Database Specialist at Education Development Center (EDC)

Position Requirements

The USAID/Nigeria's Northern Education Initiative Plus project, being implemented by Creative Associates and EDC, works to improve the quality of and access to education in Northern Nigeria. The Monitoring and Evaluation Database Specialist will assist in the design and development of a data collection and management system for project team. He/she will report to the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to ensure implementation is closely aligned with the overall project. This position is based in Abjua, Nigeria.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develops a project database to house all project-related data.
• Provides continuous maintenance of the database including regular scheduled back-ups, tests of data integrity, periodic recovery tests, etc.
• Develops standard operating procedures for administering database.
• Works with project team members and partners in numerous field locations throughout the country to ensure the database functionality meets their needs.
• Creates and enforces project-wide data processing protocols, including manuals and reference guides, for proper use of the project database and related functions.
• Trains project and partner staff on proper use of the database and data processing protocols.
• Works with project staff to find and implement technological solutions to data-related challenges.
• Ensures data cleanliness, quality and security.
• Ensures seamless integration between numerous systems in order to reduce unnecessary redundancies.
• Produces regular reports according to the guidelines determined by project management
• Researches hardware and operating system problems and determines proper solutions, arranging and coordinating for hardware and software repairs when necessary. Recommends changes to improve data systems and network configurations, and determines hardware or software requirements related to such changes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills and Experience
Candidates for this position must have at least 3 years of experience developing and maintaining complex databases, preferably with a USAID-funded education project. Experience in a multi-unit, geographically diverse organization strongly preferred. Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of computer languages and systems (HTML, SQL, etc.). In addition, candidates should have experience with databases for monitoring program implementation and in data collection, processing and analysis systems.

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to balance work within a team environment while working with minimal supervision; strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills; good technical writing skills. Candidates must have the ability to travel regularly to Bauchi, Sokoto and other States in Northern Nigeria and to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Education
The candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Computer Science, Information Systems/Technology, or other related field.