SQL Server DBA (hybrid or remote)

• About Us

   

  The world isn’t standing still, and neither is Allstate. We’re moving quickly, looking across our businesses and brands and taking bold steps to better serve customers’ evolving needs. That’s why now is an exciting time to join our team. You’ll have opportunities to take risks, challenge the status quo and shape the future for the greater good.

   

  You’ll do all this in an environment of excellence and the highest ethical standards – a place where values such as integrity, inclusive diversity and accountability are paramount. We empower every employee to lead, drive change and give back where they work and live. Our people are our greatest strength, and we work as one team in service of our customers and communities.

   

  Allstate operate a very flexible hybrid working policy that will allow you to design your working week in collaboration with your manager with a blend of remote and office working for NI based employees as well as condensed working patterns (4 day week/9 day fortnight). Employees based in GB will be employed on a permanent remote working contract.

   

  Join our team and you’ll find challenge and reward in a culture of innovation, support and balance. 

   

   

  Location

   

   

  Belfast/ Derry – Londonderry/ Strabane / Remote, GB

   

   

   

  Your role in the team

   

   

  This is an application SQL Server DBA role within the Data & Intelligent Systems (D&IS) area. You will be responsible for the implementation, maintenance, health, performance, security and high availability of each SQL Server within the company, as well as the change and release management process of each SQL database. Organized and a team player.

   

   

  You will be tasked with supporting our production and development MS SQL Server databases and ensuring their performance, availability, recovery security and utilization.

   

   

   

  • Design, implement and maintain complex database systems following industry standards and best practices to ensure high available secure and scalable database systems
  • Participating proactively in daily stand-up meetings, story grooming sessions, team retrospectives, suggesting and implementing improvements.
  • Provide primary support for critical, complex production MS SQL databases
  • Knows how to work in a regulated, change management type environment
  • Troubleshoot, investigate, and drive resolution of incidents
  • Work closely with internal technical teams during incident resolution and root cause analysis
  • Coordinate interaction with vendors, creating service requests and escalating as needed to ensure timely resolution
  • Provide problem management and resolution for repeat issues
  • Make recommendations and contribute to the design and development of long-term solutions
  • Respond to inquiries from business partners related to performance, application errors, storage capacity, etc.
  • Review and execute medium to low risk changes including DDL, database configuration changes, patching, and upgrades
  • Participate in new system builds; create databases, schemas and deploy standard jobs and monitoring
  • Through review and solid handoffs, ensure system supportability prior to production utilization
  • Adhere to documented change and incident management policies
  • Develop technical documentation for use in future incident resolution.
  • Provide support outside of normal office hours only on rare occasions (emergency and infrequent pre-planned occurrences
  • Ensure performance, security, scalability and availability of enterprise MS SQL databases.
  • Identify opportunities for improved performance in SQL operations and implementations.
  • Design, implement and monitor disaster recovery plans as it pertains to the production database environment.
  • Strong TSQL knowledge; able to write and read as well as diagnose, develop and troubleshoot scripts.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
  • Training and coaching lower Band team members.

   

   

   

  So, what are the essential criteria to apply?

   

   

   

  • All candidates must evidence an existing right to work in the UK'
  • Have a minimum of 4 years’ experience in MSSQL Server in an enterprise level environment using Microsoft SQL Server 2014/2016/2017.
  • Highly experienced with using T-SQL in performance optimizing and debugging
  • Strong experience with troubleshooting and resolving database problems.
  • Proficient in Performance Tuning, Partitioning, Compression, indexing and Optimization, using native and third-party monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
  • Strong experience with backups, restores and recovery models.
  • Experienced with implementing operational automation using scripts.
  • Strong knowledge of High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) options for Microsoft SQL Server. Proficient in Always-on/Mirroring/Log Shipping/Clustering.
  • Basic PowerShell skills are required.
  • Experience working with Microsoft Windows Server, including Active Directory and proper disk configurations.

   

   

   

   

  We also have some desirable criteria

   

   

  • List any other key skills that would be beneficial for the role
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server 2019
  • Knowledge of ITIL framework processes such as Incident, Change, Problem, Service Request Management
  • Knowledge of cloud computing architecture/design/best practices
  • Certified in Cloud technology (AWS/AZURE)
  • In-depth knowledge of PowerShell
  • MS Certification
  • Experience in Implementing database encryption, patching, upgrades and migrations

   

   

  What we offer

   

  As Digital DNA’s Workplace of the Year 2020 winners, we offer a generous benefits package that includes flexible annual leave entitlement, dental and healthcare insurance, an attractive pension package and discounts on gym memberships, public transport and parking.

   

  Allstate invests heavily in your development, as an employee you will have access to multiple world-class learning platforms and courses from our award-winning in-house Learning & Development team.

   

  We pride ourselves in providing clear career paths and opportunities for internal mobility allowing you to further develop within the organisation.

   

  We encourage a better work life balance and you’ll have the opportunity to apply for various flexible working arrangements.

   

   

   

  Apply Here: https://bit.ly/3d5ging 

   

   

  Statement on Fair Employment and Equal Opportunities

   

  Allstate NI wishes to ensure equal opportunity is given to all job applicants.  This company will not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender (including gender reassignment status), sexual orientation, religious belief, political opinion, marital status, age or disability.

   

  We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. However, as women are currently under-represented in our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from women. All appointments will be made on merit.

   

  Applicants should note Allstate NI complete AccessNI background checks on all candidates offered a position.

   

   

  The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 13th December 2021