Database Administrator

Job summary

Are you a motivated and enthusiastic Database Administrator looking to grow your career?

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is looking for a DBA with experience supporting Microsoft SQL Server databases to join our team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic environment where you’ll support and enhance a diverse range of database technologies. Our current estate includes on-premise MS SQL and Oracle and we are on a journey towards cloud-based platforms – primarily Azure SQL Managed Instance with PostgreSQL also on the roadmap.

Whether you are experienced across those technologies or looking to develop new skills, we will support your growth every step of the way. You will have the chance to design, plan build and provide hands on support for all databases across UKHO.

This is a varied and interesting role focused on delivering an excellent user experience. You will play a key part in developing, improving, and maintaining the UKHO’s database estate, supporting critical internal services and our commercial product portfolio. Working within the Enterprise Applications team, you will collaborate with the Enterprise Applications Team Manager and colleagues to ensure the effective delivery of database services.

There will be a requirement to provide 24/7 support as part of an on-call rota.

This is a reserved post and therefore it is essential that you are eligible to hold a reserved post. You will also need to hold and maintain DV clearance, and therefore we encourage you to check your eligibility before applying.

Hybrid working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, working between the office in Taunton and remotely within the UK. The successful candidate is required to work from the Taunton office 3 days a week, however this is dependent on business need.

The role might be considered part-time of a minimum of 32 hours per week.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational support for the organisation’s database estate.
• Assess, prioritise, and resolve incidents and change requests raised through the IT Portal.
• Plan and deliver system maintenance, patches, and upgrades alongside technical teams.
• Investigate and resolve complex or high-risk database issues, including root cause analysis and escalation where required.
• Ensure robust business continuity through effective management of high availability, backups, and replication.
• Collaborate closely with development, configuration, technical support teams, third party suppliers, and business stakeholders to maintain performance, reliability, and interoperability.
• Identify opportunities to improve build standards, automation, and support processes to enhance service efficiency.
• Support project delivery by installing, configuring, integrating, upgrading, and testing new database services.
• Act as a subject matter expert on database operations, SQL development, performance tuning, and best practice standards.
• Work with Lead DBAs, development teams, and suppliers to ensure platforms meet security, compliance, and audit requirements.
• Produce and maintain documentation including standards, procedures, security guidance, configurations, and support records.
• Support and guide less experienced staff, ensuring effective knowledge sharing and adherence to documentation and processes.

Person specification

• You should be proficient in supporting Microsoft SQL Server, probably gained over at least 2 years. Any experience supporting Oracle or PostgresSQL will be useful. If you don’t have skills in either of these technologies, you will need to show a willingness to develop skills in them.
• You should have experience or an interest in building and supporting cloud-based database platforms, ideally Microsoft Azure.
• You will have good Windows server administration and Powershell skills and general IT experience.
• You will need to be a team player, self-motivated, with a positive and pro-active approach to the challenges that the post demands. You must be focused on the timely delivery of solutions to support the UKHO business needs.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of MS SQL Server administration and support.
• Working knowledge of database design, installation, process automation and upgrades.
• Proficient in the troubleshooting of complex database operational incidents and performance issues.
• Experience or understanding of administering MS Azure based systems.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,173, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £11,058 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

When you click "Apply Now" at the bottom of this page you will be asked to attach a copy of your anonymised CV and write a 500 word supporting statement to demonstrate the experience criteria below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 25/03/2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 13/04/2026
• Interviews: w/c 27/04/2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Pre-sift Criteria:

This role will eventually require you to acquire a DV clearance. Therefore this role is only open to candidates with a sole UK Nationality.

• Are you eligible for a reserved post and able to go through DV clearance - Y/N?

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

You will be short-listed against the following criteria using the information provided in your suitability statement and your CV.

Experience:

• Demonstrable skills in designing, implementing, and supporting MS SQL servers (lead criteria).
• Experience of troubleshooting complex database operational incidents and performance issues.

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Technical:

• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of MS SQL Server administration and support.
• Working knowledge of database design, installation, process automation and upgrades.
• Proficient in the troubleshooting of complex database operational incidents and performance issues.
• Experience or understanding of administering MS Azure based systems.
  

Civil Service Behaviours (HEO level):

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Process:

• Single Stage MS TEAMS interview. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approx. 60 minutes.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. Security Clearance (SC) will need to be obtained prior to the role commencing. You will also need to apply for Developed Vetting (DV) which can be completed while working for us but the offer will remain conditional until DV is gained. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Nationality requirements:

DV - reserved

This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and open to sole UK nationals only. Successful applicants will require Developed Vetting (DV) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 24 consecutive months within the last 10 years.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Further information

Further Information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

UKHO Candidate Information Pack - Tech Opens in new window (pdf, 5887kB)Additional Pay Information Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)