Database Manager Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a database manager. Feel free to use our database manager job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a database manager.
Who is a Database Manager?
A Database manager is solely responsible for managing, storing, accessing, and organizing the information of a company. Most companies that need the service of a database manager are these companies that have a lot of information that requires documentation. Examples of such companies are media companies, marketing companies, public sector organizations, or financial institutions.
Database managers don’t just oversee the storage of information in a system because of the changes in technology. Database managers keep up with the current developments in the application. Data need to be safe from professional hackers and database managers do their best to keep this information confidential. Database systems need protection from physical disasters like electrical storms which can destroy the system and lead to loss of information. There are times when disaster recovery a solution has to be put in place to recover the data lost. Database managers so design and implement new systems.
As a database manager, you will be working hand to hand with internal clients or a range of clients to develop, manage and maintain databases of companies. This huge role comes with the great responsibility of overseeing projects and making sure members of your team are working on the right thing at the appropriate time on databases in the appropriate way. As a database manager, you will be required to ascertain the most appropriate method of organizing data, recording, and implementing it. The kind of database you will deal with will depend on the client that hires you. For instance, you can be helping a university maintain records of students. Your role primarily is to help several people within an organization as well as help business magnets to run their business smoothly. Companies use data differently, some may use it for communication purposes while others may use it for targeted marketing. Database managers help non-technical people know how to use a business and how to manage it smoothly.
In addition, you will also get to help people know how to write reports and train manuals; this training can be done directly or any member of your team can use the system
Database Manager Job Description
Below are the database manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a database manager job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a database manager include the following:
- Developing database structures and features according to organizational needs
- Hiring, supervising, and mentoring database development teams
- Keeping up to date with recent developments and trends in database management
- Documenting processes and accepting the best practices in database management
- Performing database maintenance, migration, and upgrading hardware and software enhancing the success and performance of exciting database management
- Protecting data by developing data security, restoration policies, procedures, and control
- Conducting diagnostic tests and evaluating performance metrics
- Configuring servers and databases
- Ethically handling private data, including financial and or healthcare data for certain companies
- Setting up cyber security measures
- Training colleagues in how to input and extract data
- Designing and preparing reports for management
- Developing protocols for data processing
- Training and managing junior staff in your team
- Monitoring database efficiency
- Creating complex query definitions that allow data to be extracted
Qualification
- Bachelors degree in Information Communication Technology, Computer science and management information system
- At least two experience in database management
- Advanced analytical leadership, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication, technical and interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of best practices in databases management
- In-depth knowledge of database technologies, architecture, and data security
- Advanced proficiency in Structured Query Language(SQL)
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Knowledge of database design and theories
- Experience with server installation and maintenance
- Good multitasking abilities
- Ability to explain complexity in simple language
- Experience with a variety of computer information systems
- Knowledge of IT security best practices
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
Essential Skills
There are some certain skills that database managers need and they are:
- Proactive: a database manager must be someone proactive because the job can be risky due to hackers and physical damage to computer gadgets. Data managers stores data in more than one system so that if there is any hacking; they can be able to use the other alternative. Database managers are very smart and they do not allow a situation to overtake them unaware because they know that the organization is depending on them.
- Computing Skills: a database manager must be someone who has computer skills, especially in Excel and Access. Having good computer skills is the first step of being a data manager; most information gathered is stored in computers. A data manager must know how to split information in the computer system and also various methods of storing information in the computer system.
- Good Communication skills: a database manager must know how to communicate effectively with team members and with clients. As a database manager, in a large organization, you cannot work alone but you will be working with another team of administrators. It is very paramount that you should communicate effectively with other team members to store and access information about a company.
- Analytical Approach: a database manager is someone highly intelligent and analytical when carrying out his duties. He brainstorms and comes up with different ideas on how to store information for the company. He is someone that is very creative and offers a wide range of solutions when a situation arises.
Database managers are responsible for monitoring system performance and taking drastic measures to respond to issues. They need excellent skills to examine and act upon information from different sources.
- Paying attention to detail
Small errors can occur and it can be very disastrous for databases. To avoid causing major security, access, or storage issues, database managers must pay attention to detail.
- Excellent Problem-Solving Skills: a database manager must be someone who can work under pressure and has excellent problem skills that when a situation arises; he can solve it quickly. In storing and accessing data, problems such as missing folders or files can occur; a database manager should not allow the company to be stranded in such a scenario but offer immediate solutions to those problems
- People Management Experience: a database manager must be someone who knows how to manage data and also manage people that come around him/her. Such people can be clients or teams. He must know how to play the role of a supervisor or overseer as appropriate.
- Experience in managing suppliers and agencies: a database manager works with the various suppliers of information and agencies too; he must be able to build a good working relationship with all these suppliers and agencies to ensure everything runs smoothly.
- Integrity and ethics: a database manager must keep all the records of the companies’ information confidential. He must not disclose it to a third party. A database manager should be someone the company and rely on and trust with every bit of information.
How to Become a Database Manager
- Acquire a Bachelor Degree in Information Science, Computer Science, and Information Management Science
To become a qualified database manager, you have to enroll for a five-year degree in computer science. Computer science involves classes on data management, computer architecture, logic design, network fundamentals, and programming language while information technology program includes courses on the system, network administration, website technology, computer security, and system architecture.
- Postgraduate Degree in Computer
If you study a course that is outside computer science and you have the passion to be a database manager; you can enroll for a postgraduate degree ie information management systems to enable you to become a database manager.
- Acquire Certifications
Database managers usually need certification from software vendors to make them qualified. These professional certifications are usually acquired by database administrators but it is very good for a database manager. The following are some certifications database managers can acquire:
- IBM Certified Database Administration
This certification involves passing two exams that cover aspects such as Structured Query Language (SQL). Candidates can also enroll for Advanced Database Administrator credential
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate; this certification involves two exams that focus on SQL and database administration. After acquiring this certification; candidates can enroll for advanced Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert credential
- Oral Database Administrator Certified Associate
This certification requires taking one course and one exam. Experienced candidates can also consider enrolling for advanced Oracle Database Administrator Certified Professional or Oracle Database Administrator Certified Master credentials.
- Enroll for Internship
After graduating from college, enroll for IT experience in an organization to acquire the requisite skills. Consider getting a job as an IT support associate or a system administration assistant to gain practical experience. You can enroll in job training sessions and these programs usually last for weeks to allow new employees to gain experience on organizational policies and procedures. Most employees will hire a database manager that has experience working as a database administrator. Database managers often start their careers as system administrators which allows them to improve their knowledge of databases and computer language
- Learn Key Computer Language
To be a database manager; you must master a computer language like SQL in college because most employees will have an issue with you if you don’t master this language. You can enroll in online courses to master the basics of computer language.
- Boost your knowledge of computer programs and platforms
As you gain experience working as a database manager, take every opportunity at your disposal to master computer applications and programs like Microsoft Excel, Access, Oracle, Linux, and UNIX. You can also enroll in online courses to learn specific skills in these areas
- Create a resume
After you have all the requirements that database managers need to have; the next step is to draft a resume and start applying for jobs. Include your education, skills, and relevant work experience in your resume.
Where can a Database Manager Work?
- Media houses: a database manager can work in a media house to help the media organization store and access data. The media organization is an organization that primarily deals with information and the services of a database manager are paramount in these organizations. A database manager makes sure information is stored and is only accessible to media personnel when they need it.
- Financial Institution: Financial institutions such as banks need the service of a database manager to enable them to store customer information such as details of accounts. Banks usually carry out reviews monthly, quarterly, and yearly and the information stored by a database manager is highly beneficial in this review.
- Educational Institutions: An educational institution needs the services of a database manager to store students’ records such as their school identity on the school website. A database manager also designs the website and makes the website very easy for students to access it
- Marketing Sector; the marketing sector has a lot of information that the services of a database manager are highly needed and a database manager helps the marketing sector to come up with new trends in the marketing world. These new trends and developments in the marketing world will help the marketing sector to continue to boom
- Government: the government has a lot of confidential information that database managers must have such as information that correlates with the economy of the country. A database manager help the government store information about the country and keep this information confidential
- Hospitals: A database manager can work in a hospital and help the hospital to keep a record of information such as several patients and names of patients in a folder. A database manager also designs the website of the organization and makes the information accessible when needed.
Database Manager Salary
The salary of a database manager varies across countries and below are some countries:
- In Nigeria, a database manager earns around 318,000NGN per month. Salaries range from 176,000NGn to 428,000NGN. The average monthly salary includes housing, transport, and other benefits.
- In the United States of America, the average annual pay for a Database Manager is $70,720 per year. The pay per hour is $34.00 and this is equivalent to $1,360/week or $5,893 per month. A database manager makes an average salary of $70,720 per year which makes one of the best in 50 states nationwide
- In Canada, a database manager makes $77,870 per year or $39.93 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $65,369 per year while most experienced workers make up to $97,500 per year.