We're hiring a RE database administrator at Linfield. Great campus, great vacation, great benefits. Please pass this announcement along! Kurstin The Department of College Relations at Linfield College seeks a database administrator to support a fund-raising team. Responsibilities include report writing, database queries, data imports/exports, and customer service for database users. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, three years database experience, and strong organizational skills required; experience with Raiser’s Edge a plus. View job description at www.linfield.edu Salary range: $42,000-$48,000 DOE. Submit Linfield application, cover letter, résumé and three professional references to Human Resources Dept, Linfield College, 900 SE Baker, McMinnville OR 97128-6894, fax: 503-883-2644 Deadline: February 15, 2008. EOE

IMHO, this job description does not qualify as a DBA position. Barbara Prine Systems Manager Kingswood-Oxford School

I agree with Barbara. This position seems more like a Database Administrator's Assistant position. A database administrator will also be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the data in the database, organizing everything, deciding about upgrades and new components and someone who can figure out how to use any new systems that come up I that should be added. It's a job with lots of responsibility and accountability. FYI that job description sounds exacly like MY job which is development Clerk. I can do a lot of what the database Administrator does but don't have lots of her responsibilities. Molly Development Clerk

If you click on the link for the full job description, you'll see that this person oversees data integrity, maintains the entire database system, and provides leadership on application, conversion, and implementation issues, which for us includes new systems and system upgrades.

Actually, hidden in my message is the idea that in the industry, the DBA designation is generally applied to someone who is a highly skilled programmer/applications developer. It's not a position usually tied to end user tasks or making decisions about data entry etc. or supervising such individuals. It's an entirely different position unrelated to data entry or organizing office procedure or fund raising. Barbara Prine Systems Manager Kingswood-Oxford School

Yes, I know - I read the description. All of that is in my job description, too, but it still does not meet the standards to be referred to as a DBA position and I wouldn't dream of using that title as it implies high level programming skills not needed for installing upgrades, handling conversionset, installing software. Barbara Prine Systems Manager Kingswood-Oxford School

I think you might want to check out this link because nowhere's on it does it say anything about programming skills. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_administrator

Look towards the bottom of that wiki (I've had to wear all of these hats and I'm just a programmer): Development and testing support is typically what the database administrator regards as his or her least important duty, while results-oriented managers consider it the DBA’s most important duty. Support activities include collecting sample production data for testing new and changed programs and loading it into test databases; consulting with programmers about performance tuning; and making table design changes to provide new kinds of storage for new program functions. Here are some IT roles that are related to the role of database administrator: Application programmer or software engineer System administrator Data administrator Data architect Dan Larson Programmer Saint Cloud, Minnesota To me, it's a good idea to always carry two sacks of something when you walk around. That way, if anybody says, "Hey, can you give me a hand?" you can say, "Sorry, got these sacks." ~Jack Handy

I think everyone's missing the point. Kurstin - thanks for posting the job opening, I appreciate seeing these oportunities and realize that each organization is unique and may use terminology differently than other organizations. Laurel Quaintance Friends of Bassett Manager,Fund Development Services Cooperstown, NY 13326 [Email Removed]

Thank you Laurel!! Kathy Hannon Wuesthoff Health System Foundation [Email Removed]

Yes, thank you so much for posting the job. We also refer to the same position as a DBA position. It's just terminology.

I beg to differ with you. It's more than a difference in terminology. Using the DBA designation for a position such as the one advertised is misleading. A more appropriate title for such a position might be "Data Manager" or something similar but it definitely is not a applications development or programming position - so the salary will be much different, too. Barbara Prine Systems Manager Kingswood-Oxford School

I guess I am trying to figure out your motivation for attacking Kurstin for posting this position. In my experience, most people on this forum do not belong to the Human Resources Department at their organization and therefore have no control over Titles. Many organizations have very strict HR policies that dictate salary levels and naming conventions and sometimes development doesn't fall into the standards and in order to get comparable salaries they may have to 'borrow' a title that contains the appropriate salary structure. If you disagree with this definition, that is fine, you have the right to your opinion. I just don't think it's productive to belittle other organizations that may not be as 'evolved' as yours. Laurel Quaintance Friends of Bassett Manager,Fund Development Services Cooperstown, NY 13326 [Email Removed]

Here, here, Laurel. Let's agree to disagree and move on.

Kurstin, I think anyone who would apply for this job would first read the job listing and be able to figure out if they could do the job or not. I think you will have no problem fulfilling the job even if you called the position Jack of all Tricks. Seeing how that is what anybody who has ever carried a job in the IT world is anyways.