,300–$104,400 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you took vague business requirements from a user group and turned them into something a developer could build from.

What they are checking: Whether they can pull clear, testable requirements out of people who only know what bothers them about the current system.

Describe a process improvement you led from idea to rollout. How did you know it actually helped?

What they are checking: Whether they follow through past go-live and check results, which separates real improvement from busy work.

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical limitation to a non-technical manager who wanted a different answer.

What they are checking: Whether they can say no clearly and offer options while keeping the working relationship intact.

What would you do

A department asks for a change that would help them but break a report another group depends on. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they look at downstream effects and bring both groups together instead of quietly picking a winner.

Users keep finding workarounds instead of using the system the way it was designed. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they treat workarounds as signals of a design gap rather than as users doing it wrong.

If you were handed a small project to fix a recurring systems issue, how would you set it up and keep it on track?

What they are checking: Whether they can run a modest project on their own, with scope, owners and check-ins, as the role sometimes requires.

About the work

Walk me through how you would document an existing business process before changing it. What goes in your flowchart and what do you leave out?

What they are checking: Whether their process maps are useful to programmers and users alike, not just pretty diagrams nobody reads.

How do you decide what to measure when you're asked to report on how well a business process is working?

What they are checking: Whether they pick measures tied to real outcomes rather than counting whatever the system happens to log.

Which functional area do you consider your specialty, and how deep does your knowledge go in it?

What they are checking: Whether they truly own one specialized discipline, since the role expects proficiency without close supervision.

How do you test a configuration or system change before it reaches users at a large lab with many departments?

What they are checking: Whether they protect production with test plans and user acceptance rather than learning about problems from complaints.

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The full job description

As published by Fermilab.

The expected hiring range for this position is: $79,300.00-$104,400.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. This position is not eligible for relocation assistance, sponsorship assistance or referral bonus program. About the Role: Fermilab is seeking a FIMS Administrator who under general supervision, involved in all aspects of business analysis, measurement and reporting, and continual improvement of a specified computing process for a business practice or function. Proficient in at least one highly specialized functional discipline and interfaces with users to determine specific objectives. Prepares or interprets detailed flowcharts, diagrams, and specifications from which programs will be written. Coordinates implementation and process improvements with users. May oversee specific projects or programs to address business needs or systems issues. What your day-to-day as a FIMS Administrator will look like: • Analyzing and evaluating business requirements and, with minimal oversight, develops or improves upon specific existing IT processes to meet these requirements. Documents business rationale and alternatives considered. • Planning, coordinating and leading projects when needed. Reviewing and prioritizing customer demands, and then communicating and coordinating approved priorities to customers and appropriate service providers. • Executing existing business processes and process flows and identifies needed changes. • Proposing and designing solutions to address short-term and long-term business needs. • Coordinating and assisting in testing system changes and process improvements. • Ensuring appropriate level of communication about IT service or process changes. May provide consultation about or deliver necessary trainings. • Preparing operational and user documentation for systems implementations. • Staying abreast of current business practices, emerging industry trends, and related technology. • Performing other duties as assigned by supervisor. • Abiding by and being responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position Essential Competencies and Attributes for Success: • High school diploma • 3+ years of experience in one or more functional areas to address business needs. • Bachelor’s degree in a field related to the functional area being assisted with 1+ years of experience preferred. Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: • Ability to plan, schedule and direct skilled labor in the performance of project work. Proficiency in at least one Service Management suite. • Excellent communication and customer service skills, as well as ability to work with professional engineers, architects, etc. Work Arrangement: Please note that the described work arrangement is subject to change based on business needs and is not guaranteed to be final. • Onsite : This is an onsite role, and the candidate must be able to work from our Batavia Office. Benefits/Perks: Fermilab offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including: • Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts • Paid time off • Life insurance • Short and Long-term disability insurance • Retirement benefits • Onsite day care Why Fermilab: Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole. Pre-Employment Screening: Drug-Free Workplace & Pre-Employment Screening Fermilab is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive and drug-free environment. An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening. HSPD-12 In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a federal background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment. Foreign Government Sponsored Activities Fermilab employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. Such individuals will be asked to disclose any participation for review by Fermilab's Office of General Counsel. REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf . If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview. Equal Opportunity Statement Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

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