Job Description

About University of South Carolina
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Veterans' Preference Statement
The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.
Benefits for FTE Positions
The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.
Position Description
Advertised Job Summary
We’re looking for a Database Administrator Lead to oversee the design, optimization, and governance of the university’s enterprise data systems. In this pivotal role, you’ll help ensure data is secure, reliable, and accessible—empowering insights that drive strategy, innovation, and student success.
As part of the Analytics & Data Governance team, you’ll partner with data engineers, analysts, and IT leaders to build a modern, high-performing data ecosystem that supports institutional reporting, analytics, and compliance.

What You’ll Do

Lead database architecture, administration, and performance optimization.
Manage integrations across cloud and on-premises platforms.
Implement robust data security, access controls, and encryption measures.
Oversee backup, recovery, and disaster recovery processes.
Support data governance, reporting, and analytics initiatives across the university.
Monitor and troubleshoot performance issues to ensure system reliability.
Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements.

What You Bring

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
5+ years of relevant database administration experience.
Equivalent combinations of education, certifications, training, and experience will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a related field.
Professional certifications such as:
AWS Certified Database – Specialty
Oracle Certified DBA
Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
Experience working in higher education or large, complex enterprise environments.
Familiarity with data governance frameworks and metadata management.
Knowledge of AI/ML-based database performance optimization.

Skills That Set You Apart

Expertise in database administration, tuning, and optimization.
Proficiency with SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, Azure, or similar platforms.
Deep understanding of data integration, ETL/ELT, and automation.
Strong grasp of data modeling, schema design, and query optimization.
Experience with compliance and data privacy standards (FERPA, HIPAA).
Proven ability to analyze complex problems and document effective solutions.
Collaborative and adaptable—able to work effectively with technical and non-technical teams alike.

Why Join USC?

At the University of South Carolina, you’ll be part of a collaborative team committed to supporting world-class education, research, and service. This role offers the opportunity to shape how applications serve our university community and directly impact the student, faculty, and staff experience.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience
Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.