SQL Database Administrator

To maintain and manage the security, integrity, recoverability, capacity, and availability of the organisation’s SQL Server database environments. The post holder will ensure database platforms remain secure, resilient, high-performing, and compliant with relevant data governance, security, and regulatory requirements., 1. Administer, configure, monitor, support, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server databases and associated services.

1. Ensure database performance, stability, availability, and capacity meet business and operational requirements. Analyse and investigate database issues using appropriate database management tools and resolve incidents within agreed service levels.
2. Implement and maintain database security controls, including access management, encryption, auditing, and permissions management.
3. Ensure compliance with organisational data governance, retention, audit, and information security requirements.
4. Design, maintain, test, and improve database high availability, backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions.
5. Support secure integration of databases with internal and external business systems and applications.
6. Deliver database changes through formal change management processes and ensure all modifications are appropriately documented and approved.
7. Produce and maintain technical documentation, operational procedures, support guides, and audit records.
8. Provide database support for business-critical systems, including participation in on-call and major incident support arrangements where required.
9. Support projects, upgrades, migrations, and organisational change initiatives requiring database expertise.
10. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the role.

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server architecture and administration (SQL Server 2019 or later preferred).
• Understanding of database security controls, including encryption, auditing, authentication, and access management.
• Knowledge of data lifecycle management, including retention, archiving, backup, recovery, and data restoration processes.
• Working knowledge of ITIL principles, particularly incident, problem, and change management.
• Knowledge of SQL Server administration and optimisation tools, including TempDB management, monitoring tools, and performance analysis utilities.
• Understanding of information security standards and best practice.
• Awareness of UK data protection legislation, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Knowledge of ISO standards and information governance principles.

Desirable:

• Experience of cloud-based database technologies such as Microsoft Azure SQL.
• Knowledge of database automation, scripting, and DevOps practices.
• Familiarity with monitoring and alerting platforms.

Experience

Essential:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a SQL Database Administrator role.
• Supporting business-critical SQL Server environments operating on a 24/7 basis.
• Managing database backup, recovery, and disaster recovery testing.
• Performance tuning and optimisation of large, high-volume transactional databases.
• Working within structured IT service management and change control environments.
• Supporting systems subject to regulatory, compliance, or audit requirements.

Desirable:

• Experience of database migrations and upgrades.
• Experience of Microsoft Azure or hybrid cloud database environments.
• Experience supporting highly available and resilient database platforms.

Key Skills

• Advanced SQL Server troubleshooting and performance optimisation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and within critical operational environments.
• Excellent technical documentation and process management skills.
• Secure management of database permissions and role-based access controls.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Effective incident management and decision-making capability.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.