Database Specialist

Summary

Job Category:
Infrastructure 
Job Title:
Database Specialist
Job Category Definition:
This specialty covers design, integration, implementation, modification, and coordination of the installation, testing, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of hardware and software systems. Functions may include conducting needs analyses; planning and scheduling the installation of new or modified hardware/software; developing functional and technical requirements and specifications; allocating systems resources; managing accounts, documentation, and access to systems and equipment; administering passwords; monitoring the performance, capacity, availability, serviceability, and recoverability of installed systems; implementing security procedures and tools; maintaining systems configuration; managing the installation and integration of system patches updates, and enhancements; ensuring the rigorous application of information security/information assurance policies, principles, and practices.
Job Title Definition:
The Database Specialist designs, implements, and maintains complex databases with respect to access methods, access time, device allocation, validation checks, organization, protection and security, documentation, and statistical methods; includes maintenance of database dictionaries, overall monitoring of standards and procedures, and integration of systems through database design. Note: positions in this profile, especially levels 3-5, are intended to be Database Administrators; Database Developers should be classified as Programmer/Analyst. Duties are performed at various levels within the defined title. 
Working Conditions:
Specific physical requirements and effort are outlined in Job Responsibilities Worksheet (list of essential job duties and responsibilities specific to a particular job at the unit level) in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Other Requirements:
 

Levels

Level 1  

There is currently no Level 1.

Level 2  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITAP0102 K Non-Exempt

Level 2 positions typically demonstrate intermediate knowledge of the concepts, practices and procedures of a particular field of specialization; perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas/applications by continuously building on current job knowledge; maintain effective relationships with peers, vendors, and others in a diverse environment; support team decisions and follow through with team responsibilities; interpret information, ideas and instructions and communicate clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing including materials intended for distribution; determine causes of unusual occurrences and apply standard principles and practices to determine and implement solutions; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; typically work under general supervision, while performing assignments that are varied and that may be somewhat difficult in character, but usually involve limited responsibility.

Typical Education & Experience

2+ years related experience

Associate's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Design and implement database structures 
  • Ensure database optimization, database integrity (relational integrity), and integrity of the transaction profile
  • Design, develop, test, debug, install, implement, modify and support new or existing database software in accordance with area standard practices 
  • Prepare test plans and write documentation
  • Work with users to analyze their requirements 
  • Investigate data and/or program problems; determine source of problem; take corrective action 
  • Maintain familiarity with installed software standards and procedures and evaluate other tools to determine the appropriate fit into database development 
  • Participate in a portion of a large task or project
  • Provide technical guidance to other staff 

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 3  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITAP0103 L Exempt

Level 3 positions typically demonstrate proficient and comprehensive knowledge of defined skill areas/applications to integrate fundamental elements from other specialties into work assignments; apply knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization to complete difficult assignments; promote a culture that is conducive to effective relationships among diverse team members; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; may lead a project team involved in completion of difficult assignments, requiring proficient knowledge of field of specialization; interpret and communicate information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in writing including materials intended for distribution; incorporate new facts and ideas into group processes and apply creative thinking to develop new solutions; typically work with minimal supervision on difficult assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters.

Typical Education & Experience

4+ years related experience

Bachelor's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Administer, design, analyze, implement, and maintain database structures with respect to access methods, access time, device allocation, validation checks, organization, protection and security, and statistical methods
  • Develop and implement administrative, automation, and data integration scripts utilizing various programming languages
  • Ensure database optimization, database integrity (relational integrity), and integrity of the transaction profile
  • Install, configure, and upgrade database management software (DBMS) and related products
  • Optimize physical designs of databases to a given hardware platform; proactively monitor systems for optimum performance and capacity constraints
  • Create database maintenance procedures and backup/restore methods to protect the enterprise data
  • Lead the database portion of projects to migrate databases to new hardware and operating system platforms and to use DBMS advancements to improve processes
  • Work with users to analyze their requirements
  • Prepare test plans and write documentation
  • Maintain database dictionaries and system level databases, tables, and objects
  • Integrate systems through database design
  • Investigate data and/or program problems; determine source of problem; take corrective action
  • Monitor and administer DBMS security
  • Obtain knowledge of database systems and the unique requirements of different services
  • Support developers with database design and coding problems and provide technical guidance to other staff

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 4  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITAP0104 M Exempt

Level 4 positions typically demonstrate advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization and complete complex assignments; integrate complex elements from other specialties into work assignments; demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusionary practices which support diversity throughout the University; establish a shared vision and take responsibility for the achievement of team goals, and provide direction for appropriate implementation of plans; present ideas, concepts and instructions in a clear manner, and use persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; develop new techniques, concepts, theories, programs or solutions and apply them to complex strategic operating issues; typically work independently on complex work assignments, review progress and evaluate results and update management as appropriate; may direct and delegate work to lower-level staff.

Typical Education & Experience

8+ years related experience

Bachelor's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Administer, design, analyze, implement, and maintain complex database structures of critical business value with respect to access methods, access time, device allocation, validation checks, organization, protection and security, and statistical methods
  • Develop and implement complex administrative, automation, and data integration scripts; display advanced knowledge of set-based, shell, and scripting languages
  • Ensure database optimization, database integrity (relational integrity), and integrity of the transaction profile
  • Install, configure, and upgrade DBMS software and related products; perform DBMS configuration settings at an advanced level
  • Optimize physical designs of databases to a given hardware platform; proactively monitor systems for optimum performance and capacity constraints
  • Utilize database load-testing tools at an advanced level for performance testing of the DBMS and underlying storage
  • Create database maintenance procedures and backup/restore methods to protect the enterprise data; create innovative strategies and best practices to replicate the data to provide high availability
  • Lead the database portion of projects to migrate critical, complex databases to new hardware and operating system platforms and to use DBMS advancements to improve processes
  • Prepare test plans and write documentation
  • Maintain database dictionaries and system level databases, tables, and objects
  • Integrate systems through database design
  • Investigate complex data and/or program problems; determine source of problem; take corrective action
  • Monitor and administer DBMS security
  • Master multiple database systems and the unique requirements of different services
  • Support developers with difficult and complex database design and coding problems and provide technical guidance to other staff
  • Mentor other Database Administrators

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 5  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ITAP0105 N Exempt

Level 5 positions typically extend mastery of job knowledge to the principles, theories and practices of related specialties; expand knowledge of best practices and incorporate into all work assignments and procedures; evaluate and enhance current practices and efforts to ensure optimal support of diversity; oversee leadership of teams and projects that involve extensive cooperation and coordination between multiple departments across the University or with external customers; prepare written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on highly complex issues and deliver to a broad variety of audiences; identify and implement innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues which may involve unusual circumstances and incomplete or conflicting data; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; work independently on highly complex or strategic assignments; may direct and supervise lower-level staff.

Typical Education & Experience

12+ years related experience

Bachelor's Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Serve as the expert Database Administrator (technical lead/architect)
  • Administer, design, analyze, implement, and maintain complex database structures of critical business value with respect to access methods, access time, device allocation, validation checks, organization, protection and security, and statistical methods
  • Develop and implement complex administrative, automation, and data integration scripts; display mastery of set-based, shell, and scripting languages
  • Ensure the adherence to database engineering best practices across entire database environment; develop and implement processes of advanced complexity
  • Ensure database optimization, database integrity (relational integrity), and integrity of the transaction profile
  • Install, configure, and upgrade DBMS software and related products; display mastery of DBMS configuration settings
  • Optimize physical designs of databases to a given hardware platform; proactively monitor systems for optimum performance and capacity constraints
  • Display mastery of database load-testing tools to performance test the DBMS and underlying storage
  • Create database maintenance procedures and backup/restore methods to protect the enterprise data; create innovative strategies and best practices to replicate the data to provide high availability
  • Lead the database portion of projects to migrate critical, complex databases to new hardware and operating system platforms and to use DBMS advancements to improve processes
  • Ensure that the entire database environment’s high availability and disaster recovery is functional, and that the other Database Administrators understand the procedures and tools
  • Prepare test plans and write documentation; ensure documentation is accurate and up to date for the whole environment
  • Maintain database dictionaries and system level databases, tables, and objects
  • Integrate systems through database design
  • Investigate complex data and/or program problems; determine source of problem; take corrective action
  • Monitor and administer DBMS security
  • Master multiple database systems and the unique requirements of different services
  • Mentor other Database Administrators and review and coordinate their work
  • Support developers with difficult and complex database design and coding problems and provide technical guidance to other staff
  • May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.