WHAT DOES A DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR DO?

Published: October 1, 2024 – The Database Administrator sets architectural direction, builds consensus, and provides technical leadership while being actively involved in the data acquisition process from multiple source systems. This role develops database solutions by designing systems, defining physical structures, and specifying security, backup, and recovery protocols. Additionally, the administrator supports the application development lifecycle, resolves technical problems, and leads the adoption of modern database principles and practices.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Database Administrator

1. Database Administrator Job Summary

  • Liaise: Liaise with the relevant material management departments for SAP global material master data.
  • Administer: Administer and maintain the local SAP material master data.
  • Administrate: Administrate SAP pricing conditions via the contract lifecycle database requests.
  • Ensure Accuracy: Ensure customer master data pricing fields are accurate, ensuring any discrepancies are flagged to the dept. supervisor.
  • Maintain Catalogs: Maintain catalog service provider e-portals pricing and master data catalogs, ensuring the adoption of government-mandated standards and requirements.
  • Coordinate Accounts: Coordinate department email accounts.
  • Support Improvement: Support the culture of continuous improvement, assisting with the development and monitoring of the department’s systems and processes.
  • Provide Catalogs: Provide customer-specific and list-price catalogs via requests from customers and colleagues.
  • Review Reports: Review and analyze data reports daily.
  • Process Data: Process data and update systems and databases.
  • Run Reports: Run reports and send them to specific customers.

2. Database Administrator Responsibilities

  • Enterprise Support: Provide enterprise support for SQL servers and applications.
  • Disaster Recovery: Understand and implement disaster recovery strategies.
  • Best Practices: Implement appropriate levels of best practices for constraints, referential integrity, and triggers.
  • ETL Processes: Support and create ETL processes for data from SQL and non-SQL platforms in the data warehouse.
  • Business Requirements: Understand and evaluate business requirements and translate them into specific database solutions.
  • Data Standards Leadership: Provide leadership in establishing and documenting data standards.
  • Upgrade Analysis: Analyze the impact of various upgrades and take appropriate action to mitigate potential risks (e.g., service pack upgrades).
  • Query Performance: Use querying and performance monitoring tools to analyze current and future SQL statements, stored procedures, and database design.
  • Documentation: Document models for new database development and/or changes to existing ones through data flowcharting.
  • Customer Information Management: Collate customer information and improve continual service.
  • After-Hours Support: Provide after-hour support when needed.

3. Database Administrator Details

  • Data Transfer Management: In charge of the Engineering Department, all required data transfer work and hard release through the Team Center.
  • FTP Management: In charge of the Engineering Department, all required data transfer work through internal and external FTP sites.
  • File Maintenance: Maintain and delete obsolete files from cloud and FTP sites on a routine basis.
  • Customer Interface: Interface with OEM customer Team Center counterparts directly.
  • Data Transfer Records: Keep clear records of all data transfer history for each program.
  • File Organization: Maintain Engineering Department Share Drive data transfer folders and strictly follow the naming criteria to keep all files organized.
  • Regulation Updates: Purchasing up-to-date regulations and customer SPECs from the IHS website.
  • Regulations Organization: Maintain Engineering Department Share Drive regulations folders and strictly follow the naming criteria to keep all files organized.
  • Credential Management: Maintain Team Center, Covisint ID and passwords.
  • Hardware Setup Assistance: Assist the IT team in setting up hardware and software for a new hire in the Engineering Department.
  • Common Hardware Maintenance: Assist IT in setting up and maintaining the Engineering Department's common hardware.
  • Software Management: Assist IT in setting up, maintaining, and upgrading Engineering Department common software, such as GM Team Center, Ford Team Center, NX and CATIA, SPEOs, FlowEFD, etc.

4. Database Administrator Duties

  • ERP Integrity Maintenance: Maintaining the integrity and performance of the ERP/Inventory Management System.
  • Data Strategy Development: Work directly with the CIO to develop a strong and repeatable data strategy.
  • System Auditing: Audit the existing system for errors or omissions and update accordingly.
  • SOP Development: Develop SOPs for part/product creation, BOMs, manufacture orders, and train users for optimal system performance.
  • Initiative Assessment: Provide assessments to identify effective initiatives and their processes.
  • Database Improvement Strategies: Develop strategies and identify measures and actions required to achieve and improve the database.
  • Product Development Collaboration: Work with the sales and marketing team to create new products.
  • Database Tuning: Database tuning and maintenance in conjunction with the CIO.
  • User Management: Take responsibility for adding and/or deleting users.
  • Customer Support: Respond to customer queries, escalating where necessary.
  • Data Entry Management: Perform daily data entry and proactively manage the integrity of the database.

5. Database Administrator Accountabilities

  • Lease Data Entry: Read leases and input lease data on Data Entry Forms (DEFs).
  • DEF Preparation: Take responsibility for preparing other DEF forms.
  • System Maintenance: Update and maintain Casework, Property Management, and Accounting Systems with instruction details and lease data.
  • Surveyor Coordination: Coordinate and chase up other surveyors for updates on information.
  • Stakeholder Liaison: Liaison with internal stakeholders and coordinate database services and information.
  • Land Search: Conduct land searches (training will be provided).
  • Report Compilation: Compile necessary reports for the team.
  • Invoice Management: Handle a high volume of monthly invoices.
  • Process Deviation Management: Upload and maintain temporary process deviations.
  • Shortage Tracking: Track shortages (from stock transfers and production orders), assign action items to resolve, and escalate.
  • Administrative Duties: Entry and administrative duties can include systems maintenance records and record-keeping, including factory dashboard ticket entry.

6. Database Administrator Functions

  • Document Management: Photocopy and file appropriate documents.
  • Data Input: Input important data into various CRM systems.
  • Data Organization: Work with Excel to format, collate data, and organize information into categories.
  • Call Handling: Answer phone calls and transfer them.
  • Document Drafting: Draft, format, and print relevant documents.
  • Stock Management: Maintain stock lists and order office supplies.
  • Expense Processing: Manage and process staff expense requests.
  • Executive Interaction: Interact with senior executives and carry out any administrative requests.
  • KPI Data Input: Assist with internal data input for Key Performance Indicator (KPI) tracking.
  • Paperwork Verification: Ensure proper paperwork and drawings are of the latest releases to support production and engineering specials.
  • Routing Time Updates: Update routing times in SAP.

7. Database Administrator Job Description

  • Error Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot and correct Kanban empty/full transaction errors in SAP.
  • Kanban Management: Set up new Kanban, remove unneeded Kanban, and update Kanban in SAP.
  • Production Coordination: Coordinate with planning on production order processing.
  • Inventory Collaboration: Coordinate/collaborate with the Inventory Control (IC) team.
  • Assistance Request Management: Ensure troubleshooting is completed before requesting assistance from IC.
  • Part Location Assistance: Provide part location identification assistance to IC.
  • Part Count Coordination: Provide/coordinate part count assistance to IC when requested.
  • Stock Transfer Processing: Process stock transfer requests (within lines) and part requisition forms (if not within lines).
  • Change Request Responsibility: Take responsibility for process engineering change requests.
  • Salesforce Updates: Responsible for Salesforce.com updates to provide production data.
  • BOM Processing: Take responsibility for BOMs/BOM redline processing.

8. Database Administrator Overview

  • SQL Data Structures: Responsible for building SQL data structures that provide for the data needs of the company.
  • Risk Mitigation: Identify, address, and mitigate operational, financial, and technological data risks.
  • SQL Development: Provide SQL development, execution, and troubleshooting services.
  • Power BI Development: Provide Power BI development, execution, and troubleshooting services.
  • Training Assistance: Train and assist businesses in developing Power BI datasets, dashboards, and reports.
  • Data Mining Support: Support with SQL data mining and data enhancement.
  • Data Integrity Collaboration: Work with business areas on data integrity issues.
  • SOW Testing: Test SOWs and document processes.
  • Data Management: Data entry and management of the council's property, valuations, and GIS databases.
  • Resident Support: Respond to resident complaints/queries through multiple channels, including phone, email, and in person.
  • Permit Processing: Process building permits and issue street numbers.

9. Database Administrator Details and Accountabilities

  • Data Management: Managing data on the in-house stock management system.
  • Stock Movement Tracking: Tracking stock movements across on-site and off-site locations.
  • Loan Stock Tracking: Tracking on-site and off-site loan stock.
  • Meeting Organization: Organizing regular internal meetings across the organization to discuss stock requirements and adherence to internal processes.
  • Report Generation: Generating a range of reports for internal and external scrutiny.
  • Purchasing Assistance: Assisting with general purchasing.
  • Process Review Assistance: Assisting with the ongoing review of stock management processes.
  • Administrative Support: Providing general administrative support for the Warehouse Manager.
  • Customer Inquiry Management: Dealing with external customer calls and inquiries and directing them appropriately.
  • Job Importing: Importing all jobs for Outlook into the system.
  • Job Request Entry: Manually entering job requests into the system.

10. Database Administrator Tasks

  • Register Maintenance: Maintain various registers (e.g., WRAS) as defined by the Category Technical Managers and QC Team.
  • Audit Support: Provide support in organizing both internal audits and external audits carried out by 3rd parties (ISO 9001 Quality and ISO 14001 Environmental).
  • Manual Updates: Update manuals, procedures, and product category specifications (including issue revisions) as required by the QA team.
  • Technical File Support: Support the Category Technical Managers in organizing and linking product technical files.
  • Supplier Communication: Chase suppliers for information (both by email and possibly by telephone).
  • Colleague Communication: Communicate with various colleagues (including branch colleagues) on various issues or queries as defined by the QA team.
  • Risk Assessment Support: Support Category Technical Managers in maintaining the Supplier On-Line Risk Assessment (ORA) and own brand manufacturing site assessment program (ethical and technical).
  • Parts Review: Physically review maintenance parts.
  • Classification Documentation: Document manufacturer and manufacturer parts along with determining classification and sub-classification.
  • Vendor Collaboration: Work with vendors on gathering additional information on spare parts.
  • Master Data Management: Manage master data of all maintenance, repair, and operations items for the facility.

11. Database Administrator Roles

  • Database Monitoring: Monitor and maintain the development, testing, and production of databases.
  • Issue Analysis: Analyze database issues and troubleshoot or configure the database accordingly.
  • Code Automation: Drive automation of code and review table/index reports.
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitor database performance to ensure high levels of security and speed.
  • Database Availability: Ensure database availability.
  • Database Administration Support: Support administration of the Raiser’s Edge database.
  • Data Cleansing: Examine and cleanse donor data records to maintain overall data integrity and the accuracy of data imported into the database by eliminating duplicate records and inconsistent data.
  • Global Data Changes: Run global data changes to the database as required or requested by management.
  • Data Management Advisory: Advise on better data management procedures and solutions, and update the user training manual.
  • Data Management Architecture Support: Support data management architecture and interfaces.
  • Data Import Interface Management: Play a lead role in setting up and maintaining data import interfaces between Raiser’s Edge and other data management programs and tools.
  • Advanced Data Projects: Implement other advanced data management and analytics projects.

12. Database Administrator Additional Details

  • Data Processing: Using various data entry and import technologies, process donor and gift information from a variety of sources into the Raiser’s Edge database.
  • Receipt Production: Produce donation receipts and acknowledgment letters and arrange delivery of the gift acknowledgment correspondence to donors.
  • Gift Processing Support: Support gift processing and donor relations for Habitat Canada’s monthly giving program.
  • Data Preprocessing: Preprocess data in Excel format for importing into Raiser’s Edge via the ImportOmatic tool, as well as developing ImportOmatic data import profiles.
  • Monthly Reconciliation: In collaboration with Finance, conduct a monthly reconciliation of gift information and prepare reports and import files, as well as support annual financial audit activities.
  • Donor Inquiries Handling: Handle various donor inquiries, converse professionally with donors by telephone to accept donations and process changes to donor information.
  • Segmentation and Cleaning: Conduct segmentation, data export and cleaning, as well as import of back feed files in support of the National Annual Giving program.
  • Analytics Preparation: Prepare monthly and ad hoc donation and donor statistics and analytics to support One Team’s planning and reporting.
  • User Training and Support: Provide training, support, and guidance to Raiser’s Edge database users across Habitat Canada.
  • Administrative Support: Support administrative and resource development operations by providing information about donations, donors, and receipting to Finance and management, as well as resource development staff.
  • Technical Support: Provide technical support to fundraising programming regarding the functionality and settings of Luminate Online and other digital fundraising programs.
  • Database Management: Implement ongoing management of the Luminate Online database, including user account management and data organization and maintenance.

13. Database Administrator Essential Functions

  • Database Architecture Design: Design and implement high availability database architecture in AWS-RDS.
  • Database Instance Management: Create/restore/migrate/maintain database instances within and across the platforms with minimum downtime.
  • Problem Resolution: Troubleshoot and resolve problems regarding the databases.
  • Backup and Recovery Development: Develop and maintain database backups and recovery procedures.
  • Data Automation: Automate archival and/or obfuscation of old data.
  • Access Control: Control access permissions and privileges.
  • Dashboard Creation: Build dashboards for database health monitoring and alerting.
  • Impact Analysis Review: Review and assist in the impact analysis of any changes made to production databases.
  • Query Optimization Support: Perform and assist developers with query tuning and schema refinement for optimizations.
  • Database Availability Assurance: Ensure 24/7 availability of databases.
  • Performance and Security Management: Ensure high levels of performance, availability, sustainability, and security.
  • Downtime Minimization: Organize work off-hours to minimize DB downtime during customer business hours.

14. Database Administrator Role Purpose

  • Database Management Support: Provides database management support including modifications to any system or production application database and pre-production database.
  • Schema Changes and Upgrades: Performs schema changes and conversions for production database application upgrades and new version releases.
  • SOP Updates: Updates and maintains Standard Operating Procedures and provides lifecycle database management services.
  • Product Database Management: Take responsibility for product database management.
  • Order Processing: Process deliveries and orders in specialized warehouse management software.
  • Stock Level Management: Ensure product stock levels and prices are up to date in all sales channels.
  • Product Information Optimization: Take responsibility for optimizing product information and preparing daily and weekly reports and analyses.
  • Database Documentation: Write database documentation, including data standards, procedures, and definitions for the data dictionary (metadata).
  • Backup and Recovery Planning: Develop, manage, and test backup and recovery plans.
  • Data Standards Compliance: Ensure data standards, including adherence to the Data Protection Act.
  • Data Security Testing: Perform tests and evaluations regularly to ensure data security, privacy, and integrity requirements are met.
  • Database Structure Modification: Modify the database structure based on information provided by application developers.

15. Database Administrator General Responsibilities

  • SQL Server Management: Managing and maintaining the SQL Server database environments from a DBA perspective.
  • Compliance and Security Assurance: Ensure that they are fully supported and fit for purpose, paying particular attention to PCI compliance and security best practices.
  • Environment Maintenance: Ensure development and testing database environments are kept up to date and are fit for purpose.
  • On-Call Support: Fulfill a 24/7 on-call function on a rotating basis.
  • Database QA: Provide QA for database designs and code written by developers.
  • Documentation and Standards Development: Define, develop, and maintain project documentation and database standards.
  • New Environment Setup: Help set up new database environments.
  • Performance Monitoring: Database performance monitoring and suggestions for tuning.
  • Backup and Recovery Improvement: Work towards improvements in backup and recovery procedures.
  • High Availability Improvement: Work towards improvements for high availability.
  • Requirements Communication: Communicate and clarify requirements.
  • Data Architecture Improvement: Take part in improving overall data architecture.

16. Database Administrator Key Accountabilities

  • SQL Server Maintenance: Maintenance, tuning, and development of the SQL Server environment.
  • Database Monitoring: Take responsibility for database monitoring and stability.
  • Database Rationalization: Pre-migration database rationalization.
  • Cloud Migration Assistance: Assist in the migration of on-prem SQL to the cloud.
  • SQL Query Creation: Create SQL queries, generate reports, and frontend dashboards using Power BI and Tableau.
  • Data Analysis Responsibility: Take responsibility for performing data analysis.
  • Database Maintenance: Maintain and update pricing and supplier databases.
  • Documentation Compliance: Ensure pricing and supplier agreements and documentation are complete in full and on time to organizational standards.
  • Bill of Quantities Management: Upgrade and maintain the bill of quantities to ensure it meets current organizational specifications and construction techniques.
  • Supplier Information Coordination: Ensure that information is obtained from external suppliers and contractors within the nominated time frames to meet project timelines.
  • Project Assistance: Assist in other projects as requested by the BOQ Team Leader.

17. Database Administrator Roles and Details

  • Performance Analysis: Analyze, identify, and fix general performance issues.
  • Database Monitoring Ownership: Own database monitoring, from setting it up to monitoring key performance metrics.
  • SQL Code Review Support: Support development teams by reviewing SQL code and providing best practices.
  • Upgrade Planning: Plan database upgrades and participate in related maintenance.
  • On-Call Support: Provide on-call support for troubleshooting DBMS issues.
  • Backup and Data Validity Assurance: Ensure database backups and data validity.
  • Performance Tuning: Database tuning and performance monitoring.
  • Operational Support: Support daily operations, new projects, and technical processes.
  • Database Maintenance: Database maintenance, installation, and configuration.
  • Critical Problem Support: Provide support for critical problems on online systems.
  • Documentation and Standards Management: Set up and maintain documentation and standards, monitoring the databases.
  • Database Technologies Experience: Mainly activities on Oracle and MS-SQL databases.

18. Database Administrator Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Data Cleansing: Engage in data cleansing activities from email marketing campaigns and other marketing-related activities.
  • Record Completion: Complete records from web-based sources to enrich the quality of data, format data, merge duplicates, fix invalid email addresses, and unsubscribe from the database.
  • Database Upload Coordination: Coordinate database uploads in Marketo with WW counterpart.
  • Vendor Research: Research and shortlist database vendors for consideration.
  • Leads Management Support: Support the leads management and nurturing process (e.g., campaign management, sales scoring/lead scoring, etc.).
  • Collaborative Feedback: Work effectively with other colleagues and contribute feedback where appropriate regarding emailing campaigns.
  • Pre-Sales Assistance: Experience in doing pre-sales work to assist both Sales Operations and Inside Sales in updating leads and contacts as they progress along the sales pipeline.
  • Task Creation for Sales: Create tasks for sales and follow up with sales on leads’ status.
  • Sales Reporting: Reporting on sales activities, including sales campaigns.
  • Marketing Automation Understanding: Have a complete understanding of marketing automation (emails and CRM integrations).
  • Email Reporting and Analysis: Generate email click reports and provide analysis based on results.
  • Campaign KPI Monitoring: Monitor and manage campaign KPIs through SFDC (opportunities, tasks, etc.).

19. Database Administrator Duties and Roles

  • SQL Database Maintenance: Maintain the SQL database, including regular database maintenance tasks, creating and managing SQL server data tables, and managing security and maintenance plans.
  • Problem-Solving: Find solutions for database-related problems.
  • Form and Application Creation: Creation of forms and applications (e.g., MS Access) for entry, retrieval, and management of data for Technical Services.
  • Web Report Development: Developing web reports in SSRS or Power BI.
  • Data Compilation: Compile and update diamond drill hole data, assay results, photo files, and geotechnical logs if necessary.
  • Data Transfer: Transfer data between multiple databases and/or software.
  • Data Validation: Validate and update all data within databases.
  • GIS Software Utilization: Work with GIS software (e.g., MapInfo, MineSight, GEMS).
  • Mentoring and Coaching: Mentor and coach team members/technical staff, providing them with constructive guidance and recommendations and resolving technical problems as they arise.
  • Team Improvement Encouragement: Identify and encourage areas for growth and improvement within the team.
  • User Requirements Documentation: Assist in the collection and documentation of user requirements, and development of user stories, estimates, and work plans.
  • Database and Process Improvement Assessment: Assess opportunities for database and process improvement and prepare documentation of rationale to share with team members and other affected parties.

20. Database Administrator Roles and Responsibilities

  • Architectural Direction: Sets architectural direction, builds consensus, mediates conflicts, and provides technical leadership and advisory services to the business.
  • Data Acquisition Involvement: Involved in the data acquisition process from multiple source systems and data consolidation/data warehousing.
  • Database Solution Development: Develop database solutions by designing the proposed system, defining the database's physical structure and functional capabilities, and security, backup, and recovery specifications.
  • Self-motivation: Internally motivated, able to work proficiently both independently and in a team environment.
  • Application Development Support: Support the application development lifecycle.
  • Database Support: Provide database support by coding utilities, responding to user questions, and resolving problems.
  • Mission Accomplishment: Accomplish information systems and organization mission by completing related results.
  • DBA Advisory: Advise the Production DBA team in maintaining database systems and ensuring implementation of best practices, security control, versions, etc.
  • Application Team Collaboration: Work with the application team to ensure that proper methods are used to embed data access and modification logic into application programs and ensure that appropriate and efficient SQL is being coded and tested.
  • Process Improvement Initiative: Strong initiative to find ways to improve solutions, systems, and processes.
  • Modern Database Adoption: Lead the adoption of modern database principles and practices.
  • Technical Problem Resolution: Help resolve technical problems as and when they arise.
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