Linux Systems and Database Engineer

Job Summary

The ICT department at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an inspirational, proactive, experienced Linux and Database Engineer to support and develop Linux platforms across the Trust.

This is a key position within the ICT team liaising with multiple clinical and operational staff both within and external to the Trust to support across both sites. An enthusiastic, flexible, and conscientious approach is required as is good communication skills and front-line people skills.

The Trust has invested heavily into improving the overall ICT infrastructure so it can be used for future innovation and development. ICT is seen as a core enabler for change within the organisation and needs to be suitable for the 21st century.

This post has operational responsibility across the whole organisation for Linux platforms. The department's Linux and Database Engineer is tasked with the support and maintenance of all integration hosted by the ICT department. The trust has multiple Linux installations so the post holder should possess excellent knowledge of this technology and act as the department's Subject Matter Expert (SME) on Linux.

Main Duties of the Job

This post has operational responsibility across the whole organisation for all databases and Linux servers. The department's Linux and Database Engineer is tasked with the support and maintenance of all 900 or so databases hosted/managing by the ICT department. The department utilises mainly Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL) technology, as such the post holder should possess excellent knowledge of this technology and act as the department's Subject Matter Expert (SME) on database and Linux technology. Most of the Trust's electronic data is stored in databases. The post holder will help set the Trust's database and Linux technology strategy and vision with the HOD and will make decisions on the operations of all Trust SQL Database Management Systems (DBMS). The post holder will, when required, lead junior or contract staff. This post has responsibilities for continually improving database and Linux performance and maintaining their data quality and integrity, namely accuracy, completeness, consistency, and validity. As the department regularly updates the Trust systems, the post holder is expected to regularly plan and manage several database projects, often simultaneously, throughout the year and which may exceed 50 in a year. The post holder will also design and implement new database systems.

About Us

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children, and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neonatal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.

Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity, and neonatal care.

Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners, FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old.

Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity, and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Date Posted: 12 November 2024

Pay Scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £53,755 to £60,504 a year Per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time

Reference Number: 284-24-6724417-COCM

Job Locations: 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP

Job Responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).

Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Evidence of Masters Level or equivalent postgraduate degree in Computer Science or related field
• Qualified in a recognised Project Management and IT Service Management methodology with established links with professional bodies (ITIL, Prince2, ITSM, BCS accreditation preferred)
• Linux Certified System Administrator

Knowledge & Nature of Experience

• Experience in the delivery of customer service.
• Experience in working in team environments.
• Substantial experience in managing a significantly sized database environment.
• Expert Linux skills, particularly with RHEL 7, using the CLI
• Excellent scripting knowledge with a particular focus on the creation of reusable scripts for automating routine tasks
• Significant experience with reconfiguring unsupported or legacy systems to connect to new database locations.
• Experience of managing concurrent projects and conflicting priorities.
• Experience of working with hypervisors and associated management tools
• Extensive experience of scripting languages and protocols in particular PowerShell, JavaScript, JScript, VBScript, PHP, XML, and HTML.
• Substantial experience of communicating complex issues and data concepts to a range of people.
• Experience in the use of Power BI
• Considerable experience in the use of Excel and InfoPath for SharePoint and interfacing them with databases
• Understanding of SQL Server database cloud computing hosting such as AWS.
• Basic knowledge of IT networking.
• Aware of ETL technology used in SQL Server data warehouse.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

• Modest experience in supporting a system interface solution (e.g. Rhapsody, Ensemble etc...).
• Considerable experience dealing with enquiries and investigating solutions in a modern IT environment
• Significant experience in maintaining technical documentation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills. Can diagnose complex system or database issues and provide solutions.
• Pragmatic in making decisions for the business.
• Understand what is essential to the business.

Personal Skills/Abilities and Attributes

• Professional communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and concentrate for long periods of time.
• Ability to communicate complex technical issues effectively to non-technical staff.
• Ability to maintain a professional approach under all circumstances particularly with people who are stressed or angry
• Ability and desire to learn.
• Ability to learn, work to and create standard protocols and procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritise and effectively manage own workload and workload of others.
• Self-motivation and ability to work effectively on own or within a team.
• Attention to detail and ability to resolve problems effectively.
• Ability to use initiative
• Confident, decisive, tenacious, highly motivated and able to use own initiative in unfamiliar situations.
• Share knowledge with others in the department.
• Flexible and adaptable to change.

Other Requirements

• Understanding of rules around information governance, protecting patient data security and confidentiality
• Excellent knowledge of data security, GDPR and confidentiality issues
• Respect Confidentiality of Patient Information.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here.

Employer Details

Employer Name: Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address: 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP

Employer's Website: https://bwc.nhs.uk/