1.Job Description:
This role exists to ensure the availability, security, integrity, performance, and recoverability of enterprise database platforms that support mission critical broadcasting, digital, and business systems across the agency. The Database Administrator provides expert technical oversight for database operations, security compliance, performance tuning, backup and recovery, and modernization initiatives across on premises, hybrid, and cloud based environments.
2. Reporting and Compliance
The Database Administrator will:
- Report to the Enterprise Platforms and Storage Director and collaborate closely with application teams, cloud engineering, cybersecurity, enterprise infrastructure, and networking teams.
- Ensure compliance with:
o Federal IT security requirements and database security controls
o OMB, NIST, and FISMA aligned standards
o Agency governance, change management, and configuration control procedures
- Produce recurring operational and performance reports to support OCIO oversight, budget reviews, audits, and compliance assessments.
- Maintain detailed documentation to support audit readiness, incident investigations, continuity of operations, and technical modernization planning.
3. Background
The Agency operates a diverse portfolio of enterprise databases supporting broadcast operations, digital publishing platforms, financial systems, identity services, and mission critical applications. As the agency modernizes infrastructure and adopts hybrid and cloud architectures, database environments must be secure, resilient, scalable, and cost efficient.
The Database Administrator plays a central role in ensuring database platforms remain stable, secure, and performance optimized while supporting modernization, cloud integration, and data growth across the agency.
This position supports:
- Database security and access control
- High availability and disaster recovery
- Performance monitoring and tuning
- Data protection, backup, and recovery
- Capacity planning and lifecycle management
- Modernization and cloud enablement initiatives
4. Scope of Work
4.1 Database Operations & Administration
- Administer, monitor, and maintain enterprise database platforms including Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle Database (and other agency approved platforms as applicable).
- Perform database installations, migrations, upgrades, patching, and configuration in accordance with security and change management requirements.
- Ensure database availability, reliability, and performance for production, development, and test environments.
4.2 Database Security & Compliance
- Implement and enforce database security controls, including access management, encryption, auditing, and vulnerability mitigation.
- Support security assessments, POA&Ms, risk mitigation activities, and compliance validation efforts.
- Ensure databases meet federal security standards and agency governance requirements.
4.3 Performance Optimization & Reliability
- Monitor database performance and proactively tune queries, indexes, memory, and storage configurations.
- Identify and remediate performance bottlenecks and capacity constraints.
- Support incident response, root cause analysis, and corrective action development.
4.4 Backup, Recovery & High Availability
- Design, implement, and manage database backup and recovery strategies.
- Perform and validate restoration testing and disaster recovery exercises.
- Support high availability architectures, including clustering, replication, and failover solutions.
4.5 Capacity Planning & Monitoring
- Conduct proactive capacity planning for database growth, storage utilization, and performance scaling.
- Monitor database health, availability, and usage trends using enterprise monitoring tools.
- Provide early warning alerts and recommendations to prevent service degradation.
4.6 Reporting & Documentation
- Produce recurring reports on:
o Database performance and availability
o Storage utilization and growth trends
o Backup and recovery status
o Incident metrics and operational risks
- Maintain accurate technical documentation, diagrams, and configuration baselines.
5. Key Deliverables
The Database Administrator will produce, at a minimum:
- Monthly Database Health and Performance Reports
- Backup and Recovery Validation Reports
- Capacity Planning and Growth Assessments
- Security and Compliance Support Documentation
- Incident Response and Root Cause Analysis Reports
- Recommendations for Performance, Security, and Cost Optimization
6. Criticality of the Role
The Database Administrator role is designated as critical due to the essential nature of database services supporting the Agency’s mission.
Eliminating this role would result in:
- Increased risk of database outages and data loss
- Degraded application performance and user impact
- Reduced security posture and increased compliance risk
- Inadequate backup and disaster recovery coverage
- Reactive rather than strategic capacity planning
- Limited ability to modernize and integrate databases with cloud services
Without a dedicated Database Administrator, the Agency’s ability to operate secure, stable, and resilient data platforms would be significantly compromised.
CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL/ QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
The Contractor shall propose well qualified Database Administration personnel with 7–10 years of enterprise database administration experience, capable of performing all requirements outlined.
Personnel qualifications shall include a combination of experience, education, and certifications, subject to Government review and approval.
Desired Degrees or Certifications / Preferred Certifications:
- Microsoft Certified: SQL Server / Azure Database certifications
- Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)
- CompTIA Security+
- ITIL Foundations
Preferred Experience:
- Administration of enterprise SQL Server and/or Oracle database environments
- Implementation of backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions
- Performance tuning, monitoring, and troubleshooting
- Database security hardening and compliance support
- Support of hybrid and cloud integrated database environments
- Collaboration with application, infrastructure, and cybersecurity teams
