Enterprise DBA team sits at the heart of the Enterprise Infrastructure team within the IT Operations department and is responsible for managing, securing, and administering all of the company’s databases. This includes supporting the production as well as numerous non-production environments. The DBA team provides in-depth specialist knowledge to the business applicable to various DB technologies such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Progress DB etc. The team also provides swift resolutions to any complex production incidents to provide a stable service for the company.

Leadership qualities

• Responsible for ensuring that all databases continually perform at optimum performance levels with adequate resiliency to deliver our customers' service expectations
• Own and lead the everyday delivery of all database-related technical products & services in line with relevant OLAs & SLAs.  Includes relevant cross-functional engagement to ensure optimum process flow and delivery KPIs.
• Lead a team of professional DBA engineers to provide database support and delivery for critical systems that are fit for purpose and support the business in achieving business objectives and improve customer experience
• Professionally represent the database services team to the business stakeholders which supports MS SQL, Oracle, MySQL, Netezza and Progress database technologies in TalkTalk IT Operations
• Maintain a good working knowledge of current database technologies and future trends to plan and shape the future roadmaps including the evolving Cloud technologies

Influence and communication

• Provide management guidance, vision, leadership, coaching and mentoring to the DBA team. Lead by example, providing enthusiasm, drive and energy to succeed and by being a positive example to peers, direct reports, managers and their teams
• Effectively engage and communicate to provide a sound, transparent and robust decisions and demonstrate sound judgment in making timely decisions for progression of the business.
• Engage and collaborate with solution architects and designers to create effective solutions and make recommendations to enhance the proposed designs
• Build positive working relationships with external stakeholders, suppliers and vendors to deliver the needs of our business through collaboration

Database roadmaps

• Engineer and build capability for database solutions across the enterprise in line with the technologies set out in the database roadmap
• Undertake database infrastructure coordination related to design and setup activities at different stages of a project’s life cycle
• Provide senior input on design, standards and policies while working with infrastructure architects and OSPs (Outsourced Partners)
• Demonstrate a logical approach, balancing business requirements with a ‘keep it simple’ configuration strategy while also keep costs down
• Offer strong database background and provide technical skills irrespective off the database technology to assist the effective and efficient build methodologies in the DBA teams’ tasks
• Own and regularly review the database licence models and volumes for the organisation for all technologies supported within the IT operations to plan renewals and managing operational costs
• Collaborate with appropriate teams to shape and build the database road map for IT operations

Database service delivery

• Responsible for the management, maintenance and support of all database technologies on various platforms including multiple database management tools
• Assist with adequate monitoring of database platforms and identify performance and capacity issues proactively to protect the service to the business. This includes responsibility for managing the databases resources and availability to avoid service disruptions.
• Liaise with appropriate teams to deliver resolutions within strict timeframes by prioritising incidents where necessary
• Interact and coordinate with peers, vendors, suppliers and consultants as well as internal teams such as incident, change and problem management teams as required
• Maintain the necessary documentation of all database builds, provisions and modifications to ensure standardised approach to DBAs’ work and take accountability for version controls and approvals to satisfy various auditing requirements
• Ensure adequate monitoring of systems and procedures under control of the team to minimise downtime.
• Review all database changes for all technologies, understand and approve them after appropriate risk assessment to ensure business changes can be deployed in a safe and timely manner
• Collaborate and manage the on-shore as well as off-shore DBAs to ensure consistency in processes, guidelines, SLAs and delivery. Ensure regular communication with all members for appropriate management cascades and staff development irrespective of their geographical locations
• Arrange and manage the DBA 3rd line on-call process including assistance out of business hours if appropriate to recover the critical business systems
• Support the business by owning the appropriate database related tasks and problems to find a solution to assist to recover service as quickly as possible
• Regularly perform validation cheques with the OSP partner(s) for efficient management of DBA resources in the team to deliver seamless service as well as to keep costs minimal

Team management

• Ensuring all people work in a safe and secure manner and support the H&S and security requirements of their role (self and others).
• Develop and support personal development plans for all DBAs for continuous upskilling and training for newly evolving database technologies
• Provide support and guidance for the on-shore as well off-shore DBA teams in order to provide a consistent database service for the business
• Manage business relations with the OSP members to build strong work ethic and provide encouragement for service improvements where applicable

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