SQL Database Administrator

On behalf of HSE we are looking for a SQL Database Administrator (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract. Remote working with occasional office travel. At the Health and Safety Executive, we believe everyone has the right to come home safe and well from their job. Our mission is to prevent work-related death, injury, and ill health. Our roots stretch back to 1833. The modern HSE is an independent regulator with a wide reach across many employment sectors. Using world leading science, we have helped protect millions of people from devasting injury and suffering through our diverse regulatory activities.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are seeking a seasoned Microsoft SQL Database Administrator (DBA) to manage, modernise, and optimise our SQL Server infrastructure. This role is critical in supporting both legacy and modern applications by upgrading outdated database systems and aligning them with current technology standards. This role will manage maintain and optimise SQL databases to ensure they remain available, secure, preventing unauthorized access, data exchange and data loss. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in legacy SQL environments and a strong track record of successful database migrations and upgrades.

As a SQL Database Administrator your main responsibilities will be to:

• Administer and maintain Microsoft SQL Server databases, including legacy versions (SQL Server 2000+).
• Lead efforts to upgrade and migrate legacy databases to supported versions (e.g., SQL Server 2019/2022 or Azure SQL) to ensure compatibility with modern applications and platforms.
• Collaborate with product and development teams to understand application requirements and ensure upgraded databases meet performance and functionality needs.
• Analyse legacy database schemas, stored procedures, and dependencies to plan effective upgrade paths.
• Design and implement upgrade strategies that minimise downtime and data loss.
• Maintain detailed documentation of upgrade processes, configurations, and validation steps.
• Maintain accurate record of database configuration items in CMDB.
• Ensure database security, compliance, and access control throughout the upgrade lifecycle.
• Automate upgrade and migration tasks using PowerShell, T-SQL, or third-party tools.
• Monitor and tune database performance post-upgrade to ensure optimal operation.
• Refactor and optimize legacy SQL code to align with best practices and modern standards.

Essential:

• An active SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. (Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.)
• A solid background in database administration, with a proven record in both supporting and building SQL databases within a professional environment with a focus on decommissioning-related requirements.
• In depth knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL services including installation, maintenance, upgrade, backup recovery and patching.
• In depth knowledge of legacy SQL Server versions and upgrade/migration strategies.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft SQL tools.
• Solid understanding of database security and compliance standards.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.

Desirable:

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, MCSA SQL Server or equivalent.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, HSE guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".