SQL Server Database Administrator

$110,000 - $123,000/Yr

Readerlink Distribution Services - Oak Brook, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Oak Brook, IL

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods

About the position

We are North America's largest book distributor with over 70,000 customer store locations. We move over 325,000,000 books per year and work with over 700 retailers and 500 publishers. If you want to help deliver a book into the hands of readers across America, let's talk. We are currently recruiting for a SQL Server Database Administrator based out of our corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. The SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA) position will be a member of the ReaderLink IT Data Administration and Integration team. This position requires experience with the support and maintenance of databases to preserve the security and integrity of company data resources. This is a "hands-on" position requiring solid technical skills, as well as excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The SQL Server Database Administrator will be responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining database servers and processes, including monitoring system health and performance, to ensure high levels of security, performance, availability, and resilience. The DBA will respond promptly to and resolve database-related alerts, emails, and tickets, identifying trends and patterns in support requests that indicate a need for process or application revision. The role requires independent analysis, problem-solving, and correction of issues in real time, providing end-to-end problem resolution. The DBA will maintain schema changes and scripts using version control (Visual Studio, TFS, DevOps) and follow established team standards, recommending new or updated standards where gaps are identified. Additionally, the DBA will document and update processes and procedures when appropriate, take ownership of assigned deliverables, and adjust well to changes in priority. The role involves assisting developers with complex query tuning and schema refinement, working closely with business and technical teams in a cross-functional environment. Scheduled maintenance and support release deployment activities will be part of the responsibilities, including off-hours, weekends, and holidays, with off-hours support provided on rotation.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and maintain database servers and processes.
• Monitor system health and performance to ensure high levels of security, performance, availability, and resilience.
• Respond promptly to and resolve database-related alerts, emails, and tickets.
• Identify trends and patterns in support requests that indicate a need for process or application revision.
• Independently analyze, solve, and correct issues in real time, providing end-to-end problem resolution.
• Maintain schema changes and scripts using version control (Visual Studio, TFS, DevOps).
• Follow established team standards and recommend new or updated standards where gaps are identified.
• Document and update processes and procedures when appropriate.
• Take ownership, support, and follow-through of assigned deliverables, adjusting well to changes in priority.
• Assist developers with complex query tuning and schema refinement.
• Perform scheduled maintenance and support release deployment activities, including off-hours, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or related field or equivalent experience.
• Three (3) to eight (8) years of MS SQL Server database administration experience.
• Experience with backups, restores, recovery models, patching, and disaster recovery.
• Implementation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance of databases.
• Knowledge of security, data and schema standards and concepts.
• Experience with performance tuning & optimization, indexes, index management, and statistics.
• Two (2) years of MS SQL Server development experience preferred.
• Proficiency in T-SQL programming (joins, views, stored procedures, functions, etc.).
• One (1) year of PowerShell experience preferred.
• Experience with SSIS and MS Azure preferred.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience using Microsoft Office tools (i.e., Word, Excel).
• An inclination toward scripting and automation, utilizing PowerShell, SQL, or other methods.