Job Description

Details

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Reference number

442089

Salary

47,730 - 57,151
GBP

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer
B3

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

SSS - Chief Digital Office

Type of role

Other

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Dundee, Glasgow

About the job

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Job summary

Are you an experienced IT professional with advanced Database Administration skills? We're looking for a Senior Application Operations Engineer - Database Administrator who brings strong leadership, collective ownership, collaborative spirit, and a motivation to drive improvement.


The Senior Application Operations Engineer - Database Administrator will play a pivotal role in maintaining and implementing key databases in the organisation, carrying out database management duties including performance monitoring, optimisation, security and reporting. The successful candidate will join a team of 5 Database Administrators, aiding in the ongoing support, maintenance, and development of business-critical databases across multiple cloud-hosted Database Management Systems, including DB2, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server.


Dealing with more complex issues, a senior application operations engineer is responsible for code deployment and coordinating change-based activities, such as taking services live. Depending on the complexity and size of a project and the likely impact it will have on the business, you might manage and maintain certain aspects of an application.


Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, delivers 17 major benefits to around 2 million people across Scotland. The organisation plays a vital role in supporting low-income and disabled individuals, carers, and families, while helping to achieve the Scottish Government's statutory child poverty targets. Our Charter reflects our core values and commitments, ensuring clients are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect, and that their feedback helps shape service improvements.


We aim to foster a positive and inclusive organisational culture, emphasising employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, professional development, and performance enhancement. Recognising that its workforce is essential to providing high-quality public services, Social Security Scotland is dedicated to creating an environment where staff are empowered to grow and contribute meaningfully.

DDaT Pay Supplement

This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession and as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system. This post currently attracts a 5,000 annual DDAT pay supplement, applicable after a 3 months competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded.

Job description

Mentor and offer support within a team of Database Administrators who support the development, maintenance and ongoing operation of various database management technologies including DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server. Design and implement advanced Database-related performance optimisations, including query optimisation, indexes, and database and infrastructure tuning. Ensure availability, accuracy and recoverability of database systems during system releases and disaster recovery events. Manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets. Deal with high impact, complex change requests - ensuring that release policies, procedures and processes are applied. Identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance, and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions. Lead the investigation and resolution of incidents. Take accountability for issues that occur and be proactive in searching for potential problems. Initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends, taking preventative actions to avoid problems. Draft and maintain procedures and documentation. Offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use.

Person specification

Essential Experience:

1. Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts related to database infrastructure, cloud computing, and IT solutions to senior, non-technical stakeholders. This includes explaining strategic risks, operational benefits, and the sustainability implications of technical decisions in clear, accessible language.



2. Extensive practical experience with the full Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC), including designing, documenting, and coding database schemas, stored procedures, and scripts. Demonstrable skills in monitoring database performance, supporting database environments, identifying technical improvements, and implementing solutions that add value to business operations.

Behaviours:

Making Effective Decisions (Level 3) Leadership (Level 3)


You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.

Technical Skills:

This role is aligned to Senior application operations engineer within the Digital, Data and Technology Profession.




These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will be not be assessed at application stage. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Application operations engineer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

Benefits

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Annual Leave - You will receive 25 days annual leave on joining us. This will increase to 30 days after four full years of service. You will also have 11.5 public and privilege days of leave every year. We also offer Flexi-time. Any extra hours you've worked can be taken as leave when suitable.




A Civil Service Pension - This job comes with a Civil Service pension. New joiners to the Civil Service will join a career average pension scheme as standard. Read more here - www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk.




Healthy work life balance - We can offer the possibility of full-time, part-time, term-time, and job shares. We also encourage flexible working.




Discounts - You can enjoy a vast range of retail, travel and lifestyle discounts through our benefit scheme.




Personal support for you - Our Employee Assistance Programme gives you confidential, independent information and guidance 24/7.




Volunteering special leave - Up to six days paid special leave a year for volunteering. We support our staff to help causes important to them.




Great locations - Our bright and modern offices in the heart of Dundee and Glasgow have been designed with staff in mind. Both locations are ideal for public transport.

Things you need to know

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Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Expected Timeline (subject to change)

Sift - w/c 12th January 2026

Interview - w/c 26th January 2026

Location -

In Person

in either Dundee or Glasgow



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Resourcing Team Email : recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot Telephone : 08001577194
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Recruitment team

Email : Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Further information

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/working-with-us/help-with-your-application