Database Administrator

South African National Blood Service; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Database Administrator to support IT infrastructure excellence. This role involves overseeing budget allocations, analyzing cost-saving opportunities, and acting as the primary contact for database needs. You will utilize your skills in SQL Server and related technologies to enhance database performance and ensure compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will have a passion for continuous learning and improvement, as well as a strong commitment to delivering high-quality service. Join a team where your expertise will contribute to vital operations and make a real difference in the community.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in Database Administration and Business Intelligence.
• Hands-on experience with database design, optimization, and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee budget allocations for database infrastructure and propose cost-saving opportunities.
• Act as the main point of contact for SQL database needs and issues.
• Implement monitoring tools to track database health and performance.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Problem Solving

Communication

Customer Service Orientation

Flexibility and Adaptability

Education

Microsoft Database Certification

ITIL Skill set

Tools

SQL Server

MS SharePoint

Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS)

Job description

The incumbent will support the IT Infrastructure through best practice implementation and solutions whilst contributing to Infrastructure excellence.

Key Performance Areas (KPAS)

KPA 1: Finance

1. Oversee budget allocations for database infrastructure, ensuring efficient resource utilization.
2. Analyse cost-saving opportunities related to database management and maintenance and proposing alternate technology.
3. Prepare reports on database-related expenditures and forecast future costs.
4. Contribute to the annual departmental budgeting and business planning process.
5. Identify underutilized resources and recommend scaling down where appropriate.
6. Assess and implement cost-effective database solutions, such as cloud services or virtualization.
7. Monitor licensing agreements and ensure compliance to avoid unnecessary expenses.
8. Implement strategies that enhance database performance and reduce downtime, contributing to overall business productivity.

KPA 2: Customer

1. Act as the main point of contact for BI, BA, and ERP teams regarding SQL database needs and issues.
2. Conduct regular check-ins with stakeholders to gather feedback and address concerns proactively.
3. Facilitate training sessions for internal teams to maximize their effective use of database resources.
4. Ensure timely resolution of incidents and service requests according to established SLA metrics.
5. Regularly review and adjust SLA compliance processes to maintain high service levels.
6. Implement monitoring tools to track database health, performance, and security.
7. Develop and maintain automated alerts for critical performance issues and potential outages.
8. Lead root cause analysis sessions to identify and rectify recurring problems effectively.

KPA 3: Internal (Processes)

1. Utilize performance monitoring tools like Idera to track database metrics, identify bottlenecks, and suggest improvements.
2. Troubleshoot and isolate performance problems, ensuring minimal impact on user experience.
3. Perform routine database health checks, optimizing indexes and queries as needed.
4. Collaborate with development teams to optimize application queries and improve overall system performance.
5. Execute routine backups, ensuring data integrity and availability for recovery purposes.
6. Conduct security audits and implement necessary changes to protect against vulnerabilities.
7. Implement and maintain database security for databases, safeguarding sensitive information.
8. Document and establish procedures for database maintenance tasks, ensuring compliance with internal policies.
9. Design and implement database servers that meet the organization's requirements.
10. Research and propose the use of the most appropriate solution for the organization's database needs.
11. Provide and maintain documentation related to database and data warehouse structures, including configuration and setup.
12. Design and implement data transformation rules according to set standards and methodologies to ensure data quality.
13. Evaluate and implement approved updates and patches on designated platforms to enhance security and performance.
14. Implement and monitor DB clones used in the organization for testing and development purposes.
15. Evaluate and implement new hardware and software for capacity planning, ensuring future scalability.
16. Perform analysis and troubleshooting to resolve database issues as they arise.
17. Diagnose software and hardware problems and provide timely solutions, minimizing downtime and impact on operations.
18. Design database schemas to ensure data integrity and support business processes.
19. Integrate large data files and databases from disparate systems, ensuring seamless data flow and accessibility.
20. Implement a trend analysis toolset to provide management with insights and analysis for informed decision-making regarding resource management.
21. Work closely with developers to ensure database designs align with application needs and scalability.
22. Engage with network engineers to ensure optimal database connectivity and performance.
23. Participate in project planning sessions to provide input on database requirements and constraints.
24. Research and recommend new database technologies and best practices to enhance operations.
25. Lead pilot projects to test innovative solutions before broader implementation.
26. Gather and analyze feedback from users to continuously refine and improve database processes.
27. Implement and monitor early warning systems to detect potential issues before they escalate.
28. Contribute to the implementation of projects for the organization by ensuring project deliverables align with organizational goals.
29. Adhere to project timelines and budget schedules, ensuring efficient use of resources and meeting deadlines.
30. Communicate progress on the status of project tasks to relevant stakeholders, facilitating transparency and collaboration.
31. Adhere to the SANBS Project Management Methodology to ensure all projects are executed effectively and efficiently.
32. Participate in project meetings and provide input on technical requirements and challenges.

KPA 4: Learning and Growth

1. Pursue ongoing education opportunities to remain updated on the latest SQL Server features and technologies.
2. Attend industry conferences, workshops, and webinars to enhance professional knowledge and skills.
3. Share knowledge gained through training with the team to foster a culture of continuous learning.
4. Organize regular knowledge-sharing sessions to discuss challenges and solutions within the team.
5. Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies that could enhance the database environment.

KPA 5: Governance (Risk, Notifications, Compliance)

1. Develop and implement database policies that align with GDPR, HIPAA, and other relevant frameworks.
2. Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with internal and external data protection regulations.
3. Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to address any potential risks related to database management.
4. Conduct risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in database systems and operations.
5. Implement security measures such as encryption, access controls, and regular security updates.
6. Develop and maintain a disaster recovery plan to minimize downtime in the event of a data breach or system failure.
7. Maintain detailed logs of database activities, changes, and access to facilitate audits and compliance checks.
8. Create regular reports on database performance, security incidents, and compliance metrics.
9. Work with internal teams to ensure all database documentation is up-to-date and accessible.
10. Establish protocols for alerts related to database health, performance, and security breaches.
11. Implement a notification system for timely communication of critical issues to relevant stakeholders.
12. Regularly review alert criteria and thresholds to ensure they align with operational requirements.

Cognitive Skills

1. Analytical Thinking and Attention to Detail
2. Change Management
3. Judgement and Decision Making
4. Problem Solving
5. Planning, Organising and Monitoring

Personal Skills

1. Flexibility and Adaptability
2. Ethical Behaviour
3. Customer Service Orientation
4. Teamwork
5. Communication
6. Knowledge Sharing

Technical Skills

1. Business and Financial Acumen
2. Systems Competence
3. Computer Literacy
4. SQL Server and newer
5. MS SharePoint
6. Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS) / SAP (or any other relevant programme / application)

Leadership Skills

1. Project Management

Education

1. Current Microsoft Database Certification
2. ITIL Skill set requirement (Problem Management / Incident Management / Change Management, etc.)

Experience and Knowledge Requirements

1. Minimum of 3 years directly related work experience in Database Administration and Business Intelligence / Data Warehousing in an environment with multiple production databases.
2. Hands-on professional experience must include an overall knowledge of database design, optimization, and troubleshooting, as well as Microsoft SQL.
3. Experience with MS SQL Server, including use of Query Analyser, stored procedures, DTS, Jobs and Profiler.