At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and optimise SQL Server databases, ensuring performance and security.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on digital transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 37 days holiday, healthcare plan, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for continuous improvement and career growth.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting journey to modernise digital capabilities and enhance customer experience.
- Qualifications: Strong SQL Server experience and problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Database Administrator (DBA) is responsible for the operational management, performance, resilience, and security of the organisation’s database platforms, primarily Microsoft SQL Server, with additional exposure to Oracle and Teradata. The role ensures high availability, disaster recovery, data integrity, and optimal performance of critical systems, including the management of replication, failover, backup, and recovery processes. The DBA leads incident response and recovery where required. Working with engineering and analytics teams, the DBA provides guidance on database design and optimisation and supports data integration and reporting platforms (e.g. SSIS, SSRS). The role will also support the evolution of the data platform, including alignment with Microsoft Fabric.
Now is a fantastic time to join our Technology and Digital Team as we embark on an exciting and ambitious transformation programme to modernise our digital capabilities and optimise and enhance our customer journey. Innovation is key as we look for new ideas which will improve the customer experience and our business processes.
About the role
- Database Administration & Support
- Administer, monitor, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments across development, test, and production, ensuring consistency and stability.
- Ensure high availability, resilience, and performance of database platforms, including management of replication, failover (e.g. Always On), and recovery processes.
- Design, implement, and manage backup, restore, and disaster recovery strategies, regularly validating recovery procedures.
- Proactively monitor database health, performance, and capacity, identifying and resolving incidents, bottlenecks, and risks before they impact the business.
- Lead database-related incident response and recovery, providing clear ownership during major incidents.
- Plan and execute database patching, upgrades, and configuration changes in line with change and release governance processes.
- Maintain database security, access controls, and compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements.
- Support database migration activities and platform modernisation initiatives, ensuring minimal risk and disruption to business operations.
- Contribute to the evaluation of future database technologies and architecture options, including alignment with cloud and hybrid data platform strategies.
- Database Performance & Optimisation
- Review and optimise database performance, including query tuning, indexing strategies, and execution plan analysis.
- Provide guidance and oversight on database object design (e.g. stored procedures, views, functions) to ensure performance, scalability, and maintainability.
- Collaborate with application and engineering teams to promote efficient data access patterns and minimise database contention.
- Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks across database workloads, including blocking, deadlocks, and resource contention.
- Establish and promote best practices for SQL development, database design, and data modelling standards.
- Support performance testing and capacity planning activities to ensure the platform scales effectively.
- ETL, Integration & Reporting
- Provide platform support for ETL and reporting solutions (e.g. SSIS, SSRS), ensuring reliability, performance, and availability.
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues affecting data pipelines, integrations, and reporting workloads.
- Monitor and optimise database performance related to ETL processes, including scheduling, resource utilisation, and contention.
- Support data quality and reconciliation processes from a database perspective, ensuring integrity and consistency across platforms.
- Collaborate with data engineering and analytics teams to ensure efficient use of database resources and adherence to platform standards.
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as a subject-matter expert on SQL Server, advising on design and best practice.
- Support incident investigations and root-cause analysis.
- Contribute to technical documentation and knowledge sharing across teams.
- Governance, Security & Compliance
- Implement appropriate data security controls (roles, permissions, encryption).
- Support compliance with internal standards and external regulations (e.g. GDPR).
- Ensure auditability and traceability of data processes where required.
- Ways of Working
- Comfortable working in agile, waterfall, or hybrid delivery models.
- Able to manage priorities across reactive support work and planned enhancements.
- Focused on continuous improvement, automation, and reliability.
- Values knowledge sharing, documentation, and collaborative problem-solving.
About You
- Able to commute to Bradford City Centre 2 days per week.
- Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server in production environments.
- Proven experience administering, monitoring, and supporting SQL Server databases.
- Strong T-SQL skills, including performance tuning and query optimisation.
- Experience diagnosing and resolving performance, availability, and data-related issues.
- Practical experience implementing and supporting HA/DR solutions (e.g. backup/recovery, replication, failover).
- Experience supporting SSIS and SSRS platforms from a performance and operational perspective.
- Understanding of ETL and data integration processes (e.g. SSIS).
- Ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Analytical thinking – Able to diagnose complex data and performance issues.
- Attention to detail – High standards for data accuracy and integrity.
- Ownership & accountability – Takes responsibility for systems and outcomes.
- Customer focus – Understands how data solutions enable good business and customer outcomes.
- Collaboration – Works effectively across engineering and business teams.
- Continuous improvement mindset – Actively seeks better ways to work and improve platforms.
Benefits
We firmly believe that we should reward our brilliant people with extensive benefits to help them stay healthy, relax and re-energise, have fun, manage the day-to-day and plan for the future. Here are just some of our great benefits:
- Competitive salaries and annual bonus scheme.
- 37 days holiday including bank holidays.
- Healthcare cash plan.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Life assurance.
- Paid paternity and maternity leave.
- Incredible staff discounts.
- Subsidised Canteen.
Database Administrator – SQL Server in Bradford employer: Freemans Grattan Holdings (FGH)
Join our dynamic Technology and Digital Team in Bradford, where innovation meets opportunity. As a Database Administrator, you'll not only manage critical database platforms but also play a pivotal role in our ambitious transformation programme aimed at enhancing customer experiences. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we offer competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a supportive work culture that fosters growth and collaboration.
Contact Details:
Freemans Grattan Holdings (FGH) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Database Administrator – SQL Server in Bradford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and join relevant online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common DBA questions and scenarios. Think about how you would handle database performance issues or disaster recovery situations. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel when it’s showtime!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your past projects, especially those involving SQL Server, ETL processes, or performance tuning. This will give potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Database Administrator – SQL Server in Bradford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Database Administrator role. Highlight your experience with Microsoft SQL Server, performance tuning, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about database management and how you can contribute to our exciting transformation programme. Keep it engaging and personal – we love a good story!
Show Off Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise! Mention your hands-on experience with SQL Server, ETL processes, and any other relevant tools like SSIS or SSRS. We’re keen to see how you can help us optimise our database platforms.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Freemans Grattan Holdings (FGH)
✨Know Your SQL Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Microsoft SQL Server skills. Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with database administration, performance tuning, and query optimisation. You might even be asked to solve a problem on the spot, so practice some common scenarios beforehand!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've diagnosed and resolved complex data issues in the past. Think about specific incidents where you led the response and recovery efforts. This will demonstrate your ownership and accountability, which are key traits for this role.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with the company's goals and how the DBA role fits into their transformation programme. Be ready to discuss how your work can enhance customer experiences and improve business processes. Showing that you understand the strategic importance of your role will set you apart.
✨Be Ready to Collaborate
Since you'll be working closely with engineering and analytics teams, think about how you can promote efficient data access patterns and minimise contention. Prepare to discuss your experience collaborating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, as this is crucial for success in the role.
