Lead Database Administrator

Job summary

We’re seeking a talented Lead Database Administrator (DBA) with extensive Microsoft SQL Server Database experience to come and join us at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

You will have the chance to conceptualise, plan, set up and provide hands-on support of all databases within the UKHO. There will be the need to support Oracle, PostgreSQL and Cloud hosted systems as well but you would be given the opportunity to cross train into these technologies, if you don’t currently have experience with them.

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

This is a DV reserved post and therefore open to sole UK nationals only. It is a condition of the role that you obtain DV clearance and are eligible to hold a UK reserved post, and therefore we encourage you to check your eligibility before applying. You may also need to provide further information regarding eligibility for DV reserved role before interview.

Hybrid working

This role is eligible for flexible and hybrid working as per UKHO agreements, however the successful candidate is required to work from the Taunton office at least 3 days a week, from the outset. This is to perform activities that require an on-site presence. The UKHO is based in Taunton, Somerset so the successful candidate should be within 1 hour commuting distance.

Additional Information:

Part-time hours will be considered (minimum of 32 per week)

Job description

This is a varied and interesting role where you will deliver an excellent user experience. Through developing, improving and maintaining the UKHO’s database estate, you will support our key internal products and services and commercial product portfolio -critical to the operations of UKHO. Working within the Enterprise Applications team you will work with the Enterprise Applications Team Manager and other team colleagues to manage the delivery of technical services to our internal customers and in deliver our commercial products by supporting the UKHO Enterprise Applications and services in a third line role.

The high-level responsibilities of the role are to:

• Lead the provision of support and system administration tasks for all database environments across development, test and live.
• Use MS SQL Server knowledge and skills in SQL Server database technologies including Always on Availability Groups, SSIS, SSRS.
• Use Windows Server system admin skills to help support the database infrastructure.
• Provide technical input into projects, designing and building the most appropriate systems regarding database security, resilience, and functionality.
• Implement UKHO policies to ensure the security, integrity and resilience of the databases to provide database services in accordance with the relevant SLAs.
  
  

On a day-to-day basis your responsibilities will include:

• Provide day to day support for the database estate.
• Proactively manage, plan and deliver the implementation of database system maintenance, regular patches, and upgrades
• Use system administration tools to investigate, diagnose and resolve complex and/or high-risk problems to maintain service level agreement levels
• Analysis of problems, evaluating options, prioritising and providing long-term pro-active fixes
• Take responsibility for the Business Continuity and backup of database platforms, managing high availability and implementing solutions for managing back-ups, restoration and replication, and monitoring compliance against recovery objectives
• Interacting with multiple technology teams and business stakeholders as well as external third parties, and business stakeholders to optimise and maintain database standards, reliability, availability, performance and interoperability with existing systems.
• Evaluate, prioritise and work on database related incidents and changes via the IT Portal.
• Constantly look for opportunities to implement improvements to database build standards, automation and support processes to improve the reliability and efficiency of the database service.

Support project activities including:

• Install, configure, integrate, upgrade and test database services for new projects.
• Influence and support delivery teams and software developers as a subject matter expert with database operations and standards, including the development of complex SQL and tuning of DML code.
• Collaborate with other DBAs, development, other technical teams and third parties to ensure that system and data security guidelines are adhered to in the design, set up and operations of database platforms. Ensure that appropriate controls are in place to manage processes and maintain compliance with internal and external audit ules.
• Define and maintain system documentation, i.e., standards, security orders, procedures, configuration information, help desk calls, etc, and ensure that less experienced staff are instructed in their use.

Person specification

Experience

• You should have extensive experience designing, implementing, and supporting MS SQL Server probably gained over at least 5 years, including Always on Availability Groups, SSRS, SSIS.
• 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 should have good experience of troubleshooting complex database operational incidents and performance issues.

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 at all times.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Demonstrable skills in designing, implementing, and supporting MS SQL servers (lead criteria)
• Experience of troubleshooting complex database operational incidents and performance issues.
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of MS SQL Server administration and support (lead criteria)
• Strong knowledge of database design, installation, process automation and upgrades.
• Highly proficient in the troubleshooting of complex database operational incidents and performance issues.

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,746, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £14,121 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

When you click 'Apply now' you will be asked to attach your anonymised CV and input a 500 word supporting statement on the criteria below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 19/07/26
• Shortlisting: w/c 27/07/26
• Interviews: w/c 10/08/26

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:

• Are you eligible for a reserved post and able to go through DV clearance Y/N? This information will be assessed from your CV. If you do not meet this pre-sift criteria, your application will not be taken through to be scored on the Sift/Shortlist Criteria below.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria using the information provided in your supporting statement and your CV.

Technical skills:

• 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 skills:

• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of MS SQL Server administration and support (lead criteria)
• Strong knowledge of database design, installation, process automation and upgrades.
• Highly proficient in the troubleshooting of complex database operational incidents and performance issues.

During the interview you will be asked to describe your experience in relation to the above technical skills.

Civil Service Behaviours (SEO level):

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at pace

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

The Lead Criteria at shortlist and interview stage will be used in the event of a large volumes of applications and the event of tie-breaks in scoring.

Process:

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. 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 approximately 1 hour.

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)