Companies need access to the data they collect, and they need it faster and faster so they can make more informed decisions to grow their businesses. A database administrator maintains the databases that store those data and oversees database updates, security, storage, and troubleshooting.
A database administrator organizes everything from sensitive data like financial records, purchase histories, and customer information, to inventory and sales statistics. They also make sure that information is accessible to anyone in the organization who needs to use it.
Database administrators also back up, restore, and troubleshoot databases and system access, updating systems to the latest technology. They also need analytical skills to assess their company’s database needs and evaluate the data system’s performance.
Sample job description #1
To assist with ensuring the integrity of all donor and donation data critical to the execution of advanced functions and fundraising operations. Supports the efforts of the development team through a variety of responsibilities in major gifts through database management and ongoing cultivation activities.
The kind of work you’ll be doing
- Maintain and audit the list of donor’s outstanding commitments for the production of new language versions
- Track and report to Development leadership all Matching Gift and Challenge grants
- Maintain and audit the Film database for the ministry’s top 110 donors
- Maintain and audit the Commitment tracking system for various Film donor fundraising events on a daily/weekly basis
- Assist in maintaining and updating the funding statistic reports for priority language funding projects
- Track and update funding of projects on the Worldwide Greatest Opportunities List
- Process incoming checks and communicate donor account and designation information regarding large gifts to donation services on a daily basis
- Compile and send biannual status reports of event commitments to donors and respective Development Rep
- Track Non-Cash gift income and collective Giving Group Gifts for Allocations and reporting
Experience and skills
- AA degree
- Plus 1-3 three years of business, data management, and financial administration experience required; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Siebel’s experience is a plus
Sample job description #2
As the Database Administrator, you are responsible for the full software lifecycle with a focus on database development. You are the focal point for the design, test, implementation, and delivery of database objects to fulfill customer requirements. You will work with software and determine ways to organize and store data, identify user requirements, set up computer databases, test and coordinate modifications to the computer database system, ensure the performance of the system, understand the platform on which the database runs, and add new users to the system. You will also be responsible for planning and coordinating security measures to include integrity, backup, and overall database security.
Responsibilities include
- Work in an agile team to design, prototype, develop, and document new product offerings and enhance existing products and tools
- Provide performance tuning of database queries and code
- Troubleshoot application issues and data related problems
- Work with application teams to troubleshoot connection related issues including SSL configuration
- Provide database administration support to the Systems Administrators including database upgrades, backups, user creation, and SSL connections
- Evaluate new frameworks and contribute to technology selection
- Design and develop database objects to support Java/JEE Web based applications and Domino applications
- Support application teams making database designs, loading, modifying, and updating data
- Understand high level business requirements and produce technical specifications, designs, documents, interface control documents, and architecture documents
- Brief design and technical approach solutions to the customer’s Architecture and Engineering Review Board (AERB)
- Create quality code and perform code reviews of other team member’s code
- Interact with customer stakeholders and build relationships
- Participate in the software requirements analysis, technical design, and implementation of applications based on functional specifications
- Collaborate with Product Manager to identify, prioritize, and document detailed product requirements
- Facilitate and guide initiatives for improving development processes
- Quickly adapt to new technologies and processes
- Develop Level of Effort (LOE) estimates for work assignments
- Help develop robust automated unit/functional test suites and development scripts
- Work with internal test teams on system, performance, and acceptance testing
Required education, experience, & skills
- The candidate must have an Active Intel Security clearance with a Favorable Polygraph. The candidate will not be considered without it
- Experience with Oracle databases (12c, 19c versions)
- Experience with database tools such as SQL Developer, TOAD, DBArtisan
- Strong SQL, PL/SQL, SQL development experience
- Strong understanding of database connections including JDBC and ODBC
- Experience with Solaris, Linux, and Windows environments
- Ability to use verbal and written communication skills to present information to a diverse population (technical and non-technical)
- Ability to work well independently and as a member of a team in a fast-paced environment
- Experience working/collaborating with software engineering teams
- Strong software engineering, development, debugging, testing, and troubleshooting skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Sample job description #3
Currently seeking a Database Administrator with strong problem-solving skills to contribute in solving complex, multi-layered challenges. If you are an efficient problem solver with highly tuned decision-making skills, this may be the position for you.
Key responsibilities
- Configure database monitoring utilities to minimize false alarms
- Restore databases as service outages occur, including after hours and weekends
- Ensure the design and execution of database server topology, configuration, and maintenance meet SLA objectives
- Improve performance with the most effective solution, such as hardware purchases, server configuration changes, or index/query changes
- Monitor for deviation in baseline system performance, and advise on and execute improvements to slow running queries
- Advise on database design, tuning options, and other potential issues
- Maintain all database instances across development, staging, and production environments, handling installations and configurations as needed
Top requirements
- Experience building and maintaining documentation
- Prior experience adjusting queries to enhance performance
- Familiarity with relational database management systems
- 2+ years of database experience
- Blackbaud and Raisers Edge
- Excellent communication and customer service mentality
- Education industry experience highly preferred
Average salary and compensation
The average salary for a network administrator is $103,950 in the United States. Position salary will vary based on experience, education, company size, industry, and market.
| Location | Salary Low | Salary High |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, Arizona | $103,400 | $139,850 |
| Los Angeles, California | $116,650 | $157,800 |
| Denver, Colorado | $97,200 | $131,500 |
| Washington, DC | $118,400 | $160,200 |
| Miami, Florida | $96,750 | $130,900 |
| Orlando, Florida | $89,250 | $120,750 |
| Tampa, Florida | $90,150 | $121,950 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $94,550 | $127,900 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $108,700 | $147,050 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $117,500 | $159,000 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota | $93,650 | $126,700 |
| New York City, New York | $123,700 | $167,350 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $100,750 | $136,300 |
| Dallas, Texas | $98,100 | $132,700 |
| Houston, Texas | $97,200 | $131,500 |
| Seattle, Washington | $113,100 | $153,000 |
| National Average | $88,350 | $119,550 |
Sample interview questions
- What type of databases have you trained to work with, and what databases do you have experience working with?
- Do you have any database administration certificates?
- Are you aware of ODBC, and can you explain what it is?
- How would you ensure that data remains safe and does not get lost during migrations or other processes?
- If you did lose data, how would you go about dealing with this?
- If a database appears to have a problem, what would you do to go about troubleshooting this problem?
- Have you ever lost a large amount of data before? If so, why?
- When did you discover you wanted to become a database administrator?
