Information Technology Specialist

Information Technology Specialist (Database Administrator)

The Information Technology Specialist (Database Administrator) is located in the Informatics and Data Science Center (IDSC), National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and reports to the IDSC Digital Stewardship Lead and is responsible for the design, development and administration of databases related to the Research and Collections Information System (RCIS) and other research and collections-based database projects requested by other NMNH departments. As such, the database administrator is a technical resource to database development project teams.

In this position, you will:

• Independently support the administration of the Research and Collections Information System (RCIS) databases by monitoring system performance, performing routine maintenance, and ensuring reliable day-to-day operations across database environments.
• Assist in the design, development, and implementation of database applications by gathering user requirements, contributing to functional specifications, and supporting testing and validation throughout the system development lifecycle.
• Apply established data standards, governance practices, and security controls to maintain data integrity, consistency, and compliance with Smithsonian and NMNH policies.
• Analyze and resolve routine to moderately complex system and data issues, evaluate system performance, and provide recommendations to improve functionality, reliability, and integration.
• Communicate with users, project teams, and stakeholders to provide technical support, coordinate system updates and changes, and assist in promoting consistent database practices across collaborating organizations.