Coordinator: Database Administration

UWC Sport; Bellville; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Bellville is seeking a Coordinator: Database Administration to manage databases, ensuring best practices and effective service delivery. The role involves coordinating activities related to MSSQL and Oracle databases, acting as a liaison with stakeholders, and maintaining documentation. The ideal candidate should have significant experience in database management, technical certifications, and strong problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience as a DBA or similar role.
• Understanding of POPIA and database security.
• Familiarity with development and scripting languages.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the point of contact for DBA services.
• Coordinate database activities including patching and upgrades.
• Log and escalate incidents to vendors and management.

Skills

MS SQL

Oracle Database Management

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

NQF 7 qualification with technical certifications

Tools

Diagnostic tools

Data manipulation tools

Job description

Overview

Title of Position: Coordinator: Database Administration

Post Number: 5020

Faculty/Department: University of the Western Cape -> ICS Department -> IT Operations & Services

Type of Position: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Main Campus - Bellville, WC ZA (Primary)

Closing Date: 30/1/2026

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

The UWC’s Information and Communication Services (ICS) Department play a pivotal role in delivering ICT services that enable and support the University’s strategic goals and objectives. ICS, in line with growing its capability and supporting the Digital Transformation Strategy of UWC, offers an opportunity for a Co-Ordinator: Databases in the ICS IT Operations and Services Support unit.

The primary purpose of the Co-Ordinator: Database Administration is to ensure that the University’s databases are managed by application of sound database best practices, maintenance and administration tasks.

The key role and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the main point of contact for senior MSSQL and Oracle DBA’s, ensuring smooth delivery of DBA services at UWC.
• Act as the liaison between business stakeholders and DBA’s for database related queries and requests.
• Co-ordinate daily, weekly, and project-related database activities, including patching, upgrades, and incident response.
• Track contractor deliverables, ensuring adherence to timelines, SLAs, and quality standards.
• Maintain a central register of active tasks and projects.
• Perform first-level monitoring of MSSQL and Oracle databases using approved tools.
• Run basic SQL queries to validate health checks, backup status, and performance metrics.
• Log and escalate incidents appropriately to vendors and management.
• Approve and manage database user account management and permissions requests.
• Maintain documentation on database infrastructure, including inventory, licensing, and lifecycle schedules.
• Prepare regular reports on system performance, uptime, vendor activities, and audit compliance.
• Ensure all knowledge transfer from DBA’s is properly documented.
• Facilitate change control processes for database activities.
• Communicate planned maintenance and downtime notifications to end-users and stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of integration with other databases such as MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, etc.

Minimum Requirements

• Senior certificate with technical certifications in MS SQL or Oracle Database Management and more than 5 years of demonstrated experience as a DBA or similar role in a large organisation or educational institution.
• or a relevant NQF 7 qualification with technical certifications in MS SQL or Oracle Database Management and more than 3 years of demonstrated experience as a DBA or similar role in a large organisation or educational institution.

Work Experience

• Must have familiarity and understanding of basic development and scripting computer languages - MS SQL, Oracle DB, the Windows Operating System and Database Design Concepts. Programming experience desirable but not essential.
• Understanding of POPIA, cybersecurity threats, database security baseline.
• Familiarity in use of diagnostic and data manipulation tools.

Competencies Required

• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to plan and co-ordinate the work of vendors
• Flexibility and adaptability and ability to work as part of diverse and cross functional teams.
• Good organisational and planning skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Teamwork and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and customers.
• Demonstrated ability to work unsupervised, toward tight deadlines and under pressure;
• Good business awareness and understanding of business requirements of IT

In your application, you are encouraged to highlight your strengths and include anything else you deem exceptional and outstanding to be considered by the selection panel. In addition, please attach a cover letter motivating your suitability, a detailed curriculum vitae including contact details of three referees, and your highest qualification to your online profile.

To be considered for this vacancy, you must click on the Apply for this Job link below or apply directly via UWC Careers at https://uwc.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll. For any queries, please contact the Human Resources Department at [phone]/9763/9708/3551/3756 or email: [e-mail].

DISCLAIMER: By applying for the position, you consent to the University sharing your application, including curriculum vitae, with University stakeholders to process the application. In line with the University’s commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with our Employment Equity Targets. The official retirement age at UWC is 65 years. The University reserves the right to not make an appointment, make an appointment at a different level, seek additional candidates and may conduct competency assessments.