Database Administrator

Isio; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work style

Career development

Office in Birmingham

Job summary

Isio seeks an experienced Database Architect/DBA to define and execute the data strategy for central data warehouses. You will own architecture, ETL pipelines, and security controls while collaborating with Development, Administration Systems, and stakeholders.

Hybrid work in the UK is available, with Birmingham as a preferred location. Key duties include designing schemas, optimizing queries, enforcing backups, and leading DBA processes.

Qualifications

• Strong SQL skills and experience with major RDBMS and cloud equivalents.
• Experience with ETL/ELT tooling and data pipeline design.
• Understanding of data modelling principles (normalisation and star schema).
• Experience diagnosing and resolving database performance issues.
• Familiarity with database security practices and GDPR.
• Experience defining backup/recovery procedures against defined RTO/RPO targets.
• Proven track record delivering database solutions.
• Experience tuning slow-running queries using execution plans and index analysis.
• Ability to lead key DBA processes across Isio.
• Define and baseline performance KPIs and alert thresholds.
• Experience tracking database growth and capacity planning.
• Experience leading project work.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Management of stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills and proactive delivery.
• Willingness to remove barriers to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Isio’s DBA strategy with stakeholders.
• Own and maintain the database architecture for Isio's data warehouses and connected systems.
• Define backup schedules, test restores and maintain RPO/RTO targets.
• Audit database security controls (RBAC, encryption, privileged access, logging) for ISO27001.
• Own ETL/ELT pipeline architecture and data quality validation.
• Monitor performance, capacity, and availability; plan for growth and improvements.
• Manage change control and schema versioning across systems.
• Collaborate with Data Architects to ensure scalable infrastructure.

Skills

SQL

RDBMS

Cloud platforms

ETL/ELT tooling

Data modelling

Query tuning

Data security

Backup & recovery

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Planning & organisation

Analytics

Problem solving

Tools

SSIS

dbt

Azure Data Factory

SQL Server

PostgreSQL

Snowflake

Job description

This role will work with the System Administrators, Data Architects and Development team to ensure that data solutions and their associated processes are working as effectively as possible. This role will play a key role in defining and implementing the Isio’s strategy for its key central data warehouse solutions.

The role will sit as part of the Development team and will work closely with stakeholders from across Isio with a particular focus on working with the Administration Systems Team

This role will ideally work from our Birmingham city centre office with a hybrid workstyle, but we can consider other Isio locations for the right candidate.

What does the role entail?

• Develop and implement Isio’s DBA strategy. Working with relevant stakeholders.
• Own and maintain the database architecture for Isio's data warehouses and connected operational systems, including schema design, indexing strategy and query optimisation.
• Operational and technical responsibility for the data systems.
• Define and enforce database backup schedules, test restore procedures and maintain RPO/RTO targets aligned to ISO22301 obligations.
• Work closely with Infrastructure team to Implement and audit database security controls including RBAC, encryption at rest/in transit, privileged access management, and audit logging, in support of ISO27001 compliance.
• Own the ETL/ELT pipeline architecture connecting source systems to the data warehouse, including data quality validation and error handling.
• Develop and implement routines to maintain database health.
• Monitor database performance, capacity, and availability; proactively address bottlenecks and plan for data growth.
• Manage database change control processes, including schema version control and change-freeze enforcement across systems.
• Work closely with data and solution architects providing technical expertise and design leadership for the delivery of data solutions.
• Ensure work is delivered on time and on budget.
• Work with stakeholders from across Isio to ensure Data systems delivers solutions which are fit for purpose.
• Liaising with other teams and team members to ensure that the delivery of Data solutions is consistent.
• Work with the Technology, Finance, HR, and Marketing leadership to ensure that Systems have the required resources training to deliver quality solutions.
• Develop & own KPIs for Isio’s data systems and work undertaken on them.
• Work within the wider governance framework to ensure a consistent approach and documentation of all work delivery.
• Work within a culture of continuous improvement within Technology and develop and enhance understanding of Isio’s systems.
• Own tickets relating to data systems in conjunction with internal teams and strive to improve the functionality of the system to deliver better self-service.
• Document standards and processes for each of Isio’s data systems.
• Play an active role in the delivery of work through coding and configuration of Isio’s data systems.
• Work with the Data Architects to ensure data systems are built on effective infrastructure and follow Isio’s best practice.

What we’re looking for?

• Strong SQL skills and experience with at least one major RDBMS (e.g., SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle) and cloud equivalents (e.g., Azure SQL, Snowflake).
• Experience with ETL/ELT tooling (e.g., SSIS, dbt, Azure Data Factory) and data pipeline design.
• Understanding of data modelling principles (normalisation, dimensional modelling/star schema for data warehousing).
• Experience of diagnosing and resolving database performance issues.
• Familiarity with database security practices and data protection legislation (GDPR).
• Experience defining and testing backup/recovery procedures against defined RTO/RPO targets.
• Proven track record of delivering solutions and new database systems.
• Proven experience analysing and tuning slow-running queries using execution plans, query profilers, and index analysis tools.
• Familiarity with query rewrite techniques and understanding of query optimiser behaviour across at least one major RDBMS (preferably SQL Server).
• Willingness to lead key processes across Isio from a DBA perspective.
• Ability to define and baseline performance KPIs (query response times, wait statistics, lock contention, CPU/IO utilisation) and set alerting thresholds.
• Experience tracking database growth trends and translating them into storage and compute capacity plans.
• Experience of leading project work.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent Planning & Organisational skills.
• Management of key stakeholders at all levels in a typical corporate environment.
• Strong analytical skills and creative approach to getting work delivered.
• Willingness to identify and overcome barriers to delivery of work

Why Join Isio

Isio is a fast-growing professional services business, that offers career development through an evolving client base, diverse and meaningful work, nationwide opportunities, and a culture that rewards high performance and accountability.

We hold ourselves to the highest standards and our values guide how we advise our clients, how we operate as a business and how we work together as a team. We call it the Isio Attitude. We encourage our people to be bold, to communicate with conviction, and to deliver advice that matters.

Here, growth brings opportunity - more responsibility, more clients, and work that stretches and develops you. We invest in training and development so you can expand your skills and explore different career paths across diverse markets to make your mark. Isio is a place to realise your potential and build a career with impact. You can find out more about Isio and the benefits we offer on our career's website Isio - Careers & Benefits.

About Isio

A progressive advisory firm, partnering with clients of all sizes to deliver expertise in pensions, employee benefits and wealth advisory services.

Working with pension trustees, employers, individuals, families and their offices, we are supported by talented colleagues across 10 UK offices. With a Big 4 heritage we combine a strong focus on quality with a fresh perspective challenging traditional thinking.