Database Manager and Data Visualization Specialist

JOB SUMMARY:

The UW-Madison Division of Extension’s Discovery Farms Program is considered a national leader in addressing farmers’ and crop advisors’ desire to understand the water quality impacts of farm production practices. For over twenty years it has designed and conducted on-farm research to quantify the water quality impacts of Wisconsin’s diverse agricultural production systems.

Qualified candidates must be strategic thinkers with strong leadership, project management and communication skills. This position will strategically restructure and manage its database to drive on-farm research and demonstration projects that are tremendously impactful for farmers and farm advisors to evaluate the relative water quality impacts of their cropping systems and make necessary adjustments. The work associated with this position will be dynamic, fast paced and complex.

This position will manage all data collected by on-farm research and demonstration projects designed to help farmers evaluate the timing and mechanisms of soil and nutrient loss in diverse farming systems and landscapes throughout Wisconsin. Examples of current and past research and demonstration projects can be found at: https://uwdiscoveryfarms.org/on-farm-projects/ In addition, this position will aid in the visualization of collected data to develop educational outreach for both the Agriculture Water Quality and Discovery Farms programs. Data visualization tasks may include graphical displays, producing maps and other spatial outputs, plots, figures and other interesting and innovative ways of displaying Discovery Farms data.

As an academic staff member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, employed with the Discovery Farms Program, the Database Manager and Data Visualization Specialist will work directly with the UW-Discovery Farms Director, Agriculture Water Quality Program Manager, and other program staff members to accomplish the purpose of the position, namely managing project databases and visualizing data for development of educational information and materials to agricultural producers, industry personnel, agency personnel, and the general public.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assists in the assessment, design, implementation, and maintenance of databases, data warehouses, and data models needed to support analysis and reporting. Provides routine operational support and assists in training, development, and facilitation.

• 5% Assists in assessment of business requirements, determination of appropriate strategy, and making recommendations
• 30% Assists in the design, implementation, and maintenance of data warehouses and data models needed to support analysis and reporting
• 5% Provides routine operational support and issue resolution of a data warehouses and associated processes
• 10% Provides guidance to internal stakeholders on data warehousing, database application programs, and automated procedures and reporting
• 20% Assists in the identification, development, and facilitation of training opportunities regarding data sets and programs
• 10% Collaborates with other IT professionals in the development of appropriate data warehousing design guidelines and effective use of tools for building and managing data models for data warehouses
• 20% Assists Discovery Farms and Ag Water Quality Program staff with database query, statistical analysis and visualization of data within Discovery Farms databases

EDUCATION:

Required
Bachelor’s Degree

Preferred
Master’s Degree in data science or other related degrees; but non-related degrees with proven experience and/or coursework in database management will be considered.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:
– Demonstrated database literacy adequate to maintain, analyze, input, monitor, manage, and visualize large data sets using the latest technology
– Previous experience with data and statistical analysis using Microsoft Access, Excel, Python, R, Shiny, Tableau or other software
– Previous experience with SQL
– Knowledge and skills to effectively interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity

Preferred:
– Previous experience with spatial data display using geographic information systems software; experience with ArcGIS Story Mapping feature
– Previous experience with website design and web application development
– Strong organizational, written and oral communication skills; ability to create and present information in an effective and engaging fashion
– Strong interpersonal skills in a team setting and on an individual basis
– Ability to plan collaboratively and execute independently; ability to manage work responsibilities with flexibility
– Strong problem-solving skills; ability to effectively manage conflicts
– Successful volunteer or paid experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences
– Demonstrated skills in building and maintaining professional work environments