Senior Database Administrator

Is God calling you to ministry?

For over 70 years, The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has proclaimed the Gospel through its various ministries. Whether you work at our headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove (BGTC) in Asheville, North Carolina, Blue Ridge Broadcasting (BRB) in Asheville, North Carolinaor a field office abroad, you are part of a team of committed Christians working together to reach people to the ends of the earth with the Gospel.

CHRISTIAN PURPOSE AND EXPECTATIONS:

All employees proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through their employment, and thereby further BGEA’s religious mission.

Department Detail –The BGEA Information Technology (IT) department consists of the following areas: Operations (networking/routing, servers, storage, security cameras, telephony), Service Desk (end-user hardware and software management/support, event support, general IT assistance), Cybersecurity (threat defense, monitoring/analysis, awareness, and compliance), Enterprise Solutions (application and web development, data visualization, report writing, database management), and Enterprise Solutions Support (Donor/CRM, Financial, HR, and other ERP type solutions support).  The IT department furthers the mission of BGEA through supporting, developing, scaling, and securing the assets, infrastructure, and programs required by all areas of the ministry while maintaining and ensuring their availability.

Job Summary –The Senior Database Administratorarchitects, engineers, secures, automates, and optimizes BGEA’s enterprise data platforms across on-premises and cloud environments. The Senior DBA serves as the technical authority for relational database systems, high availability architecture, disaster recovery, data security, and database lifecycle management.

Ministry Requirements

• Maintains a personal, active relationship with Jesus Christ and is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ
• Faithfully upholds BGEA in prayer
• Participates in daily BGEA staff devotions including Bible reading, and leading group prayer as schedule permits
• Demonstrates behavior aligned with BGEA’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, Hallmarks, policies, and expectations
• Effectively represents Jesus Christ to those within both personal and professional spheres of influence

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Architects, deploys, and manages relational database platforms including Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud-hosted environments
• Leads complex database migrations, version upgrades, and platform modernization efforts
• Creates necessary ODBC, SSRS, etc. connections and assists IT development teams with connections to new instances.
• Designs and enforces database performance standards including indexing strategy, query optimization,
• Develops and maintains a multi-year enterprise database roadmap including capacity planning, lifecycle management,
• Implements proactive performance monitoring, observability, and automated alerting using enterprise monitoring platforms.
• Partners with development teams to review schema design, data models, and deployment pipelines to ensure scalability, maintainability, and performance.
• Monitors and maintains security of BGEA databases by considering access requests and granting specific, appropriate permission to users
• Monitors database activity and performance utilizing pertinent ministry-provided database analysis tools
• Designs and tests enterprise-grade High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) strategies including Always On Availability Groups, replication, failover clustering, and geo-redundant backup strategies. Conducts regular failover and restoration testing.
• Ensures timely, efficient database restoration in the event of system failure
• Assists in daily Information Technology (IT) operations including, but not limited to diagnosis of problems and completing regularly scheduled activities
• Automates operational database tasks using PowerShell, T-SQL, Infrastructure-as-Code, and configuration management tooling to reduce manual intervention and improve reliability.
• Serves as advisor to management regarding technical direction
• Reviews ministry technology requests or database requirements making recommendations and developing quotes where needed.
• Provides architectural oversight for third-party and SaaS integrations, ensuring secure and performant data exchange patterns (APIs, replication, ETL).

Marginal Duties and Responsibilities

• Researches and evaluates emerging database technologies, automation tooling, and data platform innovations. Provides benchmark data and strategic recommendations.
• Other duties as assigned

Job Specifications

Skills and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field OR 10+ years of enterprise database engineering experience.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience working within an MS SQL environment, with a strong command of MS T-SQL language
• Proven proficiency within current supported versions of MySQL and MSSQL
• Proven ability to understand and work with database analysis tools such as SSMS, SQL Diagnostic Manager, PMM, etc
• Proficiency in working with automation frameworks (PowerShell, Terraform, Ansible, etc.)
• Solid understanding of HA and DR architecture for enterprise database systems
• Proven ability and desire to support and monitor IT software and hardware standard compliancy
• Proven knowledge of client/server architecture
• Strong initiative with ability to work independently relative to assigned priorities
• Strong relational, verbal, and written communications skills, with ability to understandably communicate the “large picture” to a wide range of audiences
• Good comprehension and listening skills, with ability to resolve business challenges
• Proven understanding of MS Office and Windows OS

Physical/Mental Demands

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Flexibility and initiative to adapt to changing circumstances
• Willingness to remain accessible by cell phone/pager
• Strong ability to see projects through to completion
• Ability to deal simultaneously with multiple tasks and projects
• Ability to work productively despite frequent interruptions
• Ability and desire to contribute substantially in a progressive IT environment
• Excellent organizational ability to effectively prioritize tasks
• Consistently high level of integrity and professionalism

Working Conditions

• Conventional office and IT environment

Mission Statement

Continuing the lifelong work of Billy Graham, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association exists to support and extend the evangelistic calling and ministry of Franklin Graham by proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all we can by every effective means available to us and by equipping the church and others to do the same.

Statement of Faith

These core beliefsmakeup thefoundation upon whichall ourministryendeavorsare based.

• Webelievethe Bibleto betheinspired,the onlyinfallible,authoritativeWordofGodrevealing thelove ofGod to the world.  (1Thessalonians2:13;2Timothy3:15-17;John 3:16).
• WebelievethatthereisoneGod,eternallyexistent in three persons: Father,Son,and HolySpirit.
  (Matthew28:19; John 10:30;Ephesians4:4-6).
• Webelieveinthe deityofthe LordJesusChrist,inHisvirgin birth,inHissinlesslife,inHismiracles,inHis vicariousand atoning death through His shed blood on the cross,in Hisbodilyresurrection,inHisascensionto theright handofthe Father,andinHispersonalreturninpowerand glory. (Matthew 1:23;John 1:1-4 and1:29;Acts1:11and 2:22-24;Romans8:34;1Corinthians15:3-4;2 Corinthians5:21; Philippians2:5-11;Hebrews1:1-4 and 4:15).
• Webelievethatall men everywhere are lostandfacethe judgmentofGod,thatJesusChrististhe onlyway of salvation,andthat forthe salvationoflostand sinfulman, repentanceofsinandfaithinJesusChristresultsin regeneration bythe HolySpirit.Furthermore, we believethatGod willreward the righteouswitheternal life inheaven,andthatHe willbanish the unrighteousto everlasting punishment inhell.(Luke24:46-47;John 14:6;Acts4:12;Romans3:23;2Corinthians5:10-11;Ephesians1:7 and2:8-9; Titus3:4-7).
• Webelieveinthe present ministryofthe HolySpirit,whose indwelling enablesthe Christian tolive agodly life. (John 3:5-8;Acts1:8and 4:31; Romans8:9;1 Corinthians2:14;Galatians5:16-18;Ephesians6:12;Colossians2:6-10).
• Webelieveinthe resurrection ofboththe saved andthe lost;the saved untothe resurrection ofeternallife and the lostuntothe resurrection ofdamnationandeternalpunishment.(1 Corinthians15:51-57; Revelation20:11-15).
• Webelieveinthe spiritual unityofbelieversinthe LordJesusChristand thatall true believersaremembersofHisbody, the church.  (1 Corinthians12:12,27; Ephesians1:22-23).
• Webelievethattheministryofevangelism(sharing andproclaiming themessage ofsalvationonlypossiblebygrace throughfaithinJesusChrist)and discipleship(helpingfollowersofChristgrowup intomaturityinChrist)isa responsibilityofallfollowersofJesusChrist.  (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:9-15;1 Peter 3:15).
• WebelieveGod’splanfor humansexualityisto be expressed onlywithinthe contextofmarriage,that Godcreatedman andwoman asunique biologicalpersonsmadefor each other.Godinstitutedmonogamousmarriage between male andfemale asthefoundation ofthefamilyand the basicstructure of human society.Forthisreason,we believethat marriageisexclusivelythe union ofonegeneticmale andone geneticfemale. (Genesis2:24;Matthew19:5-6; Mark10:6-9;Romans1:26-27;1 Corinthians6:9).
• We believe that we must dedicate ourselves to prayer, to the service of our Lord, to His authority over ourlives, and to the ministry of evangelism.  (Matthew 9:35-38; 22:37-39, and 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:9-15 and 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10; Colossians 2:6-10; 1 Peter 3:15).
• We believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end; and that we must have concern for the physical and spiritual needs of our fellowmen.  (Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10).
• We believe God wonderfully and immutably creates each person a biological male or female.  These two distinct, but complementary sexes together reflect the image and likeness of God.  Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of God’s merciful design and creative order.  (Genesis 1:26-27; Mark 10:6; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Deuteronomy 22:5).

Expectations for Ministry Employment

Asan employee ofBillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation:

• I acknowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and that I am a personal representative of Him.
• I understand that BGEA is a Christian organization whose purpose is proclaiming the message of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world.
• I agree that the purpose of my employment with BGEA is to further its Christian purpose, that I am prepared to assist in accomplishing that purpose, and that my role with BGEA plays a vital part in carrying out its Christian purpose and mission.
• I understand that I must exhibit conduct that is consistent with BGEA’s expectations, whether at work or away from work, in keeping with scriptural teachings and principles as set forth in God’s Word, BGEA’s Statement of Faith, and BGEA’s policies including Christian Conduct.
• I understand that BGEA has the right and the responsibility to ensure that its Christian religious purpose is carried on with the highest standards and is not harmed or impeded by conduct that is inconsistent with the Bible, BGEA’s Statement of Faith, its Christian religious purpose, or its policies
• I understand that any of my conduct which is not in keeping with the scriptural teachings and principles as set forth in God’s Word, BGEA’s Statement of Faith, and BGEA’s policies, is inconsistent with BGEA’s Christian religious purpose.
• I understand that if my conduct is determined by BGEA to be inconsistent with its Christian religious purpose, the result will be corrective action up to and including termination from employment.

The Title VII Exception for Employment

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) is a faith-based religious organization committed to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through every effective means.  Consistent with our charitable purpose to share the Christian faith, a requirement for employment at BGEA is affirmation and adherence to our Christian Statement of Faith.  Our Statement of Faith prerequisite for employment is based upon federal law set forth in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-1.