In addition to a competitive salary the benefits shown below are
typically offered for a job at this level. The exact benefits an
individual is entitled to will vary depending on their competency level
and/or contract type, therefore some or all of the benefits may not
apply.
Bonus Scheme
Childcare Vouchers
Life Assurance
Pension Scheme
ShareSave Scheme
Staff Discount
"No
canvassing from agencies. Please be aware that if you have not heard
from us within 14 days of the closing date unfortunately your
application has been unsuccessful."
Summary of Role
The Technical Specialist (SQL) is primarily responsible for
Development, Administration and Support across MSSQL 2000, 2005 and
2008. The successful applicant will have strong experience as an MSSQL
DBA and MSSQL Developer. A good understanding of the .Net framework,
n-tier development and C# programming would also be advantageous.
Responsibilities
Key Activities:
Ensuring the availability and performance of the databases that support the eCommerce websites;
Work directly with the application development teams in the design and optimisation of application databases and queries;
Maintain the optimum configuration for the ecommerce databases to maximise performance and cost-effectiveness;
Work with development teams / business teams to deliver solutions that meet functional / business requirements;
Work closely with other IT staff and functional users, ensuring
systems or changes are delivered in a timely and effective manner;
Ensure the ongoing availability of Next systems solutions working toward improved system availability;
Provide system support in response to business needs within
published service levels - respond to and resolve break fixes and
execute preventative maintenance solutions;
Work directly with the functional / business user community on bug
fixes, requests for service and approved changes to current systems and
new applications;
Provide out of hours support, as agreed within the functional area (eg. system upgrades; or in support of programme milestones);
Ensure integrity, availability and the security of information and systems;
Contribute to the development of Next’s applications strategy.
Application Support:
Puts in place and maintains procedures and tools for the correct
recording and progressing of requests for support. Ensures that
appropriate application support tools are available and that staff are
trained to use them, and that adequate documentation for the
applications supported is available and kept up to date;
Ensures that requests for support are properly logged, assigned
and responded to in a timely manner and according to agreed standards
and procedures;
Ensures users and other interested parties are kept informed of
progress and that corrective action is taken to avoid or minimise
delays;
Monitors and manages performance of the applications support
activity. Takes full responsibility for its effectiveness. Takes action
to remedy deficiencies;
Initiates action, by systems development staff or software
suppliers, on the development of system enhancements to overcome known
problems or further fulfill user requirements;
Accepts and integrates new releases of applications software from systems development staff.
Data Analysis:
Applies data analysis and data modeling techniques, based upon a
detailed understanding of the programme information requirements, to
establish, modify or maintain data structures and their associated
components (entity descriptions, relationship descriptions, attribute
definitions).;
Provides advice and guidance to database developers and others using the data structures and associated components;
Participates in the development, maintenance and enforcement of development data standards;
Undertakes the quality assurance of project developed data
structures and associated components (entity descriptions, relationship
descriptions, attribute definitions).
Database Administration:
Sets standards for database administration, ensuring that
procedures exist and are followed for all routine database
administration activities;
Manages database configuration(s) including installing and
upgrading software servers and application tools, ensuring that all
standard procedures are observed, applying fixes, and maintaining
supplier and user documentation;
Monitors trends in database activity and ensures efficient access
to data, working with data analysis and database design functions where
appropriate. Initiates regular exercises to optimise database
performance;
Plans for backup and recovery of database information, ensuring
backup is carried out as per plans, planning and managing exercises to
prove recovery procedures;
Ensures that recovery plans are tested regularly; Implements recovery procedures when necessary;
Ensures that database problems are investigated, diagnosed and
resolved, referring to database users, other staff and suppliers as
necessary;
Contributes to the setting of standards for database objects (e.g.
naming conventions) and ensures conformance to these standards;
Working with senior colleagues, agrees policies for future
database development, and related functional areas such as system
security;
Works with application developers, support staff and external
software vendors to troubleshoot site-specific performance issues,
escalating to developers for software fixes or implementing database
improvements.
Programming / Software Development:
Provides guidance and assistance to colleagues in any aspect of program design, creation, testing and documentation;
Creates, amends and keeps track of programs in accordance with the design;
Plans, designs and conducts tests of programs; corrects errors and re-tests to achieve an error-free result;
Takes part in evaluations and reviews of programming methods, tools and standards;
Documents all work in accordance with agreed standards;
Takes part in reviews of own work and leads reviews of colleagues' work.
Systems Design:
Takes a leading technical role in systems development projects,
both within systems design and in interfaces with other stages of
development, Evaluates and undertakes impact analysis on major design
options
Specifies and designs large or complex systems, covering for
example: objectives, scope, constraints (such as performance, resources
etc.), hardware, network and software environments, main system
functions and information flows, data load and implementation
strategies, phasing of development, requirements not met, and
alternatives considered;
Leads the assessment and selection of suitable software packages to meet all or parts of specified requirements;
In consultation with more senior management and taking account of
enterprise and solutions architectures agrees appropriate design
standards, methods and tools and ensures they are applied effectively.