Database Administrator

Job Title: Database Administrator

Reporting To: Senior Programs Manager

Duty Station: Association of Microfinance  Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR)

Project Reference: Automation of 11 non-Umurenge SACCOs

Duration of Employment: 8 months (renewable)

Background Information

The core objective of AMIR is to become a strong and efficient organization that contributes to the development of the microfinance industry through the promotion of transparent management systems in MFIs, innovative and market-led financial services and products

The core objective of AFR is to stimulate the financial sector to remove systemic barriers, which hinder access to financial services by putting the poor at the center of its interventions in Rwanda. Improving access to financial services for the rural poor and women is a particular focus.

The Government of Rwanda recognizes the need to increase access to and usage of financial services in Rwanda as a key poverty reduction strategy. It is in this regard that it has supported different initiatives to promote financial inclusion including building the capacity of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs).

It is important to note that despite their invaluable contribution to financial inclusion, some of the SACCOs still operate manually, and face capacity gaps which make them less efficient and competitive in delivering good service to their members and are prone to errors and fraud.

Therefore, AMIR in partnership with Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) have secured funding to support a project for the automation of the operations of eleven (11) non-Umurenge SACCOs through procuring a core banking system (CBS) and installing it in a form of a shared IT platform, where all the institutions to be automated, will use the same solutions.

Role

The Database administrator is responsible for the Integrity, performance, and security of databases in the organization, in charge of storing, organizing, presenting, using, and analyzing data and database management software during the non-Umurenge SACCOs automation project implementation and after. The role includes the development and design of database strategies, system monitoring and improving database performance and capacity, and planning for future expansion requirements.

The database administrator regularly performs routine tests and modifications to ensure that the database is performing and running correctly and routinely discusses and coordinates security measures with other administrators in the organization. The database administrator will also support the non-Umurenge SACCOs in the data preparation, checking and validation, and migration to the new system.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Installing and upgrading the database server and application tools
• Allocating system storage and planning future storage requirements for the database system
• Modifying the database structure, as necessary, from information given by application developers
• Enrolling users and maintaining system security
• Ensuring compliance with database vendor license agreement
• Controlling and monitoring user access to the database
• Monitoring and optimizing the performance of the database
• Planning for backup and recovery of database information
• Maintaining archived data
• Backing up and restoring databases
• Contacting database vendor for technical support
• Generating various reports by querying from the database as per need
• Helping with database design and development
• Managing database access
• Designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation
• Ensuring that databases meet user requirements
• Testing user operations and functions in the system
• Provide training and helpdesk support to end-users and preparing training manuals
• Liaising with programmers, applications/operational staff, IT project managers and other technical staff
• Managing database security/integrity and backup procedures
• Implementing security measures
• Defining objectives through a consultation with staff at all levels
• Writing reports, documentation and operating manuals
• Testing and modifying databases to ensure that they operate reliably
• Ensuring that End Of Day, End of Month and End of Year procedures are performed properly and regularly
• Writing disaster recovery plans
• Archiving data
• Any other task assigned by the Senior Programs manager

Qualification

Education and Trainings:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to Computer Science.
• Proof of Professional certifications related to this job is an added value

 Experience:

• At least five (5) years of experience in Database administration, major computer system implementations, change management.
• Experience includes, but is not limited to working with banking or SACCO database; develop and/or administering databases.
• Familiarity with computer operating systems and database technology (design, software, and structure) keeping databases up to date
• Knowledge of database theory and database design
• Experience with administration of one or more RDBMS
• Experience with a structured query language
• General understanding of distributed computing architectures, e.g. Client-server model
• General understanding of an operating system, e.g. Windows or Linux
• General understanding of storage technologies and networking
• General understanding of routine maintenance, recovery, and handling failover of a database
• Experience in the Automation of Microfinance institutions (MFIs, SACCOs)

Ability to: Perform duties independently under general, minimal supervision within specific assignments; analyze and make technical recommendations on administrative, management and procedural practices and other complex business problems; analyze, integrate business processes and procedures; apply creative thinking in the use of non-Umurenge SACCOs systems and development of functional processes; write logical, comprehensive, concise reports and correspondence; communicate effectively orally and in writing using language understandable to project customers, stakeholders and consultants; acquire subject matter expertise in the functions and activities of the assigned work unit, including banking operations; establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships; use troubleshooting and analytical skills; apply technical competency with strong computer skills; utilize time management skills and multi-tasking capabilities; develop and document business and processes, functions and procedures; handle multiple and parallel projects.

Ability to occasionally travel throughout the country is required.