At Make-A-Wish® America, we are more than just a workplace — our mission is transformative. Together, we fulfill life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Inspired by one boy's wish to become a police officer, Make-A-Wish has, with the help of our volunteers, donors, staff, and supporters, granted over 600,000 wishes worldwide, making a profound impact on countless lives.
THE TEAM
Make-A-Wish America is the national headquarters for our organization, providing resources and support for our Chapters around the country. The Information Technology team is comprised of a diverse team of technologists responsible for building and operating the technologies that enable Make-A-Wish to grant the wish of every eligible child.
THE ROLE
The Data Specialist is a key contributor to enterprise data initiatives, responsible for supporting the development, documentation, and maintenance of data models and pipelines. This role requires solid technical proficiency in SQL and a working knowledge of data structures, governance, and integration practices. Operating within a collaborative, cross-functional environment, the Data Specialist ensures data quality, accessibility, and compliance while contributing to scalable solutions that align with enterprise architecture goals.
WHERE YOU COME IN
As a Lead Manager, Data Specialist at Make-A-Wish America you will have the following responsibilities :
Strategy & Planning :
- Assist in translating business requirements into conceptual and logical data models under the guidance of senior team members.
- Support the development of tactical data solutions aligned with long-term data architecture goals.
Acquisition & Deployment :
Design, develop, implement, and optimize SQL queries for extracting, transforming, and loading (ETL) data migration projects. Ensure data integrity, transformation accuracy, and performance efficiency across diverse enterprise source and target systems.Operational Management :
Apply SQL proficiency in writing and optimizing queries and stored procedures to support the ongoing development, enhancement, and maintenance of enterprise applications.Collaborate with project managers, data engineers, and business stakeholders on data-related projects.Contribute to data documentation efforts, including data dictionaries and metadata repositories.Support data quality checks and assist in identifying data inconsistencies.Help maintain and update data architecture documentation.Participate in change control and testing processes for data-related updates.Governance & Compliance :
Assist in implementing data governance practices and standards.Ensure adherence to internal data stewardship protocols and compliance requirements.WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Knowledge and Abilities
Proficient ability to write and interpret SQL-based queriesWorking knowledge of relational data structures, principles, and practices.Familiarity with metadata concepts and data documentation.Exposure to data modeling, mapping, and profiling tools.Willingness to learn data migration and integration techniques.Understanding of basic web services and data exchange formats (e.g., XML, JSON).Strong collaboration and communication skills in a team-oriented environment.Qualifications
College diploma or university degree in computer science, information systems, or computer engineering required or equivalent work experience5+ years of total experience with 2+ years of work experience in a related data field preferredDemonstrable SQL experience working with data (Queries, Functions, Stored Procedures)Experience with data processing flowcharting techniques.Azure Data Factory experience preferredWorking Conditions
Ability to thrive in a remote environment.Some domestic travel is requiredPrimarily Mon-Fri during local business hours, with occasional work outside those times as needed.WHAT WE OFFER
BENEFITS
Comprehensive benefit package, effective day 1 : Medical, VisionDentalWellnessCompetitive compensation with annual incentive potentialHealth Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account OptionsHealth Reimbursement Account fully funded by Make-A-WishShort Term DisabilityLong Term Disabilityand Life InsuranceAdditional Insurance Plans : Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance through Figo401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with 5% match after one year of serviceEligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness ProgramThe organization will send a laptop, 24” monitor, and a docking station / adaptor to new hiresTIME OFF
Up to 15 PTO days10 Sick Days11 Paid Holidays2 Volunteer Days after one year of service2 Personal Days accrued annuallyParental LeaveALSO...
Employee Awards and Recognition ProgramsIndividual and Leadership DevelopmentDiscounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie ticketsMonthly premiums paid for the employee for vision, dental, and short / long term disability.Who We Are :
Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. Through our mission, we are uniting communities to grant life-changing wishes. As the world’s largest wish-granting organization, we strive to create a sense of community and an environment where we warmly embrace our wish families, volunteers, and colleagues.
Joining Make-A-Wish means becoming part of a mission that believes in the power of a wish.
Trouble submitting an application?
We’re thrilled that you’re interested in joining our mission! If you’re experiencing any hiccups while submitting your application, don’t worry – technology can be tricky sometimes. Here are a couple of quick tips to help you out :
Clear Your Cache and Cookies : Sometimes, a fresh start is all you need. Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies can often resolve submission issues.Try a Different Browser : If clearing your cache doesn’t do the trick, switching to another browser might help. Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge are all great options.We respect and ensure equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, perceived disability and other legally protected characteristics. Make-A-Wish America utilizes E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.
Required Skills
Required Experience
