Job description

Job responsibilities

The role is one of senior technical lead in a development function supporting the development of information systems and information resources across a broad and complex technical environment. It will involve the detailed analysis and understanding of complex technical and business requirements across multiple services within the Trust to deliver high-quality products and facilitate their delivery into business-as-usual operations.

The role will require the post holder to provide their expert advice and guidance in the definition of projects and the design of products to meet customers’ needs.

The post holder will be able to utilise their highly developed specialist knowledge, derived from knowledge of theory, training, and/or extensive experience, to suggest solutions to problems or business requirements and work these through from design to implementation.

The post holder will be expected, within the context of the broader programme of work, to manage development projects to completion, overseeing the work required to achieve project goals and being involved in the design and implementation of processes to support the transition of those products into operation, e.g., support processes, documentation, user training, etc.

Similarly, the post holder will need to be able to analyse and design solutions for problems or issues with products and systems in operation, providing second/third line support and expertise for systems in operation.

The post holder may be called upon to train others or promote and explain products and systems to customers across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership: Guide less experienced developers, provide code reviews, and enforce best practices in coding and design.

2. System Architecture: Collaborate with expert Trust colleagues to design the structure of applications, ensuring scalability and maintainability.

3. Project Collaboration: Work closely with project managers, stakeholders, and other team members to ensure alignment with project goals.

4. Collaboration with Cross-Trust Developers: Collaboratively work with developers to understand application requirements and design efficient databases in stand-alone and shared environments.

5. Database Management: Design and maintain database systems, configure hardware, and optimize database performance.

6. Data Security and Integrity: Implement security protocols to protect data from unauthorized access or breaches.

7. Performance Tuning: Optimize database performance through indexing, query tuning, and efficient resource management.

8. Database Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Continuously monitor databases to identify and resolve issues before they impact users.

9. Data Migration and Upgrades: Plan and execute database migrations, version upgrades, and transitions with minimal disruption

10. Software Design and Development: Write and review code, implement new features, and ensure the software meets functional and non-functional requirements.

11. Documentation: Document code, design decisions, and development processes to ensure knowledge transfer and continuity.

12. Continuous Improvement: Research new technologies, improve development processes, and contribute to optimizing the team’s workflow.

Key Skills Required

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in SQL, database management systems (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server), and familiarity with cloud databases (e.g., AWS RDS, Azure SQL).
• Data Modeling: Ability to design normalized, relational, and sometimes non-relational databases.
• Security Protocols: Knowledge of database encryption, access controls, and other security best practices.
• Performance Optimization: Experience in performance tuning techniques such as indexing, caching, and load balancing.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills for troubleshooting issues in database systems.
• Communication: Ability to explain complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Master’s level in a related discipline or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in Information Technology, informatics, or related specialist discipline
• Plus, additional specialist training

Desirable

• Specialist training in database administration techniques, including either Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server.
• Specialist training in the Microsoft Active Directory domain environment.
• Specialist training in Microsoft SharePoint administration or development.
• Specialist training in an object-oriented programming language.
• ITIL Foundation
• Prince Foundation or Practitioner

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience of developing systems and processes to integrate data into a large scale (enterprise) data warehouse product.
• Substantial experience of designing and modelling complex datasets and information systems to meet with complex and changing customer requirements.
• Substantial experience of designing and developing Business Intelligence outputs using appropriate enterprise BI tools (Business Objects, MS SSRS, PowerView, Tableau, QlikView etc.)
• Experience of formal software development and testing tools and methodologies.
• Experience of working in a tightly controlled change management environment with source code control.
• Experience leading or advising technical and non-technical teams in good/best practice and innovation within the NHS or IT spheres.
• Experience in researching best practices, interpreting relevance, and identifying practices that could be implemented to achieve improvements.

Desirable

• Experience working with NHS mental health, community and/or acute datasets.
• Experience in authoring high-quality technical and user documentation to support the adoption and further development of Information systems.
• Experience in developing or designing solutions to deliver information content through Microsoft SharePoint.
• Experience in database administration and performance tuning at an enterprise level.
• Experience with the Epic Cogito suite of tools, including Caboodle, Clarity, Radar, Reporting Workbench, Data Gateway, and Slicer Dicer

Skills

Essential

• Ability to plan ahead and anticipate potential problem areas, devising and implementing appropriate solutions
• A comprehensive working knowledge of the Microsoft SQL Server product, including its services and their use.
• Comprehensive knowledge of different database schema designs and their preferred use. Including standard data modelling principles.
• Use of PowerShell (or similar scripting) to manipulate Windows or Oracle Server Services.
• Programming using T-SQL syntax to manipulate SQL Server databases and instance variables (DDL & DML).
• Use of Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services and Integration Services for data transformation and manipulation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork/building skills.
• Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information.
• Ability to negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues, including performance and change.

Desirable

• Understanding of IM&T within the NHS, including understanding the information flows between NHS organisations
• Knowledge of all aspects of the information technology industry, including hardware, software, security, and telecoms.
• Knowledge of Microsoft High Availability technologies to support Database/Data warehouse operations.
• Knowledge of XML and/or XML-based messaging.

Additional Information

Essential

• Highly methodical and organised with the ability to work on own initiative whilst planning team workload and priorities.
• High level of numeracy with good attention to detail.
• Flexibility to adapt working patterns to meet fluctuations in demand.
• Can maintain high levels of concentration whilst being interrupted.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 07 December 2025

How to Apply;

Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online for this job