Senior Data Systems Administrator - Toronto, Ontario

Victor Lo

Crescent School

Crescent School has been a leader in boys' education since 1913. Located on a beautiful, 37-acre campus in mid-Toronto, Crescent School has students in Grades 3 through 12.

Our mission, Men of Character from Boys of Promise, enables each student to reach the full potential of his unique abilities. Character development drives everything we do. We are committed to mentoring and relational learning – which bring out the best in boys – and instilling core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and compassion. We nurture well-being while cultivating excellence in academics, arts, athletics, business, outreach, and robotics.

Our expertise is supported by exceptional resources, including high-tech learning spaces, modern libraries, a professionally equipped theatre, and superb athletic facilities.

Crescent School invites applications for the following position:

Senior Data Systems Administrator

The Senior Data System Administrator is responsible for managing and optimizing all integrated data systems at Crescent School, whether hosted locally or in the cloud. This position plays a vital role in supporting the daily operations of the academic, business, finance, and advancement teams, such as managing parent-teacher interviews, generating official reports, handling course and group management, and ensuring smooth data flow between systems. The role involves ensuring data quality, security, integration, and analytics while providing guidance to internal stakeholders and working closely with external vendors. The Senior Data Systems Administrator must be a strategic thinker capable of managing complex systems, delivering innovative solutions, project planning and execution and adapting to the school’s evolving needs to support both administrative and academic objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Data System Management and Optimization
  • Analyze future business needs and define new data system structures that align with the school's strategy.
  • Manage and optimize complex database systems, ensuring high availability, performance, and scalability.
  • Research, test, and implement patches and upgrades to database servers and systems to keep them up to date.
  • Develop, implement, and enforce security measures to protect sensitive student and staff information, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
• Data Quality, Analytics, and Reporting
  • Develop customized reports and dashboards to provide insights to school users, enhancing data-driven decision-making.
  • Train, coordinate, and support data owners and departmental database users to maintain data accuracy, validity, and security.
  • Prepare and manage electronic data submissions to the Ontario Ministry of Education, Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC), and other regulatory bodies.
  • Resolve Help Desk tickets related to database systems and collaborate with software vendors to address issues.
• Project Management and Improvement
  • Deliver small to medium-scale projects by working within established project management frameworks.
  • Identify shortcomings in existing systems and suggest innovative solutions to improve database management practices.
  • Lead projects within the organization’s change management program, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Integration and Application Development
  • Oversee the integration of the school's student information systems (SIS) and learning management systems (LMS) with other applications to ensure data consistency and automation.
  • Work closely with external software providers to integrate SIS/LMS with other applications and services.
  • Develop and maintain responsively-coded applications for various school needs, such as teacher coverage, parent-teacher interview scheduling, and course selection.
• Client and Customer Management
  • Manage relationships with key internal stakeholders (e.g., Academics, Finance, Advancement) and act as their business partner to ensure their data needs are met.
  • Collaborate with external vendors and service providers to resolve issues and enhance system functionality.
• Data Governance and Compliance
  • Implement and enforce robust security measures to protect sensitive student, staff, and school information.
  • Act as the school's authority on data management, establishing and enforcing policies and procedures for data governance.
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation of database configurations, processes, and procedures, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
• Daily Routine Support for Academic Team
  • Managing parent-teacher interview scheduling systems.
  • Generating and submitting OUAC and ONSIS reports.
  • Preparing and distributing report cards and generating transcripts.
  • Handling course and group management.
  • Coordinating coverage schedules and supporting summer school academic programs.
  • Managing Den's POS system to support school operations.
• Troubleshooting and Support
  • Investigate and resolve database-related issues, providing timely support to end-users and IT staff.
  • Develop and implement strategies for disaster recovery and data backup.
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation of database configurations, processes, and procedures.
  • Provide training and documentation for end-users on database-related tasks and best practices.

The successful candidate will have:

• A degree in a computer-related field, such as computer science, information systems, data science, or a related discipline, along with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with popular SIS (Student Information System) and LMS (Learning Management System), such as Blackbaud, Google Classroom, Schoology, Moodle, Canvas, or others.
• Proficient in Windows Server, Windows 10/11, Mac OS, and Chrome OS.
• Proficient in SQL and database management systems (e.g., MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server). Strong understanding of database security, data backup, and recovery procedures.
• Experience with cloud-based databases and services.
• Programming experience, including C# with .Net, VBA, Python, SQL, JavaScript, HTML/CSS.
• Experience with Ministry data requirements (ONSIS, OUAC, OSSLT) is a definite asset.
• Advanced experience with Google Workspace for education, including Gmail/Google Drive/Google App/Google Sheet.
• Strong knowledge of computer hardware, including troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance of desktops, laptops, servers, and peripherals.
• Experience with networking technologies, including LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, firewalls, and wireless networks.
• Proficiency in network troubleshooting and configuration, including switches, routers, and network monitoring tools.
• Expertise with Microsoft 365, including Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access, Teams, PowerBI, SharePoint.
• Desire to become a supportive and engaged community member fostering the school’s positive and progressive culture.
• Ability to build authentic relationships, mentor, and model integrity, honesty, and trust.
• Demonstrates a growth and service mindset with strong professional judgment.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Knowledge of educational technology trends and best practices.

For more information about Crescent School and employment opportunities please visit our website at www.crescentschool.org.

Please apply by submitting a cover letter and resume to recruitment.peopleandculture@crescentschool.org by September 27, 2024, with “Application - Senior Data Systems Administrator” in the subject line. We thank all candidates in advance; only those being offered an interview will be contacted.

Crescent School believes in the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and belonging. We value the unique life experience that each person brings and believe that human differences make us stronger. We strive to be a community where every person feels welcome and valued. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Special accommodations for candidates with disabilities are available upon request.