Position Information
Posting Detail Information
Working Position Title Database Administrator/Programmer (2453)
Classification Information Technology Technical Associate - CUSTOM CLASSIFICATION
Position Number 00002453
Open Date 10/29/2026
Close Date 11/19/2026
Priority Review Date
Employee Class Staff
Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time
FTE 1.00
Position Status Regular
FLSA Exempt
Job code 5031
Union Representation Non-Union
Union Code N/A
Unit/Department Testing Services
College/Unit Undergraduate Affairs
Division Academic Division
Location
CL 120
Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.niu.edu/testing/
Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications
Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications
Overview
NIU Testing Services provides testing services and resources to the NIU community, including placement tests for new Huskies. We also assist undergraduate/graduate students and the public with proctored/correspondence testing and national standardized testing, such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).
Our services for faculty and staff include exam and course evaluation processing.
Position Summary The Database Administrator/Programmer reports directly to the Director of Testing Services. The Database Administrator/Programmer is responsible for data processing, database administration, data scanning/report generation and the design and development of software applications.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Database Administration
- Responsible for all database administration activities within Testing Services Database Administration activities include: MS Access database design, writing SQL queries, maintaining lookup tables, designing/maintaining MS Access forms/reports, writing/maintaining VBA code modules in MS Access databases.
- Responsible for daily database maintenance activities like importing data from NIU student information systems.
- Resolve discrepancies in student records between the Testing Services database, MyNIU, and Slate.
- Manage the day-to-day activities related to Anthology on-line evaluation system.
Data Processing
- Responsible for classroom exam processing within Testing Services under the direction of the Coordinator of Forms Processing.
- Ensure the security of all student information stored by Testing Services.
- Responsible for loading all testing data (internal and external source) into NIU student information systems.
- Develop and maintain the process for transmitting all exam data to NIU student information systems and troubleshoot any problems that arise.
- Serve as primary contact for problem resolution and coordination of activities with Registration and Records and the MyNIU team, Slate team, and Production Control.
Software Development/Maintenance
- Develop in-house software applications as necessary.
- Maintain existing in-house software applications using MS Office automation software and VB.Net.
Other Related Duties
- Assist with troubleshooting/maintenance of all computers; This may require contacting the appropriate experts outside of Testing Services.
- Maintain all scanners.
- Troubleshoot scanner hardware issues with repair technicians and, if necessary, notify inventory control and shipping when a scanner needs to be sent to the shop for repairs.
- Continually assess functions within the Testing Services database and office technology that needs to be modified or upgraded to increase functionality.
- Evaluate new technology for use in Testing Services.
- Assist the Director of Testing Services in generating reliable and accurate data from multiple sources and offices.
Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Any one or any combination totaling two (2) years (24 months) from the following categories:
- College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT), IT Management, Programming, IT systems, or a closely related discipline, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
- 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
- Associate’s Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
- 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
- Bachelor’s Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)
- Work experience in IT-related functions, such as hardware/software support, programming, network design, network engineering, IT systems integration, or closely related field.
- Based on position requirements, additional education, training, and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position may be required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
- Knowledge of the systems and operations used within the areas and departments of responsibility.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to oversee and coordinate activities of user groups.
- Ability to effectively communicate with other colleagues, supervisors, administrative staff, and other IT users.
- Ability to identify and resolve technical problems.
- Ability to effectively communicate and professionally interact with all staff levels.
Specialty Factors (Civil Service)
- At least two (2) years of experience in each of the following areas (this experience could have been obtained concurrently):
- Experience in software application development.
- Experience utilizing VB.Net, MS Visual Studio, or other similar object oriented programming languages.
- Experience demonstrating a solid understanding of hardware, software, and database support in a mission critical production environment.
- Experience demonstrating strong database troubleshooting, optimization, and recovery skills.
- Experience with writing database queries.
Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
- A solid understanding of hardware, software and database support in a mission critical production environment.
- Strong database troubleshooting, optimization and recovery skills.
- Familiarity with technologies and data related to testing, measurement, assessment, and to operational areas such as admissions, registration, and student records.
- Interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with faculty, students, and administrators.
- The ability to facilitate teamwork among staff and to foster effective working relationships.
- The ability to communicate project status and resolutions of problems in a timely manner.
- Excellent organization, project, time, and people management skills.
- Strong administrative, organizational, interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills.
- Strong commitment to task completion supporting operational requirements and ability to work varied hours if necessary.
- Proactive learner willing to take action before asked.
- Resourceful in solving problems using available tools.
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS) N/A
Additional Requirements (SPS) N/A
Preferred Qualifications (SPS) N/A
Physical demands/requirements
- General office requirements.
- Long periods of time seated/stationary.
- Long periods of screen exposure.
Appointment and Compensation Details
Appointment and Compensation Details
Anticipated Appointment Start Date 12/1/2026
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Percent of Staff Year 1.00
Standard Hours Per Week 37.50
Working Hours Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Salary $62,400.00 - $69,225.12/annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package.
Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $2,600.00 - $2,884.38/semi-monthly
Earn Type Salary
Application Procedure
Application Procedure
Application Procedure
Application Procedures:
• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.
- If eligible for Veteran’s Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
- After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.
- Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
- Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.
Credentials Assessment Examination:
• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant’s/employee’s education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
- Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver’s license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
- After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.
Additional Details:
- Click on Information Technology Technical Associate for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
- Applicants who may assume they do not meet the exact minimum qualifications are still invited to apply. Within the application documents, applicants should be sure to explain how their credentials and related qualifications address the requested minimum requirements.
- Please click on Human Resource Services – Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University’s benefits package.
- Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
Special Instructions
Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/98250
Is Background Check Required? Yes
EEO Statement Summary In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Director of Civil Rights Office, Title IX Coordinator Health Services 2nd floor CivilRights@niu.edu 815-753-0455
Visa Policy In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
ADA Accommodation
NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person’s disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.
Safety Information
NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety. Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.