"Database Administrator/Lead Data Architect (Information Technology Specialist 4)"

Job Description

1. MANAGE THE SQL ENVIRONMENT AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL DATA SERVICES. Maintain and support WSU’s SQL environment in collaboration with System Administrators with an equal focus on infrastructure DBA responsibilities and SQL-based system integrations. Partner with System Administrators on platform-wide functions including installing and configuring SQL Server versions, applying maintenance and security updates, tuning system parameters, managing storage and capacity, and ensuring reliable integration with institutional applications and services. Deploy and maintain third-party DBA tools that enhance monitoring, automation, and performance. Provide strong SQL programming and T-SQL development expertise by creating, maintaining, and optimizing stored procedures, functions, scripts, and other components essential to application integrations and business processes. Support developers and functional teams by translating requirements into secure, efficient SQL-based solutions that align with institutional standards. Monitor and maintain server and database health, including performance analysis, query and index tuning, workload optimization, backup/restore operations, and long-term capacity planning. Ensure robust SQL Server security, including authentication, authorization, role-based access controls, permission modeling, encryption, auditing, and compliance with university policies. Implement least-privilege principles and actively review security posture across all environments. Support operational workflows through scripting and automation, preferably using PowerShell, to streamline routine tasks, improve consistency, and strengthen reliability across environments.
2. LEAD DATA ARCHITECTURE. Lead and empower the university through advanced data architecture and database support. Formulate enterprise-level data schemas to directly meet the needs of high priority endeavors. Envision and map how the organization’s data should be structured to serve both current operations and future needs. Understand the institution’s objectives, processes, and the information flows that support them. Builds logical representations that describe entities, relationships, and rules in a way that makes sense to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, creating a shared blueprint for how data will live and move within the institution. As Technologies for data management advance and evolve, recommends policies and procedures that apply accordingly, or that adhere to Minnesota State and/or industry best practices as they emerge.
3. TRANSFORM VISION INTO A FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM. Act as a business analyst by translating conceptual ideas, user needs. institutional goals into fully functional systems that support WSU’s business objectives. The solutions are to be built so as to align with enterprise data governance and WSU and industry security standards. Create systems that integrate cleanly with WSU applications and workflows, ensuring that the final implementation is technically sound and business ready.
4. PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION AND RECOVERY. Develop and implement comprehensive backup and recovery strategies to safeguard the organization’s data against loss, corruption, or disaster. Maintain a recovery strategy that is clear, well-documented, regularly tested, and aligned with the institution’s tolerance for downtime and data loss. Ensures databases remain a stable and reliable foundation even in times of unexpected disruption.
5. Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the smooth functioning of the department and maintain the reputation of the organization as a viable business partner.

Salary Range

$37.07-$61.14/hour; dependent upon qualifications and experience

Minimum Qualifications

This position requires a minimum of four (4) years of experience in Microsoft SQL administration in an environment with multiple SQL Servers. Experience must include: (1) Managing SQL Server 2016+ utilizing IT industry best practices and security standards; (2) SQL Server Troubleshooting; (3) SQL Programming; (4) T-SQL stored procedure development; (5) Demonstrated experience with database backup/recovery strategies, high availability solutions, and disaster recovery planning; (6) Utilizing scripting tools for automation and system administration tasks; (7) Demonstrated skills with critical and strategic thinking, planning, project management, and problem-solving; (8) Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a manner that facilitates mutual understanding

Demonstrated knowledge of enterprise data schemas, including the ability to understand, document, and apply standardized data models across multiple systems and platforms.

Education in Information Technology (IT) or an IT related field may substitute for experience as follows: a master’s degree for eighteen (18) months of experience; a bachelor’s degree for one (1) year; and an associate’s degree for six (6) months

Preferred Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience developing and maintaining reports using SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
• Experience with SQL performance tuning and monitoring software.
• Experience with Azure distributed cloud computing.
• Experience applying modern data security principles within enterprise data architectures, including least-privilege access, defense-in-depth, and secure data lifecycle management.
• Experience with MS SQL Server Database Replication and Service Broker.
• Experience with source control toolsets.
• Knowledge of data integration and data lake enablement tools (e.g., Boomi AtomSphere) and modern data fabric platforms (e.g., Microsoft Fabric, Denodo, Informatica, IBM Data Fabric)
• Demonstrated ability to apply governance, metadata management, and data virtualization practices across systems.

Other Requirements

1. The successful candidate must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States by the day employment begins. The University regrets that we are unable to offer H1-B sponsorship at this time

A complete online application will include the following:

• A cover letter that addresses the qualifications listed previously
• Current Curriculum Vitae / Resume
• Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)

Posting Information

• Application Deadline: (not specified)
• Appointment Date: As Soon As Possible
• Primary Location: Winona, MN OR Rochester, MN
• Type of Appointment: Probationary
• Work Shift (Hours / Days of work) Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm
• Telework (Yes/No) No