HarperCollins Publishers is seeking a Production Services Specialist for our Systems/Data Center Operations department.  Similar to a Site Reliability Engineer, this position is responsible for batch engineering, code promotes, infrastructure, application and batch monitoring, change management and audits along with providing Level 1.5 support for infrastructure services including servers, and applications. In addition, this role will provide coordination of activities between IT customers and Data Center Operations. The ideal candidate will possess experience performing SQL Server System Administration and tasks, including SQL Server installs, upgrades, performance tuning and general care and ongoing support of the database platform.

Workload will be split between Production Services tasks (70%) and SQL Server Administration tasks (30%)

Production Services primary day-to-day responsibilities:

• Provides Level 1.5 Data Center Operational support.
• Provides gatekeeper responsibilities for migrating code into production environments.
• Implements data backup schedules, data retention policies, and data recoverability processes.
• Coordinates and documents production job scheduling for the Windows and Unix platforms.
• Acts as liaison between Applications Development, Global Technology Teams, and Data Center Operations.
• Develops and implements monitoring templates for all infrastructure services including server and application performance, disk space usage, network availability, network intrusion, and compliance
  against SLAs for on premise and cloud services.
• Responsible for data gathering and reporting for both internal and external audits.
• Provides installation and policy development for Operational support products including scheduling, media management, infrastructure monitoring, print management and CI-CD toolset.
• Works with Global Technology teams to orchestrate and test Data Center disaster recovery exercises.
• Performs gatekeeper role as part of the Federated Change Management Team for HarperCollins.
• Ensures that HarperCollins and News Tech teams follow the required Change Management process.
• Provides on-going technical and procedural training to the 7x24 Operations team.

Database System Administration day-to-day responsibilities:

• Installs and configures new SQL Server Databases in support of new applications and/or upgrades.
• Uses SQL monitoring tools to diagnose performance issues and provide recommendations to development teams.
• Supports the application development teams with backups/restores of SQL databases.
• Participates in production code releases and application of hot fixes.
• Applies SQL Server patches and updates.
• Conducts regular SQL server database and index reviews and recommends changes to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the databases.
• Provides technical support to end users and transitioning teams by troubleshooting database issues, providing advice and assistance, and resolving problems.
• Supports SQL server object promotes and collects requested evidence to support the SOX audit function

• Degree in Computer Science preferred or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years of experience as a production support technician with some SQL Server Administration skills 
• Proficient working in both a Microsoft Windows and Linux environment, including Active Directory
• Experience with operational scheduling packages (Tidal Workload Automation preferred)
• Working knowledge of network and infrastructure monitoring packages (SolarWinds)
• Experience with developing and maintaining Windows batch and PowerShell scripts
• Competent working knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Good analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills
• Ability to interact with all levels of IT and customer personnel
• Possess a positive, professional, team-oriented attitude
• Exhibit a strong ability to work under pressure with changing priorities
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal skills
• Work off-hours in support of projects as required and as part of an on-call rotation
• AWS and Azure experience are a plus
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HarperCollins Publishers is a company full of people who are passionate about books. When you apply for a position, we want to know why you want to work here, and why you are interested in the job. That’s why cover letters are strongly preferred.

The salary range for this position is $100,000-$110,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company.  As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates.  The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.  

In addition to cash compensation, the company provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "elective" benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce.        

Please note that HarperCollins Publishers does not accept resumes from agencies unless our Human Resources department has authorized in writing a specific agency to submit resumes for a specific position.  Therefore, if an agency submits a resume without Human Resources’ prior written approval to do so, the individual identified on that resume will not be considered a candidate presented by your company.

HarperCollins Publishers is an equal opportunity employer.