Senior Associate, Database Administrator at I&M Bank

Senior Associate, Database Administrator at I&M Bank | Iko Kazi

Job Purpose:

The Senior Associate Database Administrator (DBA) is responsible for the reliable and efficient operation of the Bank's database environments, playing a lead role in day-to-day database administration while providing guidance to junior DBA staff.
The role encompasses the installation, configuration, monitoring, maintenance, and security of enterprise database systems, ensuring availability, performance, and integrity of data that underpins critical business applications.
Operating within the Data Center & BCP Section, the Senior Associate DBA works closely with development, infrastructure, and business support teams to uphold database management best practices and drive continuous improvement.

Roles & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Install, configure, and maintain relational database systems including Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL across development, test, and production environments.
Create and manage database objects such as tables, indexes, views, and stored procedures, ensuring alignment with schema design standards.
Apply and manage bug fixes, security patches, and software upgrades in accordance with change management procedures.
Maintain comprehensive documentation of database configurations, procedures, changes, and operational standards.
Administer Data Guard for database protection, failover, and standby operations, including setup, configuration, and ongoing management.
Support RAC administration to ensure continuous high availability of critical database services.
Manage, test, and validate database backup, restore, and recovery procedures to meet defined recovery time and point objectives.
Maintain and enhance disaster recovery capabilities in alignment with BCP frameworks and Bank requirements.
Proactively monitor database performance using Enterprise Manager and other toolsets, identifying and addressing issues before they impact operations.
Collaborate with development teams to review and optimize database queries, execution plans, and schema designs.
Conduct regular database audits to verify data integrity, consistency, and compliance with performance benchmarks.
Manage database security through administration of user accounts, roles, and access privileges in line with least-privilege principles.
Implement and enforce data security controls to protect sensitive and regulated information in accordance with Bank policy.
Support compliance with data security and regulatory requirements through periodic access reviews, audits, and reporting.
Provide technical support across the full development lifecycle including development, testing, performance tuning, and production deployments.
Troubleshoot and resolve database issues efficiently, acting as an escalation point for junior DBA staff.
Lead or support data migration and replication initiatives, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
Monitor and maintain database hardware, software, and interface health, escalating complex issues as appropriate.

Academic Qualifications & Work Experience:

Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field.
Minimum 2-3 years of hands-on experience in database administration, with demonstrated expertise across at least one enterprise-grade RDBMS and exposure to
high-availability and recovery operations.
Preferred Certifications include Oracle OCA (Oracle Certified Associate) or OCP (Oracle Certified Professional), Microsoft SQL Server certification (e.g., DP-300), MySQL Database certification and/or AWS Certified Database (Specialty or equivalent cloud database certification).

Technical Skills:

Skilled in Oracle Database operations including Data Guard, RAC, and Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM) and advanced configuration and administration, Microsoft SQL Server, including administration, configuration, and performance tuning and security hardening, MySQL and/or PostgreSQL, including installation, configuration, and operational management.
Experience with Cloud database platforms including AWS RDS and/or Azure SQL Database administration and management.
Advanced proficiency in SQL and database query languages, including query optimization and execution plan analysis.
Deep understanding of relational database concepts, structures, normalization, and design principles and strong knowledge of database replication topologies and data migration methodologies.
Expertise in backup, restore, and recovery strategies including point-in-time recovery and automated backup frameworks.
Understanding of data warehousing principles and ETL processes as they relate to database operations.
Proficiency in Oracle Linux and/or Oracle Solaris operating systems for database hosting and management.
Ability to diagnose and resolve hardware, software, and interface issues affecting database service availability.
Proven experience with performance monitoring tools and tuning techniques across enterprise database environments.
In-depth knowledge of database security best practices including encryption, auditing, role-based access control, and vulnerability management.

Knowledge and Abilities:

Advanced understanding of relational database concepts, backup and recovery strategies, high availability architectures, and performance monitoring methodologies.
Solid knowledge of database replication, migration processes, and enterprise database design principles.
Familiarity with data warehousing concepts and ETL processes as they relate to database operations and integration.
In-depth knowledge of database security frameworks including access controls, encryption, and vulnerability management.
Strong analytical and diagnostic capabilities to identify root causes of complex database issues and drive effective, lasting resolutions.
Ability to proactively monitor database environments, anticipate performance degradation or failures, and take pre-emptive corrective action.
Detail-oriented with a consistent focus on data accuracy, integrity, and operational reliability.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly to developers, business stakeholders, and junior team members.
Effective collaborator across cross-functional teams including development, infrastructure, and business support, contributing constructively to shared objectives.
Proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects in a fast-paced, high-availability environment with minimal supervision.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with a disciplined approach to documentation, change management, and task execution.
Self-driven and capable of working both independently and as an effective team contributor.