What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Architect position at Inside Higher Ed?
Logo:
Posting Number:
STA00884PO25
Job Family:
Information Technology
Job Function:
Data Management
USC Market Title:
IT Data Architect
Link To USC Market Title:
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/196839
Job Level:
P4 - Professional
Business Title (Internal Title):
Data Architect
Campus:
Columbia
Work County:
Richland
College/Division:
Division of Information Technology
Department:
IT Enterprise Applications
State Pay Band:
9
Approved Starting Salary:
$95,954
Advertised Salary Range:
$95,954
Location of Vacancy:
Columbia, SC (on-site)
Part/Full Time:
Full Time
Hours Per Week:
37.5
Work Schedule:
12 months
Job Search Category:
Information Technology
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.
Advertised Job Summary:
The Data Architect plays a pivotal role in advancing the University of South Carolina’s enterprise analytics and data governance strategy.
In this highly impactful role, you’ll design, optimize, and manage the University’s enterprise data architecture, ensuring that data is accessible, secure, standardized, and strategically aligned with institutional goals.
You’ll collaborate across the Division of Information Technology, the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics (OIRAA), and distributed data owners to integrate systems, develop scalable data models, and support trusted analytics through robust data management practices.
What You’ll Do
At the University of South Carolina, we believe in the power of data to drive better decisions, enhance learning, and strengthen our community. As Data Architect, you’ll help build the foundation for a modern, secure, and insight-driven data ecosystem that supports ourstudents, faculty, and staff.
Bring your vision, technical expertise, and leadership to a university that values innovation, collaboration, and impact.
Ready to lead data architecture at one of the South’s top universities?
Apply today and help shape the future of enterprise data at the University of South Carolina.
Job Related Minimum Required Education And Experience:
Enterprise Data Architecture & Integration
Yes
Percentage Of Time:
35
Job Duty:
Data Governance & Quality
25
Job Duty:
Analytics & Reporting Enablement
20
Job Duty:
Security & Compliance
10
Job Duty:
Innovation & Strategy
No
Hazardous Weather Category:
Non-Essential
Number Of Vacancies:
1
Job Open Date:
11/06/2025
Job Close Date:
12/20/2025
Open Until Filled:
No
Special Instructions To Applicant:
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by December 20, 2025.
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
Quicklink For Posting:
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/196863
EEO Statement:
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
Posting Number:
STA00884PO25
Job Family:
Information Technology
Job Function:
Data Management
USC Market Title:
IT Data Architect
Link To USC Market Title:
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/196839
Job Level:
P4 - Professional
Business Title (Internal Title):
Data Architect
Campus:
Columbia
Work County:
Richland
College/Division:
Division of Information Technology
Department:
IT Enterprise Applications
State Pay Band:
9
Approved Starting Salary:
$95,954
Advertised Salary Range:
$95,954
Location of Vacancy:
Columbia, SC (on-site)
Part/Full Time:
Full Time
Hours Per Week:
37.5
Work Schedule:
- Standard working schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm, with 1 hour for lunch.
- Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the Division of IT.
12 months
Job Search Category:
Information Technology
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.
Advertised Job Summary:
The Data Architect plays a pivotal role in advancing the University of South Carolina’s enterprise analytics and data governance strategy.
In this highly impactful role, you’ll design, optimize, and manage the University’s enterprise data architecture, ensuring that data is accessible, secure, standardized, and strategically aligned with institutional goals.
You’ll collaborate across the Division of Information Technology, the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics (OIRAA), and distributed data owners to integrate systems, develop scalable data models, and support trusted analytics through robust data management practices.
What You’ll Do
- Design and implement enterprise-level data models and architecture strategies.
- Build and maintain data warehouses, ETL/ELT pipelines, and data integrations across systems.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure data supports institutional analytics and decision-making.
- Promote best practices in data governance, metadata management, and data quality.
- Optimize performance, scalability, and security across databases and cloud data platforms.
- Support analytics and reporting through platforms like Tableau, Cognos, and Power BI.
- Champion responsible data management, privacy, and ethical AI use.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- Experience: 4 years of experience in data architecture, management, or analytics engineering, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Technical Expertise:
- Data warehouse design and management (ETL/ELT).
- Strong SQL skills and experience with data modeling tools (ERwin, dbt, PowerDesigner).
- Experience with cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
- Familiarity with data governance frameworks (DCAM, DAMA-DMBOK).
- Experience implementing data catalog and lineage tools (Purview, Collibra, Informatica).
- Preferred: Master’s degree in Information Systems, Data Management, or related discipline.
- Experience with higher education systems (PeopleSoft, Workday, Banner, Huron, Blackboard).
- Strategic, systems-level thinker with attention to detail.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills across technical and non-technical teams.
- Ability to translate complex data concepts into actionable insights.
- Commitment to data ethics, privacy, and responsible AI.
- Curious, innovative, and always learning.
- Databases: SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, Databricks
- Analytics & BI: Tableau, Cognos, Power BI
- Data Modeling & Integration: ERwin, dbt, PowerDesigner, Informatica
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, GCP
- Languages: SQL, Python, R
At the University of South Carolina, we believe in the power of data to drive better decisions, enhance learning, and strengthen our community. As Data Architect, you’ll help build the foundation for a modern, secure, and insight-driven data ecosystem that supports ourstudents, faculty, and staff.
Bring your vision, technical expertise, and leadership to a university that values innovation, collaboration, and impact.
Ready to lead data architecture at one of the South’s top universities?
Apply today and help shape the future of enterprise data at the University of South Carolina.
Job Related Minimum Required Education And Experience:
- Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.
- Master’s degree in Information Systems, Data Management, or related discipline.
- Experience with higher education ERP and reporting systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Banner, Workday, Huron, Blackboard, etc.).
- Familiarity with data governance frameworks (e.g., DCAM, DAMA-DMBOK).
- Experience implementing data catalog and lineage tools (e.g., Purview, Collibra, Informatica).
- Knowledge of Tableau, Cognos, and Power BI data structures and integrations.
- Knowledge of enterprise data architecture principles, data modeling, and integration frameworks (ETL/ELT).
- Understanding of data governance, metadata management, and data quality best practices.
- Experience with relational and cloud database technologies (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, Databricks).
- Familiarity with BI and analytics platforms (e.g., Tableau, Cognos, Power BI) and their data structures.
- Working knowledge of data security, privacy, and compliance standards (FERPA, HIPAA).
- Proficiency in SQL and one or more scripting languages (Python, R, etc.).
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
- Ability to translate complex data concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
- Demonstrated collaboration across technical and business teams.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to evolving technologies.
Enterprise Data Architecture & Integration
- Design and maintain the enterprise data architecture to support analytics, reporting, and AI initiatives.
- Develop and manage data models (conceptual, logical, and physical) across enterprise platforms.
- Lead integration efforts for source systems (e.g., HR, Payroll, Finance, Student, Research, LMS).
- Define and enforce data architecture standards, including naming conventions and metadata structures.
- Partner with system administrators and developers to ensure data pipelines (ETL/ELT) are efficient and scalable.
Yes
Percentage Of Time:
35
Job Duty:
Data Governance & Quality
- Collaborate with the Analytics & Data Governance team to align architecture with university data policies (UNIV 1.51, UNIV 1.52).
- Support implementation of Row-Level Security (RLS) and other privacy-by-design principles in data models.
- Work closely with Data Stewards and Trustees to ensure data accuracy, lineage, and integrity.
- Contribute to the design and adoption of enterprise data catalogs, lineage tracking, and metadata management tools (e.g., Microsoft Purview, Collibra, or similar).
25
Job Duty:
Analytics & Reporting Enablement
- Support analytic teams using Tableau, Cognos, Power BI, and AI/ML environments.
- Provide optimized data structures for enterprise dashboards and self-service analytics in CarolinaAnalytics.
- Collaborate with the Data Engineering and BI teams to enhance performance and data usability across reports.
20
Job Duty:
Security & Compliance
- Partner with Information Security to ensure compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, and institutional data security standards.
- Recommend and implement architectural controls to safeguard sensitive or restricted data.
10
Job Duty:
Innovation & Strategy
- Evaluate emerging technologies (cloud architecture, AI data frameworks, metadata-driven automation) for university applications.
- Support the university’s transition toward a modern data ecosystem, including the evaluation of data lakehouse and warehouse modernization initiatives.
No
Hazardous Weather Category:
Non-Essential
Number Of Vacancies:
1
Job Open Date:
11/06/2025
Job Close Date:
12/20/2025
Open Until Filled:
No
Special Instructions To Applicant:
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by December 20, 2025.
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Retirement Programs
- Paid Tuition
- Dependent Scholarships
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Opportunities
Quicklink For Posting:
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/196863
EEO Statement:
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
Salary : $95,954
