DataBase Manager

The Information Technology Division operates within the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) to provide secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions that support the agency’s mission of administering fair and accurate elections statewide.

Elections have been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as critical infrastructure. The IT Division plays a vital role in safeguarding election systems under the National Infrastructure Protection Plan.

The division’s core purpose is to research, advise, procure, implement, and support technology solutions that enable and enhance the business functions of the State Board of Elections. IT provides centralized infrastructure and services that ensure secure, statewide access to election-related information and systems for election officials across North Carolina.

Primary Purpose of the Position

The Data Manager oversees the full lifecycle of data operations within the IT Department’s Data Division at the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE). This role provides strategic direction, technical leadership, and managerial oversight for data systems that support statewide election administration-designated by DHS as critical infrastructure. The Data Manager ensures secure, reliable, high-quality data operations by supervising the Database Administrator and Data Analyst functions, integrating database administration, reporting, analytics, GIS data workflows, and enterprise data governance.

This position is responsible for developing and enforcing data standards; managing enterprise SQL Server environments; overseeing agency-wide reporting and visualization platforms; ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements; and promoting data-driven decision-making across divisions. The Data Manager serves as the agency’s primary authority for data architecture, data integrity, and election-related data processes., * Directs all activities within the Data Unit, including database administration, reporting, analytics, audits, and GIS functions.

• Serves as the central coordinator for data strategy, ensuring data operations align with organizational goals.
• Establishes and enforces database, reporting, and data governance standards.
• Provides oversight, coaching, workload direction, and evaluation for staff in the Database Administrator and Data Analyst roles.

Database Administration Oversight

• Manages the design, maintenance, and integrity of SQL Server environments supporting statewide election applications.
• Oversees replication processes, scheduled jobs, monitoring systems, backups, recovery strategies, and performance optimization.
• Ensures data security, regulatory compliance, and adherence to internal standards for coding, documentation, and system configuration.
• Reviews and approves tools, utilities, and infrastructure improvements that enhance database performance and reliability.

Reporting, Business Intelligence & Analytics

• Supervises creation of internal and external reports, dashboards, and analytics products that support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Oversees reporting infrastructure, automated data refresh processes, and intranet reporting environments.
• Directs development of data visualizations, new reporting methods, and predictive or statistical models.
• Ensures role-based access controls, secure architecture, and efficient workflows for agency reporting systems.

Election Audit, Data Integrity, and Compliance

• Oversees pre- and post-election data processes including contest audits, candidate and ballot validation, voter registration audits, and list maintenance reviews.
• Ensures high data quality and consistency throughout all audit-related workflows.
• Coordinates with internal units to validate agency data and ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.

Specialized Election Data Processes

• Supervises GIS database management, spatial data workflows, and geospatial support for precincts, districts, and election-related mapping.
• Ensures GIS datasets integrate effectively with database systems, reporting tools, and analytical models. Oversees maintenance of shapefiles, spatial layers, and specialized geospatial election data. *

• Expert understanding of Microsoft SQL Server environments, including administration, security, performance tuning, replication, and backup/recovery strategies.
• Advanced proficiency in T-SQL scripting, database design, data modeling, ETL processes, and data warehouse concepts.
• Strong knowledge of reporting and visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, SSRS, and Report Builder.
• Ability to perform source system analysis, build analytical models, and develop predictive or statistical reporting methods.
• Familiarity with Azure cloud services, Windows server environments, PowerShell scripting, Python, and Excel-based data analysis.
• Understanding of GIS concepts, geospatial datasets, and spatial database workflows.

Leadership & Management Abilities

• Skilled in leading complex, enterprise-level technical projects with statewide impact.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and guide database administrators, analysts, and other technical personnel.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple units and support diverse business requirements.
• Ability to perform under time-sensitive conditions, irregular schedules, and mission-critical operational demands.
• Effective at establishing data governance standards, documentation practices, and consistent data management procedures.

Operational Abilities

• Strong analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills applied to auditing, validation, and quality assurance of critical data.
• Ability to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical staff, including developers, testers, analysts, and leadership.
• Skilled in developing, maintaining, and improving complex automated data workflows and monitoring systems., Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or an IT related fieldor a related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and threeyears of progressive technical experience including threeyears in a supervisory capacity; or Associate degree in Computer Science or an IT related fieldor a related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and fouryears of progressive technical experience including threeyears in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The N.C. State Board of Elections is the statewide agency that supervises elections administration, enforces campaign finance requirements, and conducts associated investigations. The State Board ensures uniform implementation of state and federal election laws and appoints local officials serving on county boards of elections. The board is composed of 5 individuals appointed by the State Auditor from list of nominees submitted by the chairs of the two political parties having the highest number of registered affiliates. Agency staff are civil servants subject to the State Personnel Act.