Senior Database Administrator

Job summary

Across government, modern data platforms underpin the delivery of secure, reliable and insight-driven digital services. As organisations move from legacy systems to cloud-based environments, strong database capability—combining performance, security and resilience—has never been more important. Ofgem plays a vital role in the UK’s energy system, protecting consumers and enabling a more secure, fair and sustainable energy future, and effective database services are fundamental to this mission.

Ofgem is on an ambitious transformation journey. Within the Digital, Data and Security Services (DDSS) directorate, we are modernising our data platforms, expanding our use of Azure and strengthening how database services are managed across hybrid environments. This includes improving performance, enhancing security and embedding consistent standards across data infrastructure.

As a Senior Database Administrator (Management), you will play a key role in delivering and maintaining Ofgem’s database services. You will lead a team of DBAs while working hands-on across Azure and hybrid environments, ensuring systems are secure, reliable and aligned with enterprise standards. You will combine technical expertise with team leadership, supporting colleagues, influencing delivery and driving continuous improvement across the database estate.

This is a technically focused role within a fast-paced and evolving environment, with the opportunity to contribute to both operational services and ongoing transformation.

Job description

You will be responsible for:

• Managing and supporting Azure database platforms, ensuring performance, availability and security

• Leading and mentoring a team of Database Administrators

• Working with architects and delivery teams to implement database solutions aligned with standards

• Troubleshooting complex issues and improving system resilience and stability

• Driving automation using tools such as PowerShell, Azure CLI and Terraform/Bicep

• Overseeing backup, recovery, patching and disaster recovery processes

• Ensuring compliance with security, governance and audit requirements

• Contributing to continuous improvement across database platforms and processes

We are looking for:

A technically strong database professional who can operate across both legacy and modern cloud environments. You will bring hands-on Azure database experience alongside the ability to lead others and improve services.

You may come from a DBA, infrastructure or cloud engineering background, but you will demonstrate:

• Strong experience with Azure SQL, Managed Instances and hybrid database environments

• Experience in performance tuning, optimisation and troubleshooting

• Knowledge of database security, access control and compliance

• Experience with automation and scripting (PowerShell, Azure CLI, T-SQL, Terraform/Bicep)

• Ability to collaborate across teams and translate technical concepts clearly

A relevant certification such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate is expected.
Experience leading teams and working in regulated environments would be beneficial.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in modernising Ofgem’s data platforms. You will help ensure that critical systems are secure, scalable and reliable, supporting the organisation’s digital transformation and enabling services that impact consumers across Great Britain.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Deep experience with Azure SQL Database, Managed Instances, SQL Server on Azure VMs including provisioning, scaling, optimising performance, and managing cost tiers (Lead Criteria).
• Performance optimisation using Azure Monitor, Query Performance, index optimisation, partitioning, and query refactoring (Lead Criteria).
• Strong implementation experience of Transparent Data Encryption, Always Encrypted, encryption at rest/in transit, Azure AD authentication, firewall rules, RBAC, auditing; ensuring standards like GDPR/HIPAA are met.
• Skilled in automated backups, replication, Always On availability groups, failover clusters; setting RPO/RTO targets and validating operational resilience.
• Strong command of PowerShell, Azure CLI, T-SQL scripts, Terraform/Bicep; automates deployments, scaling, patching, and performance alerts
• Experienced in assessing requirements, choosing migration strategies (online/offline), executing migrations from on-prem to Azure, and integrating hybrid environments.
• Experience in planning team workloads
• Ability to provide technical guidance to team members and wider technology community.
• Ability to translate technical issues for non-technical stakeholders and collaborate across teams.

Holds or can obtain the following certifications or equivalent:

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate or equivalent certification.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience automating database deployment and maintenance using PowerShell or DevOps pipelines.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• You will also be asked to prepare a presentation. Full details of the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,452, OFGEM contributes £14,326 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).Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

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.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile. In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated in the essential criteria.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

At Ofgem, we expect our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. They should follow the Civil Service code and be free from any influence or bias. We are committed to making sure interests are recognised, declared and managed appropriately so that we can fulfil our duties as an energy regulator. Our Conflicts of Interest policy outlines the types of interests Ofgem staff must declare before onboarding, and the rules they must follow throughout employment so that we can clearly demonstrate that our decisions are not influenced by private interests.

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 security check (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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Amber Shankland
• Email : amber.shankland@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Attachments

DDSS Role Profile Senior Database Administrator (Management) Opens in new window (pdf, 132kB)DDSS Candidate Pack, Senior Database Administrator Opens in new window (pdf, 2448kB)Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)