Senior Database Administrator - Perm Public Sector

Job Description

Senior Database Administrator - Perm Public Sector

VANRATH are delighted to be working in partnership with the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute to appoint a Senior Database Administrator to work within their Information Systems Branch (ISB).

Information Systems Branch (ISB)
AFBI Information Systems Branch (ISB) provides IT services to public and private sector customers in computer support and application development which enables the branch to underpin AFBI's scientific remit and develop working relationships with external bodies.

ISB consists of an energetic team of individuals working together to support the IT needs of the organisation and the wider agri-food industry. ISB comprises two main work areas: IT Infrastructure & Technical Support, and Application & Database Development, where staff work in a stimulating and rewarding environment whilst being encouraged to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The team regularly engage with the full range of AFBI scientists in addition to external clients and are therefore involved in a wide variety of interesting and cutting-edge projects.

This is a permanent full-time role. The successful candidate will normally be required to work 5 days each week, totalling 37 hours. AFBI operates a flexi working system.

The successful candidate will be based at Newforge, Belfast. However, hybrid working can also be considered.

Applications will no longer be accepted after the closing date of Monday 12th June 2023 at 16:00pm.

Job role:
The duties of the post are likely to include the following:

  1. Develop and maintain AFBI's database infrastructure consistent with client demand and corporate importance, and in support of strategic business continuity, disaster recovery and crisis management plans.
  2. Monitor and optimise database performance, troubleshoot, and resolve issues as they arise.
  3. Implement and manage changes to the database infrastructure, including schema changes, upgrades, and migrations.
  4. Provide technical support to end-users for database-related issues.
  5. Ensure the security and compliance of the databases, including implementing security protocols and performing regular backups.
  6. Provide advice to management relating to the modernisation of AFBI's database structures and project managing implementation of same.
  7. Develop and maintain database policies, procedures and user guidance.
  8. Manage technical staff as required.

This list is not exhaustive, and the successful candidate will be required to carry out other duties as allocated by management.



The Ideal Person

  1. At least a level 3 qualification in Computing, Software Engineering or other discipline relevant to Information Systems and Information Technology. (Only those courses where a computing content of 50% or more can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the panel will be considered relevant. The onus is on you to provide sufficient details to demonstrate this)
  2. At least 4 years' experience of administering SQL Server (2012 or later) instances including: -
  1. creating and maintaining databases and their objects
  2. troubleshooting instance and database problems and database performance issues; and
  3. implementing and testing database platform disaster recovery processes to ensure business resumption in event of a loss of service.


Relevant or equivalent qualifications: give the type of qualification and date awarded (the date awarded is the date on which you were notified of your result by the official awarding body). If you believe your qualification is equivalent to the one required, the onus is on you to provide the panel with details of modules studied etc so that a well-informed decision can be made.

Salary & Benefits

  • £32,328 per annum
  • Unbeatable pension
  • 25 days annual leave plus public and privileged holidays
  • Annual ICT allowance
  • Flexitime
  • A range of other public sector benefits!



For further information on this vacancy, or any other Scientific / Data roles in Belfast or wider Northern Ireland, please apply via the link below or contact Shannon McGrath in the strictest confidence.

Check out some of your candidate feedback-

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