Job no: 524708

Work type: Staff Full Time

Location: UMass Amherst

Department: IT Engineering

Union: PSU

Categories: Computer & Information Technology, PSU A

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Peoplesoft Database Manager has primary responsibility for the reliable and secure operation, management of the PeopleSoft software, Oracle database, and related software components underlying the PeopleSoft Student Administration software and other administrative information systems. The PeopleSoft Database Manager ensures the stability, security, and performance of PeopleSoft applications critical to the UMass Amherst operations and academic functions.

Essential Functions

• Builds and maintains a high performing team to successfully implement strategic projects; ensures operational excellence for all the applications in the team's portfolio; fosters a collaborative and supportive work culture that promotes knowledge sharing and professional growth.


• Manages a team of PeopleSoft Database Administrators for database performance to ensure efficient operation of PeopleSoft applications; identifies and resolves performance issues through tuning, indexing, and other optimization techniques; assigns tasks, sets objectives, and provides guidance to ensure the team's effectiveness and productivity.


• Uses Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) frameworks to manage day to day database operations and incidents.


• Ensures security policies and procedures are implemented and enforced to protect sensitive data stored in the PeopleSoft databases; monitors database access and ensures compliance with security standards and regulations; maintains detailed documentation of PeopleSoft database configurations, procedures, and operational guidelines.


• Ensures the availability, integrity, and performance of PeopleSoft applications and databases, including Oracle or other supported database platforms.


• Collaborates with Information Security teams to address vulnerabilities and mitigate security risks.


• Collaborates with application developers and system administrators to optimize PeopleSoft application database configurations and settings. Designs and maintains robust backup and recovery strategies for PeopleSoft databases to minimize data loss and downtime.


• Conducts regular capacity planning exercises to anticipate future resource requirements and scale database infrastructure accordingly.


• Implements access controls, encryption mechanisms, and auditing procedures to protect sensitive data within PeopleSoft databases.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's Degree with 8 years' relevant experience or Associate's Degree with 10 years' relevant experience or high school with 12 years' relevant experience.


• Experience with managing a team.


• Experience with PeopleSoft and Oracle Database.


• Experience with vendor ERP software.


• Experience and knowledge of Linux or Windows Operating Systems.


• Demonstrated ability to work well in team environments.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience and ability to develop and maintain source code libraries and manage formal software releases for production environments.


• Experience with replication and clustering.


• Experience with PeopleSoft software application is strongly preferred.


• Experience using ServiceNow or other ITSM tool for managing incidents.


• Experience with using DevOps tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Jenkins, GitLab, Vagrant, etc.


• Experience with diagnostic tools such as network packet, hardware performance, and storage analyzers, etc.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment activity.

Work Schedule

• 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.


• Participate in off-hours on-call rotation.


• Some nights and weekend hours required.


• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.


• This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee's work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 33

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage, please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Aug 20 2024 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: Jan 31 2025 Eastern Standard Time