Global Database Manager at KBR in Houston, TX

Global Database Manager Location: Houston, Texas Title: Global Database Manager We are KBR When you become part of our KBR team, your opportunities are endless. Through internal collaboration, and with our partners and customers, we’re defining tomorrow’s challenges, then providing the innovative solutions to overcome those challenges, always maintaining our commitment to Zero Harm and our Sustainability Platform. In September 2025, we announced that we are spinning our Mission Technology Solutions business into a separate public company. This role would ultimately be part of that new company. Our Mission Technology Solutions business partners with governments and defense, intelligence, space, aviation, and critical infrastructure customers to deliver high-end engineering, science, technology, and mission support solutions. From national security and readiness to advanced research, cyber, logistics, and life-cycle sustainment, our teams help customers solve complex challenges in some of the world’s most demanding environments. Whether supporting operations on the ground, at sea, in the air, or in space, our clients trust us to deliver mission-critical capabilities every day. Working with us means being rewarded for your contributions. In addition to competitive benefits and professional development, our people are empowered to use all their potential, creating meaningful change for themselves and our clients. We attract the best minds in the world because our expertise thrives on creativity, resourcefulness and collaboration. That is how we supply our clients with cutting-edge solutions. As the needs of the world change, we’re ready to respond and guide the way forward with strategic, sustainable, and technological advancements grounded in more than a century of practical application and execution. We are IT We are strategic enablers of the business, delivering scalable, secure, and innovative technology solutions that drive operational excellence and support enterprise growth. We partner closely with functions across the organization to modernize systems, unlock data-driven insights, and enhance the digital employee experience. Our global footprint and commitment to transformation position us at the forefront of leveraging technology to create lasting business value. About the Role The Global Database Manager is responsible for leading and developing a geographically dispersed team supporting the organization's global database platforms and services. This role provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and governance for enterprise database environments, ensuring reliability, security, scalability, and compliance across the global technology landscape. The ideal candidate is an experienced technology leader with deep database expertise and a proven track record of managing global teams, complex infrastructure environments, and cross-functional stakeholder relationships. This individual will partner closely with Infrastructure, Security, Enterprise Architecture, Application teams, vendors, and IT leadership to drive operational excellence, modernization initiatives, resource optimization, and continuous improvement across the database ecosystem. Key Responsibilities Provide leadership and direction for a global database administration team supporting enterprise database platforms and services. Establish and maintain operational standards that ensure high availability, recoverability, performance, and security across database environments. Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation, operational efficiency, capacity planning, and service reliability. Oversee database backup, recovery, disaster recovery testing, and business continuity processes. Ensure database platforms remain compliant with security, licensing, audit, governance, and organizational standards. Develop and execute database modernization strategies, including upgrades, patching activities, and technical debt reduction initiatives. Partner with application, infrastructure, security, and architecture teams to support business initiatives and resolve complex cross-platform issues. Guide performance monitoring, capacity management, and proactive risk mitigation activities across the global database landscape. Ensure operational processes, standards, and technical documentation remain accurate, current, and aligned with best practices. Manage staffing, resource allocation, workload balancing, and succession planning for the global database team. Support budget planning, forecasting, and financial management activities related to database operations and services. Conduct performance management activities, including employee development, coaching, and annual performance reviews. Manage strategic relationships with database vendors and service providers, including quarterly business reviews and service performance evaluations. Oversee 24x7 support operations and on-call coverage to ensure effective response to critical incidents and service interruptions. Communicate database strategy, operational performance, risks, and recommendations to executive and technical stakeholders. Basic Qualifications Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field required; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. 20+ years of database administration and technology leadership experience. Experience leading global teams and supporting enterprise-scale database environments. Experience managing complex technology initiatives, operational support functions, and cross-functional stakeholder relationships. Experience with resource planning, budgeting, vendor management, and personnel development. Database & Technology Leadership: Thorough knowledge of database architecture, installation, upgrades, patching, configuration management, and change control processes. Deep understanding of database backup and recovery, high availability, disaster recovery, replication, monitoring, and performance optimization. Experience supporting enterprise database platforms, including Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and other open-source database technologies. Strong understanding of database security, compliance, licensing, governance, and audit requirements. Experience driving database modernization, platform optimization, and technical debt reduction initiatives. Leadership & Core Competencies: Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical concepts to executive audiences. Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities. Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across technical teams, business stakeholders, vendors, and senior leadership. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining operational excellence and service reliability. Preferred Qualifications Experience with Oracle Middleware and Oracle development technologies. Experience supporting Microsoft Azure, cloud-native database services, or hybrid cloud architectures. Experience with database appliances and large-scale enterprise database platforms. Familiarity with AI-enabled database management, automation, and monitoring solutions. Experience leading large-scale database transformation or cloud migration initiatives. Industry certifications related to database administration, cloud platforms, or IT service management. Additional Compensation: KBR may offer bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation to certain job titles or levels, per internal policy or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be in the form of sign on bonus, relocation benefits, short term incentives, long term incentives, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. Benefits: KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include a 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development. Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture.  These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company.  That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together. KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Additional Locations: Remote - U.S.