State of Maryland

A Database Specialist II is the full performance level of work designing, developing, implementing, maintaining and controlling database management systems for computers.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Database Specialist Supervisor or other administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays and may be subject to call-in.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Database Specialist I and Database Specialist II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Database Specialist I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed while the Database Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Database Specialist II is differentiated from the Database Specialist Supervisor in that the Database Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Database Specialists.

Defines databases including defining user requirements, developing data definitions, data flow diagrams and maintaining the data dictionary;

Develops logical and physical database designs and ensures appropriate modifications to the design models or schema;

Establishes initializing procedures and data element naming conventions;

Coordinates the installation and implementation of database management system software and related software tools with vendors, other information technology staff and systems users;

Maintains security and integrity of data by specifying access policies, standards, methods and parameters, by developing standards for applications programs, by establishing recovery plans to minimize data loss and system downtime and by performing back up routines for the database management system software and for the stored data;

Monitors database performance and makes modifications and adjustments to database architecture, storage methods and management system software to fine tune the database for optimum response time;

Monitors capacity and allocates space according to overall needs of system users, available data storage and database management system requirements;

Trains IIT Programmer Analysts and system users on techniques for efficient use of database management systems;

Troubleshoots problems related to availability of data to system users, space, data base software, data flow, information storage, or data access;

Coordinates the database management system interfaces with other information technology units;

Evaluates technical information and makes recommendations to management regarding procedures, software and hardware for managing databases;

Prepares long and short range plans for feasibility of conversion to database management systems from existing file structures;

Reviews technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to keep abreast of the latest developments in database management systems and related information technology;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of designing, developing, implementing, maintaining and controlling database management systems for computers;

Knowledge of database management systems, software and tools;

Knowledge of generally accepted computer programming languages;

Knowledge of operating system data, communications software, and relational databases;

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of computer systems, and data communications networks;

Skill in implementing, controlling and evaluating database management systems;

Skill in documenting new and revised database management systems procedures and standards;

Skill in using diagnostic and performance tools and other software products to maintain established standards for database management systems;

Skill in applying inductive and deductive reasoning to reach logical solutions to database problems;

Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with system users, vendors, computer operations personnel, IT Programmer Analysts and IT Technical Support Specialists.

Experience:  Two years of experience, designing, developing, implementing, maintaining and controlling database management systems for computers and, testing, implementing and maintaining applications systems and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or maintaining and modifying operating systems for computers.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and thirty credit hours from an accredited college or university in Computer Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Computer Science or other information technology-related field to include course work in database management systems for the  of experience designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining applications systems and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or maintaining and modifying operating systems for computers. 

2. Candidates may substitute two years experience operating computer systems; or scheduling, controlling input and output or maintaining a tape library to process data on computer systems; or converting data from project specifications by developing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages on a year-for-year basis for graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Computer Science or other information technology related field to include course work in database management systems for two years experience designing, developing, implementing, maintaining and controlling database management systems for computers for the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Database Administration classifications or Database Administration specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience. 

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.