Download dba - Birkbeck, University of London

JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE
Database Administrator
(Permanent Position)
DEPARTMENT
IT Services (ITS)
REPORTS TO
MIS Manager
POST REFERENCE
CACC088
GRADE
Grade 8
DATE January 2009
Birkbeck College
Birkbeck is a world-class institution, a vibrant centre of academic engagement and
excellence and the UK’s leading provider of part-time, evening education for mature
students. There are nearly 19,000 students studying short courses, certificates,
diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research degrees.
Birkbeck provides Londoners with the unique opportunity to fit study around their
busy lives. Founded in 1823 as the London Mechanics’ Institute, Birkbeck was
incorporated in the University of London in 1920.
IT Services (ITS)
ITS provide general IT and telecommunication facilities in support of the College’s
teaching, research and administrative activities. ITS facilities and services include:
 An extensive campus network to all departments providing high speed
networking connections to SuperJANET (Joint Academic NETwork) and the
Internet;
 Maintenance and development of the College telecommunications
infrastructure;
 Electronic Mail (Exchange/Outlook and Webmail) and World Wide Web
services;
 Networked data storage and backup facilities; Scanning and network laser
printing;
 Centrally provided teaching facilities: 200 high-spec PCs located in eight
‘workstation' rooms providing a range of application software under MS
Windows 2003 (including word-processing, spreadsheet, database
management, statistical analysis, graphics, and programming languages).
 Promotion and support of learning technology (including central support for
the WebCT / Blackboard learning management systems);
 A help-desk with extended opening hours for general computing queries;
 Specialist advice and consultancy to departments and individual users;
 Training workshops on core software packages;
 Computer-based training packages, technical documentation and newsletters;
 Software purchases at discounted rates (inc site licences for Microsoft and
Oracle);
 Maintenance and development of College MIS Applications;
 Managed IT support service for the Faculty of Continuing Education and the
Faculty of Arts;
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
Technical support of staff desktops, administrative servers and office software
in use within the Central Administration Departments.
The organisational structure of ITS consists of five support teams covering the
following areas: Systems & Networking, Management Information Systems, Web
Services, Reception & Helpdesk and Learning Technology. There is close liaison
between staff from the various teams.
For further information about ITS services and facilities, please refer to:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/its
Management Information Services (MIS)
The MIS Team has an establishment of eight full-time posts. These consist of an
MIS manager, two database administrators and five business system analysts
responsible for the support of a number of management information applications
which include the following:
SITS Vision and eVision - student information system
Alta HR (from the University of Birmingham) - Payroll / HR system
Symmetry Financials / bluQube
Research Manager - administration of research grants
Raiser’s Edge - alumni and fundraising
pFACT - research grant applications
Kinetic - space management and timetabling
Concept - facilities management
WinPak Pro - access control
IDPro - ID card production
Compel Training Manager - administration of staff training records
Collage - content management
With the exception of Research Manager (based on Sybase), Raiser’s Edge (MS
SQL Server), Compel Training Manager (Equinox), Kinetic (MS SQL Server) and
WinPak Pro (MS SQL Server), the main MIS applications are based on Oracle
databases running on Unix (HP-UX / Solaris) and Windows 2003 platforms. The
SITS Application is developed in Uniface.
Members of the MIS team work in close association with appropriate staff from the
College's Central Administrative departments (e.g. Registry, Human Resources,
Finance, External Relations and Estates & Facilities) to maintain and develop the use
of the required MIS applications. Application groups (consisting of relevant members
from the appropriate Administrative Departments and ITS) meet on a regular basis to
review progress against agreed development plans and to resolve any outstanding
issues.
Purpose of Job
We are now seeking a replacement DBA. This is one of two staff who has
responsibility for database administration and software upgrades of a number of MIS
Databases in use primarily by Central Administration users but increasingly by
administrative and academic staff in Schools, and students and staff via the web.
Individual post holders are responsible for database administration tasks including
database creation, installation, upgrades, security, backup, cloning and recovery of
two or more of the MIS databases in order to ensure high availability of MIS systems
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to authorized users. In addition post holders are responsible for administration and
configuration of one or more servers enabling web deployment of MIS applications
and reports to users.
Main Duties of the Jobholder
Take primary responsibility for database administration tasks including database
creation, installation, application software upgrades, security, backup and recovery of
two or more of the production databases supporting core applications; in particular
SITS student records. Administration/configuration of servers enabling web
deployment of MIS applications and reports to users.
Database administration tasks including:
•
helping to install and configure new hardware
•
installing and upgrading Oracle database and Oracle application server
software
•
creation of test, training, production and development databases
•
setting up and managing user accounts and ensuring correct privileges and
security
•
monitoring performance and tuning the database for efficiency
•
undertaking customizations and upgrades
•
backup, cloning and recovery
•
implementing security
•
configuring interfaces to other MIS applications and setting up database links
•
compiling and maintaining full technical documentation
•
upgrading existing database applications and core oracle server software on
database servers, middle tier application servers and client machines
•
database organization
•
monitoring and controlling space usage
•
installation and testing of application software hotfixes and upgrades
•
managing batch jobs
System administration of Unix/Windows servers hosting Oracle/MIS software.
Troubleshoot technical problems in order to diagnose cause and implement or
organise resolution.
Assist in the evaluation and procurement of software and major hardware items.
The two database administrators are required to provide cover for each other.
Liaise with Oracle and application software suppliers on installations, configurations,
developments, upgrades and any other technical issues.
Prepare detailed plans for any major upgrades which will require system down time.
Provide technical DBA support to Oracle developers/MIS support staff and users at
all levels to enable effective and appropriate use of the databases.
Keep abreast of Oracle and general IT developments.
Maintain confidentiality and ensure security against loss of data.
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Undertake any other duties as directed by the MIS Manager or Director of IT
Services.
Working Relationships and Contacts
Support for Central Administrative and School users in their use of MIS systems.
Attendance at BSIS (Birkbeck Student Information System) meetings
Daily contact with MIS Support staff in provision of technical database advice.
Frequent contact with Oracle and supplier technical help desks to ensure that
problems which cannot be fixed in-house are escalated and resolved.
Close working with ITS colleagues particularly the Systems and Web Teams.
Staffing the MIS Help Desk on a rota basis.
Dimensions
Take primary responsibility for creation, administration and ongoing proactive
maintenance of several MIS systems (database and application software) essential
to the main business functions of the College.
SITS/SITS e:Vision (Oracle)
Kinetic Room Bookings in use by Estates staff (MS SQL Server)
pFACT for Full Economic Costing in use initially by Research Grants and Academic
Staff (Oracle);
MIS web reports (Oracle Application Server);
IDPro and WinPak for ID Card Production and Access Control (Oracle and MS SQL
Server)
Databases supporting other in-house developments
Non-availability or malfunctioning of any of the major production databases would
seriously impact on the work of the users concerned and the business of the College.
General Responsibilities
These are standard to all Birkbeck Job Descriptions





To adhere to the College’s Equal Opportunities policy in all activities, and to
actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible.
To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues,
in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and relevant EC
directives.
To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act and to ensure that all new
systems are reported to your Data Protection Controller.
To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected.
To provide a healthy and comfortable working environment, smoking is
prohibited throughout the College, except in specially designated areas.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Database Administrator
Post No: CACC088
(DBA)
Faculty and Dept/School: ITS
ATTRIBUTES
Knowledge
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
Good understanding of
networking and IT infrastructure
Good understanding of web
technologies
General understanding of
administrative systems and
related business processes
Broad knowledge of systems
security
Technical/Workbased Skills
Highly skilled in Oracle Database
Administration on Oracle10g
Familiarity with SQL
Server in a DBA role.
Expertise in Oracle backup and
recovery techniques; Oracle tools
and utilities (SQL*Plus, PL/SQL,
export/import)
Use of Oracle Recovery
Manager for backup
and recovery.
Knowledge of Apache
In depth knowledge of
Unix/Windows operating systems
Familiarity with Database
Administration Tools (Enterprise
Manager)
Familiarity with Oracle
Development Tools
Working knowledge of end-user
reporting tools
Expertise in administration of
Oracle Application Server
General
Skills/Attributes
Good interpersonal skills
HTML
Communicate effectively verbally
and in writing, with all levels of
computer users
XML
Responsive attitude to providing
user support
Analysis and problem solving
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skills
Methodical approach with
attention to detail
Work as part of a team with
minimum of supervision
Flexible and willing to undertake a
variety of tasks
Able to work effectively under
pressure and to deadlines
Responsible, reliable and
committed
Experience
Three years’ experience of
working as an Oracle database
administrator on Unix and
Windows platforms.
Experience of installing and
configuring Oracle 9i/10g
Qualifications
Relevant computing qualifications
or equivalent in training
DBA - CACC088
Degree or equivalent
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Further Particulars
POST TITLE
Database Administrator
POST REFERENCE
CACC088
SALARY:
Salary range £36,532 to £43,622 plus £2,907 London
Allowance on Grade 8 Scale, depending on qualifications and
experience.
PROBATION:
The appointment is subject to a 6 month probationary period.
DURATION OF POST:
The post is full-time and permanent
HOURS:
35 hours per week. With the need to maintain MIS systems
during Birkbeck's core teaching hours (6-9 pm) and to minimise
downtime, there will be occasions when the post-holder is
required to work outside 'normal office hours'. The post holder
is required to show flexibility in meeting changing support
requirements. Any 'out-of-normal-office-hours' working will be
compensated via time off in lieu or overtime as appropriate.
LEAVE ENTITLEMENT:
25 days per year, plus an additional 6 days when the College
is closed over Christmas and Easter. This is in addition to
public holidays. Annual leave is taken with the agreement of
the line manager.
SUPERANNUATION:
The normal retirement age for all staff is 65. The post is
superannuable under USS (Universities Superannuation
Scheme). This is a final salary scheme, and is often
substantially more beneficial to the employee than a "moneypurchase" scheme.
START DATE:
March 2009 or as soon as possible
CLOSING DATE:
30 January 2009
INTERVIEW DATE/S:
18 February 2009
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