Oracle Database Engineer - DWP - SEO

Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. For further information, please see 'Selection process details'.

Do you want to work in an environment focused on Agile delivery and continuous improvement by finding new ways of working?

Would you love the opportunity to be at forefront of using Oracle technologies, automated deployment and cloud-based technologies?

If so, click that apply button now and join us.

We’re looking for an Oracle Database Engineer to join the Data Platforms Team, (in either Newcastle or Blackpool) to provide first class technical support for DWPs most critical infrastructures, that directly affect the daily lives of UK citizens. 

We collectively support over 120 applications and 800+ databases both in and out of office hours. Our services span 9 database technologies and are hosted across Azure, Amazon Web Services and Crown Hosting Services.  Working in a motivated team of Database Specialists and Engineers, the team ensures DWP services are designed, delivered into production and maintained, using agile methodology, supported with robust delivery practices.

Our purpose is to provide a great service, while improving our work and developing our people.

Our business driver is to move towards cloud-based technologies from on-premise hosting.

Automation is always preferred to allow more time to innovate and find new solutions to existing problems.

Job description

You’ll be joining a mature team of Oracle Database Engineers with decades worth of knowledge to support the Oracle applications and databases across the DWP estate.

Primarily based out of Newcastle and Blackpool the team are responsible for tasks such as patching, upgrades, management, monitoring, development, design and implementation of Oracle. 

You will find it easy to work well with other team members to deliver that value in a sustainable, organised and observable way. You’ll develop your Oracle skills and knowledge and will be driven to develop and maintain a deep and well-rounded knowledge of database technologies and methods of building and managing them.

While we are looking for someone with Oracle experience, in-house training will be provided.

You’ll support the delivery of invaluable pieces of work to advance Data Platforms product offerings in line with our Vision, Mission Statement and Business Plans. 

You will naturally maintain an open, innovative, and curious mindset about the work that we do and the way we interact with the rest of the Department.

You will be required to support the on-call rota as well as completing ad hoc out of hours work (which may fall at the weekend).  Full training will be provided.

Person specification

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

• Oracle Database Technologies - Installation and configuration.
• Oracle Database Technologies - Support and tuning.
• Public Cloud Technologies (particularly OCI and AWS).
• A proactive, approach to self-development and teamwork.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact richard.hanley@dwp.gov.uk.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,201, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £11,646 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Alongside your salary, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes 28.97% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Salary Information

Salary Information  

Pay for this role is from £40,201 to £48,347.  

The maximum salary for the grade is £43,347, however a Digital Allowance of up to £5,000 per annum is available for exceptional candidates. Digital Allowance is non-salary, and non-pensionable, and is classed as a temporary allowance. It is reviewed annually where it could be retained, amended, or removed.  

Our offer to successful candidates will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview.  

Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer should maintain their current salary.  

Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Stage 1: Application

Your application will consist of three parts:

1. A Personal Details application form.

2. Your employment history detailing your responsibilities, skills, accomplishments, plus your qualifications and relevant training. Please copy this information into the box field provided.

3. Personal statement up to 750 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria listed in the Person Specification.

The sift panel will use the information in your employment history and personal statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the essential criteria above.

You will be provided with one combined overall assessment score for both your CV and Personal Statement.  

For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.

Applications will be sifted at regular intervals from the date the posts are advertised. Please apply as soon as you can, do not wait until the end of the campaign. 

You will receive one combined score for both your Employment History/CV and Personal Statement, which will be provided in your Personal Statement score.

Important Information

• You will be asked to complete your employment history any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.
• Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.

If your employment history/personal statement contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn.

Sift dates to be confirmed.  

Stage 2: Interview

If you’re successful at sift stage you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the essential criteria.

Interviews will take place from late November 2024. Interview dates to be confirmed.

Further information:

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

All successful candidates and those placed on reserve will be posted in merit list order by location.

Security Clearance Requirement

You must meet the security requirements before you can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers. 

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DigitalRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How we recruit page.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).