Manager, Database Platform

Delta Dental Plan of Michigan•Okemos, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana we work to improve oral health through benefit plans, advocacy and community support, and we amplify this mission by investing in initiatives that build healthy, smart, vibrant communities. We are one of the largest dental plan administrators in the country, and are part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, which operates two of the largest dental networks in the nation. At Delta Dental, we celebrate our All In culture. It’s a mindset, feeling and attitude we wrap around all that we do – from taking charge of our careers, to helping colleagues and lending a hand in the community. Drives the strategic vision and operational excellence of the enterprise-wide data platform. Leads a high-performing team of database administrators and test data engineers, ensuring the delivery of resilient, scalable, and innovative data solutions that empower mission-critical enterprise applications.

Requirements

Position requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, analytics, or a related field and seven years’ experience in database administration and data architecture, including hands-on leadership of large-scale, mission-critical database environments.
Will accept any suitable combination of education, training, or experience.
Position requires demonstrated expertise with at least two major enterprise database management systems such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or PostgreSQL, including advanced configuration, optimization, and troubleshooting
proven track record designing, implementing, and supporting cloud-based database architectures (e.g., AWS, Azure, OCI), with experience evaluating and approving architecture and design decisions for enterprise data platforms
proficiency in backup and recovery strategies, high availability solutions, disaster recovery planning, and performance tuning for large, distributed database systems
experience leading technical teams, including mentoring, mission-critical environments
advanced problem-solving skills, independent judgment, and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Directs and mentors a diverse team of database administrators and test data engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous professional growth.
Executes and evolves the strategic vision for the enterprise data platform, establishing a center of excellence that sets standards for data quality, security, and scalability across the organization.
Shapes the organization’s data architecture, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and enabling business transformation through advanced data capabilities.
Collaborates proactively with executive stakeholders, product managers, architects, customers, and business leaders to understand current and future application demands, ensuring alignment between technology solutions and organizational objectives, champions best practices, and position the enterprise data platform as a cornerstone of organizational success.
Manages the on-call rotation and serves as the escalation point for all database platform incidents, driving rapid resolution and continuous improvement in service reliability.
Implements comprehensive staff support programs, including performance reviews, goal setting, career development plans, and disciplinary actions, to build a high performing, engaged workforce.
Cultivates and manages relationships with vendors and business partners to maximize value, drive innovation, and ensure alignment with enterprise goals.
Provides input into budget planning, monitor expenditures versus plan, and report on variances to ensure optimal cost management.
Leads recruitment, onboarding, training, and coaching efforts to build a team capable of exceeding performance expectations and supporting enterprise growth.
Perform other related assigned duties as necessary to complete the Primary Job Responsibilities as described above.