What are the responsibilities and job description for the Advancement Systems Architect position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
This position administers the integration of AEA’s technical systems design, structures and interaction mapping of divisional software, hardware and infrastructure to support divisional and University goals. The role provides direction, solutions, integration and engineering of systems in concert with University’s OneIT initiative. This includes on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure solutions. She/ he develops information systems using industry best practices and following all applicable standards, especially in the areas of security and integration.
The role leads, manages, and trains others during large-scale project implementations. Provides leadership and guidance to AEA’s developers. Possesses in-depth knowledge of operating systems, cloud computing technologies, enterprise storage backup technologies, programming/scripting languages, enterprise hardware, and time series databases. They must also be adept at problem-solving and demonstrate the use of good judgment in situations requiring independent initiative and tact. She/ He manages, leaders, trains and evaluates two employees. Position requires flexibility for occasional evening or weekend work to address critical system issues or complete system maintenance during low-usage periods.
The Division of Advancement & External Affairs expresses a shared mission that is collaborative, trusted, respectful, future-focused and is aligned with the overall University. All current and new employees embrace and demonstrate dedication to promoting shared values in an inclusive work culture to propel the future of advancement operations in their everyday work.
Education and Experience
Architecture And Strategy
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
This position administers the integration of AEA’s technical systems design, structures and interaction mapping of divisional software, hardware and infrastructure to support divisional and University goals. The role provides direction, solutions, integration and engineering of systems in concert with University’s OneIT initiative. This includes on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure solutions. She/ he develops information systems using industry best practices and following all applicable standards, especially in the areas of security and integration.
The role leads, manages, and trains others during large-scale project implementations. Provides leadership and guidance to AEA’s developers. Possesses in-depth knowledge of operating systems, cloud computing technologies, enterprise storage backup technologies, programming/scripting languages, enterprise hardware, and time series databases. They must also be adept at problem-solving and demonstrate the use of good judgment in situations requiring independent initiative and tact. She/ He manages, leaders, trains and evaluates two employees. Position requires flexibility for occasional evening or weekend work to address critical system issues or complete system maintenance during low-usage periods.
The Division of Advancement & External Affairs expresses a shared mission that is collaborative, trusted, respectful, future-focused and is aligned with the overall University. All current and new employees embrace and demonstrate dedication to promoting shared values in an inclusive work culture to propel the future of advancement operations in their everyday work.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field required.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in database design, development, and architecture.
- 10 years or more of experience as a developer in higher education preferred.
- Expert-level proficiency in relational database management systems (RDBMS) such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or PostgreSQL and/or deep experience in other comparable.
- Strong expertise in data modeling (conceptual, logical, physical), normalization, and denormalization techniques.
- Proficiency in SQL and advanced query optimization. Experience in SQL programming is preferred.
- Position requires flexibility for occasional evening or weekend work to address critical system issues or complete system maintenance during low-usage periods. On-call availability is expected for emergency system support.
- Valid Driver’s license is required.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing complex database solutions in an enterprise environment.
- Experience with large-scale data migration and modernization initiatives is highly desirable.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Proven ability to lead and influence technical discussions and decision-making.
- Experience with Advancement databases (i.e. gift, prospect, biographic schemas) and campus systems and/or deep experience in other comparable systems.
- Proven experience designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining BI and reporting solutions.
- Prior experience in a higher education or non-profit fundraising environment is a plus.
- Demonstrated experience in a leadership or supervisory role, preferably managing technical staff.
Architecture And Strategy
- Develop and implement database architectural standards, best practices, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency, security, and compliance.
- Proactively identify opportunities for database optimization, modernization, and innovation to support evolving business requirements.
- Collaborate with enterprise architects and other IT teams to ensure seamless integration of AEA databases within the broader University IT ecosystem.
- Work cross-functionally to ensure information and insights are being cascaded throughout the organization.
- Design, develop, and maintain logical and physical data models for new and existing databases, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and optimal performance.
- Create detailed blueprints for database systems, including schemas, tables, relationships, indexes, views, and stored procedures.
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate database technologies (relational, NoSQL, cloud-based, data warehousing) based on specific business needs and architectural principles.
- Lead the design of data integration strategies and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes for various data sources.
- Develop database objects, custom reporting views, and custom datasets.
- Develop data mart and data warehouse. Build efficient data models and pipelines.
- Directly supervise and manage two developer positions, including performance reviews, professional development, and day-to-day guidance.
- Assign tasks, monitor progress, and ensure the successful completion of projects undertaken by the programmer analyst team.
- Foster a collaborative and productive work environment for the team.
- Design and implement robust database security measures, including access controls, encryption, data masking, and auditing, in adherence to University policies and industry best practices.
- Ensure data privacy and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, FERPA) across all database solutions.
- Develop and manage data backup, recovery, and disaster recovery plans to minimize data loss and ensure business continuity.
- Develop quality standards to ensure data quality across database systems.
- Collaborate with teams across Syracuse to assess opportunities, gaps, growth, and improvements.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to AEA developers.
- Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all database designs, architectures, and processes.
- Develop in-depth understanding of underlying data, data structure, and business users of data.
- Develop and manage effective working relationships with AEA departments, Campus Administration and Divisions with whom work must be coordinated or interfaced.
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.