About Company
NMB Bank Limited is a leading Zimbabwean financial institution renowned for its innovative banking solutions and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction. With a robust network of branches across Zimbabwe, NMB Bank is dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses through accessible and reliable financial services. As a forward-thinking bank, we continuously invest in cutting-edge technology to enhance our operations, improve security, and deliver an unparalleled banking experience to our valued customers. Join our dynamic team and contribute to a legacy of excellence and innovation in the financial sector.
Job Description
We are seeking an exceptionally skilled and experienced Senior Database Architect to join our technology team in Chinhoyi. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for the strategic design, development, and optimization of NMB Bank’s critical database infrastructure. As a Senior Database Architect, you will play a crucial part in ensuring the scalability, reliability, security, and performance of our transactional, analytical, and data warehouse systems. You will lead initiatives to evaluate new database technologies, implement industry best practices, and collaborate closely with development teams, system administrators, and business stakeholders to translate complex business requirements into robust and efficient database solutions. This role demands a deep understanding of various database technologies, a strong aptitude for problem-solving, and the ability to drive architectural decisions that support the bank’s strategic objectives and ensure paramount data integrity. Your expertise will be vital in architecting solutions that not only meet current demands but are also future-proof, adaptable to evolving regulatory landscapes, and capable of supporting our significant growth trajectory in the competitive financial services industry. This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary database professional to make a profound impact within a leading financial institution.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain highly scalable, secure, and performant database architectures for core banking systems, data warehouses, and analytics platforms.
- Lead the selection and implementation of appropriate database technologies (SQL, NoSQL, data warehousing solutions) to meet business and technical requirements.
- Define and enforce comprehensive database standards, policies, and procedures, including data modeling, naming conventions, security protocols, and robust backup/recovery strategies.
- Collaborate proactively with application development teams to optimize database queries, schema designs, and overall application performance for maximum efficiency.
- Conduct regular and thorough database performance tuning, proactive monitoring, and strategic capacity planning to ensure continuous availability and efficiency.
- Develop and implement robust strategies for seamless data migration, efficient data replication, and comprehensive disaster recovery plans.
- Evaluate and recommend new database technologies, tools, and methodologies to foster innovation and enhance operational efficiency.
- Mentor junior database administrators, providing expert technical guidance and fostering their professional growth.
- Ensure strict compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements and industry best practices for data security, privacy, and governance.
- Participate actively in incident response and problem resolution for critical database issues, ensuring minimal downtime and impact.
Required Skills
- Proven experience (minimum 6 years) as a Database Architect or Senior DBA, particularly within a demanding financial services environment.
- Expert-level proficiency in relational database management systems (RDBMS) such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or PostgreSQL.
- Strong experience with advanced database design, data modeling (conceptual, logical, physical), and database normalization/denormalization techniques.
- Extensive knowledge of SQL query optimization, advanced indexing strategies, and comprehensive database performance tuning methodologies.
- Demonstrable experience with data warehousing concepts, ETL processes, and various business intelligence tools.
- Familiarity with robust database security best practices and compliance frameworks (e.g., PCI DSS, GDPR, local financial regulations).
- Proficiency in database scripting and automation (e.g., PowerShell, Python) for streamlined operations.
- Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and professional communication skills.
- Ability to work independently, lead initiatives, and collaborate effectively in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related quantitative field.
- Possession of relevant industry certifications (e.g., Oracle Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate).
- Experience with cutting-edge cloud-based database services (e.g., Azure SQL Database, AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL).
- Familiarity with NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra) and their architectural considerations.
- Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and their application in database strategy.
- Experience with version control systems for managing database schema changes (e.g., Git, Liquibase).
Perks & Benefits
- Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and wellness benefits package.
- Generous paid time off, including annual leave and public holidays.
- Extensive professional development opportunities and funding for training programs and certifications.
- Robust pension scheme and other attractive retirement benefits.
- Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and innovative projects in a leading financial institution.
- Supportive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment focused on employee growth and well-being.
- Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their detailed CV and a compelling cover letter outlining their suitability and experience for this critical role. Please ensure your application explicitly highlights your expertise in database architecture, particularly within the financial sector. Please send your application to the email address provided below.