FGH Business Centre 66-70 Vicar Ln, Bradford BD1 5AJ
Hybrid flexibility: 2 office days per week
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.
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
What We Offer You
FLEXIBILITY
We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working options to help you achieve a healthy work life balance. Our full‑time head office colleagues work a minimum of 2 days per week in the office, allowing the perfect balance between collaborative in‑person team work and the flexibility to work from home.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Turning your job into a career is a real passion for us and our development programmes will enable you to grow in role.
We offer clear career pathways that will show you the way, outlining the skills, behaviours and knowledge needed to perform at the next step.
We invest in our colleagues, giving them all the opportunity to progress. Our inspired leadership programme is aimed at equipping our future leaders to coach, develop, manage change and maintain situational awareness.
INCLUSIVITY
As a business, we depend on a fusion of identities, characteristics, backgrounds, and cultures to fully appreciate our people and our customers. Freemans has a long‑standing commitment to ensuring fairness and balance.
Our company is an inclusive organisation where everybody can make the most of their talent and abilities. Our pay, reward, and progression approach is based solely on fairness and merit.
BENEFITS
* Competitive salaries and annual bonus scheme
* 37 days holiday including bank holidays
* Life assurance
* Paid paternity and maternity leave
* Incredible staff discounts
* Subsidised canteen
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