Job Description (HR5)
Department:
iSolutions (operationally deployed to NETSCC)
Post:
Database Administrator (MS SQL)
Grade:
MSA 4
Post Responsible to:
iSolutions, Head of Information Systems, Operations (MSA5)
Posts Responsible
for:
None
To support the NETSCC Information Systems Team with the delivery of Business Intelligence
services, including database development, report writing and information analysis.
Support and configure reporting solutions, BI warehouses and data sources using Microsoft SQL
Server (2008r2 onwards) to meet NETSCCs’ needs for transactional, management and decision
support information. Ensure these activities contribute to the security, reliability and data quality of
core business information systems. Identify and deliver improvements and enhancements through
controlled change management processes to improve the delivery of an Information Service to
NETSCC.
Perform related database administration tasks in Microsoft SQL Server; including instance
configuration, query optimisation, backups, replication, database design, development and Entity
Relationship (ER) documentation.
Participate (where required) within NETSCC wide projects, ensuring continual review of the
information needs of NETSCC, NIHR and DH whilst also ensuring, accordingly, that existing
information related strategies and policies are up to date and being met.
Learn aspects of and provide cover for the SQL Developer and Information Analyst role, with the
objective of continuing to meet business needs when colleagues are unavailable or require
additional capacity to deliver a high priority task.
Glossary:
NETSCC: NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre
NIHR: National Institute for Health Research
DH: UK Department of Health
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities

Facilitate the provision of a first class business intelligence service, and to do this by
working in a purposeful, efficient and collaborative fashion with the NETSCC Information
Systems development team, delivering on information projects which are high quality,
robust, resilient and timely.

Support continuous development of the NETSCC Information Strategy and to participate in
operational implementation of the business plan. To support the development of IT policies
and procedures in this area which support the NETSCC corporate strategy.

Support the capture of the information and database needs of users in all areas of the
NETSCC business, helping to capture requirements, working with internal customers to
analyse workflows and identify improved working practices that translate into database
functionality, and working with suppliers to determine how best to deploy and develop
products in the specialist area to meet the user needs. (Products include core research
management system, data classification system and project portfolio analysis software.)

Maintain and monitor NETSCC’s database instances. Provide development of databases in
both staging and presentation areas for user access to NETSCC’s data assets.

Perform regular administration of NETSCC’s databases; performance monitoring, turning,
backups, failover, replication, and scheduled jobs. Create and maintain supporting
documentation and ER diagrams of assets.

Deploy and configure database engine instances.

Participate in service management and service-level monitoring for key suppliers in this
area, helping to develop working practices and standards as required; support the
development and implementation of change control procedures and work closely with
NETSCC staff so that suppliers meet the needs of business users. (Suppliers include those
of products as above.)

Work with staff to ensure input and maintenance of high quality data, providing reports on
the status of data quality to steer corrective remedial action.

Provide technical input to assist NETSCC and iSolutions on the relevance and suitability of
emerging technical and operational standards. To help identify gaps that the market place
cannot fill and to suggest ideas of alternative solutions to a market approach as needed.

Participate in, and manage where appropriate, the specification and implementation of
projects within NETSCC, providing new services or enhancement of existing databases or
information management services. (Examples include data quality, business intelligence.)

Participate in, and manage where appropriate, the implementation, configuration and
documentation of relevant specialist tools, applications, equipment and training. Support
the specification and the development of appropriate product evaluation programmes in
this arena.

Support the integration of new services with other products and services delivered to
NETSCC. (Examples include document management and customer relationship management
systems.)

Where appropriate, deputise for, and undertake any other duties as required by the Head of
Information Systems.
Analysis and reporting

Work closely with members of the Information Systems Team, with specific responsibility
for maintaining and developing the database assets that support the reporting function.

Maintain documentation including data mapping and data dictionary to assist with
delivering effective reporting.

Contribute to the Reporting and BI team so that NETSCC is able to maximise business
benefits from its information assets, maintain the quality and security of such assets, and
respond flexibly to challenges and opportunities.

Support, troubleshoot and progress toward decommissioning a legacy database/application
based on Microsoft Access.

Resolve first-level support calls and escalate second-level support calls to suppliers,
monitoring call resolution performance against agreed targets.
Liaison

Work productively with other iSolutions staff as part of an integrated team, so that NETSCC
information management is developed within the University-wide framework appropriately
adapted to local needs.

Support the work with suppliers to help establish robust working relationships based on
clearly defined service levels and standards, working practices and change management
procedures.

Work with other staff within NETSCC Programmes to understand their database and
information needs and support the team in factoring these into the information
management strategy, business planning and budgeting.

Work with external staff, for example at DH or NIHR, provide information as required (for
example to the NIHR MIS) and to be aware of DH guidance or policies such as on data
protection compliance
Special Requirements:



To be prepared to be flexible and to undertake other duties as required.
The ability to adapt to new requirements.
Need for occasional, short overnight stays away from Southampton
February 2014
Person Specification
Criteria
Qualifications/Knowledge:
Essential
Degree or equivalent qualification
and/or experience in a
technical/numerate subject
Desirable
Excellent knowledge of Microsoft
SQL, including stored procedures
and triggers
Prince 2 and/or ITIL
qualification
Knowledge of ASP.Net,
PHP, or C#.Net
Knowledge of SSIS, SSAS, SSRS
and/or Microsoft Business
Intelligence
Knowledge of at least one
common programming language
(e.g. C, Java, Visual Basic)
Knowledge of good practice in
data and service quality
Work Related Experience:
Experience of working with or
developing against a DBMS
Experience of web
application development
Experience of database
management tasks (e.g. backup,
recovery, cloning, installation,
replication)
Experience of working in
at IT support role
Experience of database
troubleshooting and/or query
optimisation
Experience of Data Warehousing
and ETL (Extract, Transform and
Load).
Experience of providing
business reporting
services to client
specifications
Experience of SharePoint
site development, and/or
of using SharePoint as an
information delivery
platform
Skills/Abilities & Special Attributes:
Planning & Organising
Demonstrable ability to plan and
manage your own work
Ability to prioritise tasks and
client requirements in line with
the wider department and
university as a whole
Ability to identify a
business need or
opportunity for reports
and information
Accurate, thorough, analytical
approach and attention to detail
Analysis & Problem Solving
Ability to support and identify
business process improvements
through database developments
Confidence to challenge
existing working practices
and to offer alternatives
and ideas
Be able to demonstrate a
methodical approach to fault
diagnosis and problem resolution
Communication Skills
Excellent communication skills
Ability to convey technical
principles to a non-technical
audience
Ability to produce clear technical
documentation for systems
Special Requirements:
This role may occasionally
require work outside of normal
office hours
Some travel to other sites may be
required as part of this role
February 2014
Ability to identify user
training requirements and
to assist in the
development of training
materials
Confidence in presenting
to a variety of audiences,
both internal and
external, and at all levels
of the organisation
Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification
This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if
ticked, no further information needs to be supplied)
YES