Senior Database Administrator

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American Hospital Dubai seeks a Senior Database Administrator to lead enterprise database management across SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, with Cerner and healthcare applications, ensuring availability, security, performance, and disaster recovery in a 24/7 hospital environment. You will drive security controls, EMC NetWorker and Data Domain backups, oversee DR testing, and manage Cerner PROD CERT BUILD TRAIN domains, while coordinating with vendors and internal teams for incidents and HL7 interfaces. This role requires eight years in healthcare IT, strong leadership, and proven ability to act as a senior technical authority supporting JCIA readiness, ITIL ISO 20000 governance, and enterprise integration. To apply, tailor your resume to quantify outcomes, highlight migrations, mentoring, and documentation, and demonstrate patient-care impact, on-call readiness, and collaboration with biomedical engineering.

Leads the technical management of the availability, security, performance, and integrity of enterprise database environments supporting clinical, ERP, and mission-critical healthcare systems, providing senior-level database administration across multiple platforms and backend and integration support for Cerner and associated healthcare applications. Ensures resilient backup, disaster recovery, and high-availability solutions, and serves as a senior technical authority contributing to quality improvement, IT service management, healthcare accreditation compliance, and enterprise system integration, including medical device and interface connectivity, while supporting departmental governance and operational excellence.

Enterprise Database Administration, Availability, and Security

• Installs, configures, administers, and maintains enterprise database platforms including Microsoft SQL Server (2012, 2016, 2019), Oracle (11g, 19c), cloud-based ERP databases, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.
• Oversees database availability, performance, integrity, and security across production and non-production environments.
• Creates and oversees database instances, schemas, objects, roles, and user accounts.
• Implements database security controls, access management, encryption, auditing, and compliance measures in line with organisational, regulatory, and healthcare requirements.
• Performs advanced database health checks, performance tuning, optimisation, and root-cause analysis.

Healthcare and Mission-Critical Application Support

• Provides senior-level backend database support for Cerner, Oracle Fusion ERP, MyCare, and other clinical and enterprise applications.
• Ensures uninterrupted database operations for systems directly impacting patient care and clinical workflows.
• Coordinates with vendors and internal IT teams for complex incidents, upgrades, changes, and system enhancements.

High Availability, Replication, and Disaster Recovery

• Configures, administers, and monitors Oracle Active Data Guard between production and standby databases, ensuring data synchronisation and integrity.
• Designs and maintains high-availability and disaster recovery architectures aligned with approved RPO and RTO requirements.
• Leads and participates in disaster recovery testing, failover simulations, and business continuity exercises.

Backup, Recovery, and Data Protection

• Administers and optimises enterprise backup and recovery platforms, including EMC NetWorker and Data Domain.
• Defines and enforces backup policies, retention schedules, and disaster recovery strategies for physical, virtual, and cloud environments.
• Monitors backup operations, capacity utilisation, and failure alerts; resolves complex backup and recovery issues.
• Performs regular backup validation, restoration testing, and recovery drills.
• Maintains backup infrastructure through patching, firmware upgrades, and security updates.
• Prepares audit evidence, reports, and documentation for internal, external, and regulatory audits.

Cerner Backend and Infrastructure Administration

• Oversees Cerner Production and Certification (PROD and CERT) domains, including installations, maintenance, and coordination with Cerner OMS teams.
• Administers Cerner non-production domains (BUILD and TRAIN), including domain setup, maintenance, domain copies, and package installations.
• Maintains Cerner backend infrastructure, including application nodes, database servers, mid-tier servers, and standalone applications.
• Configures and supports backend integrations with third-party systems using FSI/OpenView and Open Link servers.
• Supports CAMM backend systems, including file systems, databases, application configurations, and DICOM image viewer troubleshooting.
• Maintains Cerner 724 downtime infrastructure, including ETL processes and data extracts to designated downtime workstations.

Medical Device Integration and Interface Management

• Configures, supports, and optimises Cerner Medical Device Integration (MDI) and Bedside Medical Device Integration (BMDI) solutions.
• Integrates laboratory devices with the Laboratory Information System (LIS) based on lab orders and ensures accurate result transmission back to the EMR.
• Integrates bedside medical devices, including vital signs monitors, infusion pumps, ventilators, anaesthesia machines, fetal monitors, and bridge medical devices.
• Ensures accurate and timely clinical data capture and documentation within PowerChart and other clinical documentation systems.
• Designs, builds, configures, and supports HL7 v2.x interfaces, including ORU, ADT, and ORM message types.
• Administers and supports interface engines such as Cerner iBus, CCE/DA, OpenEngine FSI, Rhapsody, and Mirth.
• Troubleshot device connectivity, middleware, interface, and data flow issues across clinical systems.
• Collaborates with biomedical engineering teams, clinical stakeholders, and device vendors to ensure seamless EMR integration.
• Maintains comprehensive technical documentation, SOPs, configuration records, and interface specifications.

Database Upgrades, Migrations, and Capacity Planning

• Leads database upgrades, patches, enhancements, and version migrations, including pre- and post-upgrade validation.
• Oversees database and platform migrations with minimal downtime and data risk.
• Monitors database capacity and utilisation trends and provides forward-looking storage and compute forecasts.

Quality, Governance, and Compliance

• Participates in departmental quality improvement initiatives and continuous improvement programs.
• Contributes to IT Service Management initiatives aligned with ITIL practices and ISO 20000 standards.
• Supports departmental readiness and participation in Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) assessments and related audits.

Leadership and Professional Contribution

• Act sas a senior technical reference and subject matter expert within the IT department.
• Serves as technical team lead when assigned by the GCIO, IT Director, or IT leadership.
• Supports IT Managers and Supervisors with technical input, risk assessment, and decision support.
• Provides mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance to junior database, integration, and infrastructure staff.
• Participates in on-call rotations and after-hours support for mission-critical healthcare systems.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Certification in Database Administration (e.g., Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or equivalent enterprise database platforms).
• Entry-level Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience in senior database administration, healthcare systems, or enterprise IT environments, preferably within a hospital or large-scale healthcare organisation.
• Knowledge of enterprise database architectures, data models, and storage technologies across on-premise and cloud platforms.
• Knowledge of database security frameworks, access control models, encryption standards, and audit requirements.
• Knowledge of high-availability, replication, and disaster recovery architectures for mission-critical healthcare systems.
• Knowledge of healthcare IT ecosystems, clinical application dependencies, and JCIA accreditation requirements.
• Knowledge of HL7 v2.x standards and healthcare interface architectures.
• Skills in advanced database administration across Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, cloud ERP databases, and open-source platforms.
• Skills in database performance tuning, optimisation, and complex issue resolution.
• Skills in Cerner backend administration, MDI/BMDI configuration, and interface engine management.
• Skills in HL7 interface development, middleware troubleshooting, and device integration.
• Skills in administering enterprise backup and recovery platforms, including EMC NetWorker and Data Domain.
• Skills in Linux and Windows server preparation and middleware troubleshooting.
• Skills in network fundamentals, including TCP/IP, ports, VLANs, and firewall configurations supporting system integrations.
• Ability to operate as a senior technical authority and make risk-based decisions affecting patient-critical systems.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities in a 24/7 healthcare environment with minimal supervision.
• Ability to analyse complex technical problems and implement sustainable, compliant solutions.
• Ability to produce high-quality technical documentation, SOPs, audit evidence, and operational reports to enterprise standards.