Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Senior Architect, Data Warehouse & Database Administrator
Classification: Exempt
Job Family: Operations
Reports to: Manager, Enterprise Systems
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide specialized technical expertise in data warehouse architecture, schema management, and data warehouse ETL processes to support reporting and business intelligence, with secondary responsibilities for Oracle database administration. This role focuses on designing and maintaining data structures, schemas, workflows, and data warehouse ETL processes that enable reliable reporting, analytics, and operational decision-making across critical enterprise systems, while ensuring data integrity and performance. The position holder will support secure, efficient data access and help optimize data platforms, with hands-on database configuration, backup, and tuning as needed.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES
- Data Warehouse Architecture & Schema Management:
- Lead design and maintenance of data warehouse architecture, including schema understanding and data structures for reporting and business intelligence.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to analyze reporting requirements, design schemas, and optimize data models for efficient analysis and decision-making.
- Assist with data workflows, ETL processes, and troubleshooting issues affecting reporting or downstream systems.
- Monitor and recommend improvements to data warehouse performance and availability.
- Reporting & Analytics Support:
- Support reporting strategies and ensure data structures align with business intelligence needs.
- Maintain deep knowledge of database schemas and data relationships to enable accurate reporting.
- Oracle Database Administration:
- Coordinate and oversee Oracle database administration activities — including configuration, monitoring, backup, recovery, and tuning — to support data warehouse operations.
- Enterprise System Integration & Data Governance:
- Lead the strategic integration of data across critical enterprise systems (e.g., Workday, Cayuse, Lawson), ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and efficient workflows.
- Establish and enforce data integration standards and best practices.
- Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to inform and support the definition and implementation of data governance policies, providing technical expertise and recommendations.
- Security & Performance Oversight:
- Ensure the security and integrity of data warehouse systems and stored data.
- Support access controls and coordinate with IT teams on data protection.
- Ensure the establishment and ongoing maintenance of robust security monitoring systems for all developed applications and data solutions.
- Oversee the implementation of security best practices throughout the development lifecycle.
- Drive initiatives to optimize application performance and scalability.
- Collaboration, Documentation & Knowledge Sharing:
- Work closely with other IT teams and stakeholders to deliver enterprise data solutions.
- Maintain technical documentation for data warehouse processes, schemas, and support procedures.
- Ensure the creation and maintenance of comprehensive technical documentation, architectural diagrams, and knowledge base articles.
- Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration within the team and across IT.
- General IT Responsibilities:
- Follow established IT service management processes and procedures.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 5 – 7 years of experience with data warehouse architecture, RDBMS, schema design, SQL, Oracle PL/SQL, reporting structures, and business intelligence support preferred.
- Experience with Oracle database administration preferred.
- Knowledge of Workday WQL and a deep understanding of Workday Business Objects is highly valued.
- Experience with report writing (Cognos Reports preferred).
- Familiarity with database configuration, backup, recovery, and performance tuning preferred.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex data requirements for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Commitment to inclusive practices and diverse teams valued.
Whitehead provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, and internal peer equity. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.
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