Download position - Ministry of Social Development

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position:
Technical Specialist Database
Location:
National Office, Wellington
Business Unit:
Technology Services, Infrastructure and Services
Group:
Information Technology
Reporting to:
Manager, Database Management
Issue Date:
September 2007
Delegated Authority:
Nil
Staff Responsibility:
Nil
Our Role
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is the lead agency for the social sector. We
help the Government to set priorities across the sector, co-ordinate the actions of other
social sector agencies and track changes in the social wellbeing of New Zealanders.
The Ministry provides policy advice, and delivers social services and assistance to
children and young people, working age people, older people, and families, whānau and
communities. We work directly with New Zealanders of all ages to improve their social
wellbeing.
We serve over a million people, working out of more than 250 centres around the
country. It is likely that every New Zealander will come into contact with the Ministry at
some point in their life.
Our work, together with our social sector partners, is essential to achieving a sustainable
and prosperous future, where all New Zealanders are able to take responsibility for
themselves, be successful in their lives and participate in their communities.
Our Principles
MSD People: Put people first | Team up together to make a bigger difference | Act with
courage and respect | Empower others to act | Create new solutions | Are ‘can do’, and
deliver | Honour achievement
Above all, we do the right things for New Zealanders.
Position Description Approved By:
__________________________________
Chief Information Officer
Date: ……/……/……
Information Technology (IT):
MSD uses a variety of channels to provide services to the public, including physical
sites, contact centres, and limited services using the Internet. It is envisioned that
Internet-based services will expand rapidly in the near future.
MSD staff use a large number of IT applications. Many are business critical systems.
The following are the most significant:
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SWIFTT (Social Welfare for Tomorrow, Today) – the benefits processing and
payments system. The SWIFT system is now around 10 years old and MSD is
currently considering options around evolving or replacing it.
TRACE (Tracking, Recovery and Collection Enforcement) – debt recovery and
management
SOLO- employment system
UCVII (Unified Customer View) – allows frontline staff to see a unified view of
SWIFTT and SOLO together
SAL (Student Allowances and Loan System)
CHRIS and KEA –the HRMIS and FMIS systems respectively
iNet and Global –the intranet applications for MSD, providing information, and
current contact details
The IT Unit’s contribution is through;
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Leadership in the development and delivery of business application solutions
The provision of robust and reliable systems to support the business and external
clients
Total focus on serving internal customers
Infrastructure and Services
The IT Infrastructure and Services team aim to deliver excellent technical design,
support and service of the Ministry’s technology infrastructure, to enable the Ministry of
Social Development to meet its goals.
The Ministry provides a dynamic and evolving environment with complexity and size that
will challenge and reward you. We support business critical systems, provide leadership
in the development and delivery of business application solutions and have a total focus
on excellence in customer service.
The Infrastructure and Services team develops and maintains infrastructure for The
Ministry of Social Development (MSD). The MSD network is based on Cisco Systems
routers and etherswitches, SUN Microsystems UNIX servers, and Cisco IP Telephony
System.
Technology Services
Technology Services is responsible for the ongoing operation and maintenance of MSD
systems. Technology Services primary responsibility is day to day management of IT
Systems. Ensuring systems have 99.99% availability during core business hours through
the implementation of robust systems, effective processes and continuous improvement.
Areas of responsibility are:
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Unix, Windows and Database administration
Server and Database availability
Design build and maintenance of Servers, Databases and Middleware products
Storage Management
Management of Data centre hosting services
Batch job scheduling and administration
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Provision of disaster recovery
Design and maintenance of desktop images and administration of desktop
products, Virus protection and application installation
Technical management of MSD external web environment
Provision of disaster recovery
Technical consultancy to business groups
Design, build and support infrastructure systems and applications.
Database Management Services
The Database Management group is responsible for the operational support of the
Ministry’s Oracle and SQL Server database environment. The environment consists of
more than 100 distinct production databases and 300 non production databases. Areas
of responsibility are:
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Database Administration
Oracle Application Server Administration
Design build and maintenance of Database and Oracle Application Server related
environments
Database and Oracle Application Server availability
Capacity Management
Operation Support – including batch job support
Provision of disaster recovery
Database Security
Provision of database backup services
Technical consultancy to business groups
Purpose of the Position:
The role of the Technical Specialist – Database is to provide the Database Management
group with advice and solutions that will contribute to achieving the groups operational
and support strategies and goals.
The Technical Specialist Database will focus on the design and implementation of
database management best practices, existing and new database features, supporting
third party technologies and identifying and scoping the suitability of emerging
technologies.
The Technical Specialist Database will work with vendors, other IT managers and
business units (business engagement channel) to ensure the competent and efficient
operation of the Ministry’s information systems to meet ministerial needs and strategic
objectives.
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Core functions are
 IT Infrastructure Design
Lead and facilitate on going development of IT Infrastructure as it relates to the
Database and Oracle Application Server environment.
 2IC Responsibility
Formally act as Manager, Database Management as and when required.
 Technical Development and mentoring of Staff
Provide guidance for, and input into the structure of training plans for team members
as part of their on-going development.
 Lead Technical Management
Have key accountability in the delivery of operational projects, either in conjunction
with an assigned project manager or managing operational projects.
 Infrastructure Analysis/Design & Implementation
Contribute to the design and implementation of hardware and software solutions on
associated platforms.
 Service Support
Provide direct support for major service issues by taking a leading role in situations
where there are immediate/major service issues, and managing these to a timely
resolution.
 Understanding of emerging technologies
Maintain an awareness of changes in IT, related technologies, methodologies and
advise, recommend and lead the adoption of appropriate technologies within
Database and Oracle Application server related Infrastructure.
Working Relationships
Internal:
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IT Infrastructure & Services management team
IT Technology Services management team and staff
IT Applications group
IT Architecture group
IT Customer Services and other members of the Information Technology group
MSD Business representatives and Users
External:
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Systems management services
External Advisers, Service Providers and Product providers in the information
technology marketplace
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Key Accountabilities:
Key Result Area
Accountabilities
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Infrastructure
Design, Strategic
Planning and
Direction
Maintain a broad understanding of MSD’s business and IT
requirements
 Provide a leading role in the development of MSD's architecture and
road-maps, supporting the MSD IT Strategic and Business Plan
objectives
 Demonstrate use of best-practice approaches to assist in ensuring
that infrastructure design recommendations:
- Meet the intended business need
- Provide stability and a sound, flexible base for long term
application software life-cycles
- Are adaptable to accommodate change quickly, including further
potential integration with other environments
- Are efficiently maintainable and reliable, without compromising
high performance to an unacceptable degree
- Are aligned to relevant future industry trends
 Contribute to the effective definition and evolution of application
architecture and integration strategies to influence future beneficial
design opportunities
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Infrastructure
Design Capability
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Provide hardware and software infrastructure design solutions for
effective development, support and integration of MSD applications
Liaise with vendors to review proposed vendor design solutions and
capability, assisting with analysis of technical issues
Contribute to the establishment of effective systems compliance
requirements and ensure that these are met
Work with business analysts, operations and other stakeholders to
identify and ensures appropriate infrastructure and application
design options are considered, that solutions selected are robust
and meet MSD business needs and promote appreciation,
awareness and understanding of relevant technical design related
concerns
Produce and maintain logical/conceptual designs from requirements
specifications as required, verifying correct understanding of the
business need as necessary
Contribute to the identification of appropriate key software
mechanisms, ensuring agreed approaches are followed, including:
- Software models and frameworks, standards and guidelines
- Infrastructure re-use strategies as appropriate
- Software and hardware infrastructure design, operational and
infrastructural standards, processes and guidelines
Collaborate with Application and Enterprise architects to provide
input and feedback regarding Database and Oracle Application
Server Infrastructure
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Planning
Participation
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Change
Management
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Team and
Individual
Performance
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Budget and
Project Reporting
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Investigate, plan for and recommend necessary system
improvements including software, hardware and networking
equipment upgrades, as required, for improving performance,
capacity and increasing demands
Evaluate system specifications, input/output processes, and working
parameters for hardware/software compatibility of planned releases
Promulgate system standards along with the production and
maintenance of systems documentation
Provide active participation to schedule, coordinate, and perform
installations of hardware, software, and operating systems
upgrades, changes, configurations
Develop and maintain documentation for the configuration of
hardware and software
Monitor and recommend upgrades and reconfigurations to maintain
network compatibility, availability, performance, supportability and
compliance
Monitor site traffic and help scale site capacity to meet traffic
demands
Provide accurate and timely change and problem management
information
Act as Manager, Database management as and when required
Participate in the development and operation of projects which
include team members and visitors from other teams
Provide technical input to team members and other colleagues in
matters of subject expertise
Contribute constructively to the team communication activities
Participate in formal/informal peer review of own and others work
Identify and act on personal learning and development opportunities
Function as backup for other team members as needed
Accurately report on progress against work programmes and
projects as required
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Technical/Professional Knowledge and Experience
The candidate must meet all the mandatory requirements and should have at least three
of the optional competencies
Mandatory:
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Minimum of 6 years Oracle DBA experience in a complex production environment.
Experience in designing and implementing all aspects of Oracle Database and
Oracle Application Server infrastructure in an enterprise mission critical environment.
Direct experience with capacity management, performance monitoring and tuning,
security, system backup, maintenance and disaster recovery of database related
technologies.
Good understanding of Oracle software licensing.
Familiarity with UNIX, Linux and Windows Operating Systems.
Ability to work independently to design, troubleshoot, perform root cause analysis,
identify and isolate technical issues and to work in a collaborative manner with other
team members as necessary to quickly and effectively resolve technical issues and
provide timely status and progress reporting to customers.
Understanding of both information systems and audit functions in an organisation.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
Evidence of strong documentation and communication skills both written and oral.
Optional:
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SQL Server Database Administration experience.
Tertiary degree and/or Oracle Professional Certification.
Data modelling skills.
Previous experience in a large environment with clustering, failover/recovery, and
load balancing strategies is highly desirable.
Experience in security architecture and forensics.
Attributes/Success Factors
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Strong relationship management skills – able to interact at all levels of an
organisation and with external clients in a professional, diplomatic and tactful
manner.
Effective people management skills - able to motivate and direct staff.
Excellent process management skills – establishes high standards with measures
and processes – reinforces excellence as a fundamental priority.
Strong leadership skills - able to lead others through influence versus direct
management.
Strong client focus - displays passion for and responsibility to the customers, adapts
thinking/leadership style to meet the needs of clients.
Conveys a sense of urgency and drives issues to closure; follows through on and
meets commitments.
Strong work ethic – demonstrates strong accountability, personal and corporate
integrity and a flexible, adaptable and pragmatic work style.
Displays initiative, a passion for excellence, a drive to improve and relentless
commitment to exceed expectations.
Ability to work effectively in a fast, consistently paced, ever-changing environment
Values input from colleagues and potential partners.
Contributes to an inclusive working environment where differences are
acknowledged and respected.
Other Requirements
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Willing to travel to fulfil job requirements.
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