Database Lead (Offshore)

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Database Lead (Offshore) to join our global team.

Team and Job Purpose

Ensuring the robust, safe and reliable operation of the infrastructure that enables SCI's core operating platforms.

The SQL Server DBA is responsible for the supporting all activities related to database performance, backups and data security of all SCA data held within SCI hosted SQL Server instances

Job Title: Database Lead (Offshore)

Reports To: Head of Global Enterprise Technology

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available 

Contract Length: Permanent

Grade: P5

Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: Hiring Locations

Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Europe, WCA, ESA, MENAEE Time Zones (UTC/GMT + / - 3 hours)

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment

International Travel Requirements: Yes, up to 5%

Budget Responsibility: None

People Management Responsibility: None

Principle Accountabilities

• Conduct regular data backups of SQL Server instances and validate them to ensure disaster recovery and business continuity planning procedures can be enacted if required, ensuring safety and resource conservation.

• Perform proactive and reactive performance reviews of all SQL Server instances, recording baselines and statistics to share with system owners, and using monitoring tools such as Paessler PRTG to maintain optimal database performance.

• Implement routine health checks for all SQL Server instances to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources, which supports cost reduction and safety in the workplace.

• Optimise SQL Server configuration settings and perform regular maintenance tasks to keep indexes and statistics up to date, ensuring the stability and performance of the databases.

• Troubleshoot SQL Server and Windows Server issues, and respond to critical system issues during and after business hours, maintaining consistent documentation in line with global team standards.

• Provide ad-hoc reporting and engage with critical stakeholders to establish necessary monitoring points, ensuring databases run optimally and meet organisational needs.

• Oversee the installation and configuration of new SQL Server instances as required and serve as the point of contact for emergency events outside regular hours, ensuring continuity and support for the organisation's operations.

Experience and Skills

1. Proficiency in administering SQL Server instances, including installation, configuration, and maintenance.

2. Strong knowledge and experience of SQL Server backup and recovery processes, ensuring data safety and integrity.

3. Proficient experience in conducting performance reviews, establishing baselines, and using statistics to maintain database health.

4. Proficient experience with database monitoring tools such as Paessler PRTG, ensuring proactive monitoring and optimal performance.

5. Solid understanding of indexing, query optimisation, and statistics update practices.

6. Competence in automating routine tasks through scripts and tools.

7. Experience in performing routine health checks and maintenance tasks to optimise resource utilisation and database performance.

8. Experience serving as a point of contact for emergency events outside regular hours to ensure organisational continuity and support.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field: Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of formal educational qualifications.

Desirable

• Microsoft SQL Server DBA certification(s)

Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Our recruitment process:

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
3. Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
4. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.