Job Description

Job Title: Senior Specialist Database Administrator (ADABAS)Position Reports to: Senior Specialist: Database AdministratorDivision: Strategy Enablement & ModernisationSub Division: Technology and Solutions DeliveryLocation: SARS Head Office, PretoriaAdvert Closing Date: 06 September 2024About the Position:SARS is looking for a technical champion to administer, maintain and support SARS' core tax systems (VAT, PAYE, ITS and others) which is developed using Software AG's Natural and Adabas on a IBM zOS mainframe environment.Job PurposeTo ensure all Natural/Adabas systems are stable and available 24x7 by proactively and diligently installing, upgrading and maintaining all Software AG software with an aim of zero defect.Minimum Qualification & Experience RequiredRelevant Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in relevant IT qualification AND minimum 8-10 years' experience in a Natural ADABAS environment, of which 3-4 years' experience at operational specialist levelORSenior Certificate (NQF 4) AND Relevant IT Qualification / Certification AND 8-10 years' experience in a Natural ADABAS environmentALTERNATIVE #Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 15 years' experience in a Natural ADABAS environmentFunctional Requirements:Relevant technical experience:

• Advanced administration experience
• Experience with large, high volume transaction environments
• Query troubleshooting and optimisation
• Performance tuning
• Backup/Recovery of databases
• Clustering/High Availability experience

In the following technologies:Natural/Adabas

• At least 8 years' experience with Natural/Adabas administration
• Natural and Adabas optimisation and trouble shooting
• Extensive experience in maintaining Natural execution environments
• Extensive experience with development practices and processes
• Deep architectural understanding of Natural/Adabas and related tooling
• Ability to develop automated processes

Job Outputs:

• Install, upgrade, patch, administer, maintain, configure and trouble shoot Natural, Adabas and other Software AG software
• Install, test and debug OEM peripheral software (e.g. AdaStrip, eSTRIP, DPS and others).
• Diagnose and resolve Natural/Adabas system failure/interruptions through problem determination and support to application developers
• Establish, instil and maintain Natural/Adabas operating standards.
• Monitor and optimise Natural/Adabas' system, disk, space and memory resources usage.
• Safeguard the databases against failure through backups, logs and DR processes.
• Maintain the Data Dictionary and SDLC process using Pre-dict and Predict Application Control.
• Analyse and optimise the Adabas databases and Natural applications using Adabas Review
• Provide 24X7 first line support for a third of a year and second line support for a third of a year
• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures and associated area's practice.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge & experience to identify & recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse & produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies & inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes & systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice & system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; best practice implementation solutions.
• Translate top down policy in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice area and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Define and review data requirements for management of the function.
• Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate improvement

Governance

• Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.

People

• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and practice thought leadership in area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.

Client

• Develop & ensure implementation of a practice that builds service delivery excellence & encourage others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural Competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Building Sustainability
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Customer Service
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Trust
• Organisational Awareness
• Respect

Technical Competencies

• Computer Literacy
• Functional Policy and Procedure
• IT Knowledge
• Customer Relationship Management
• System Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Verbal Communication

Compliance Competency

• GOC Confidential

Employment EquityThe Employment Equity policy of SARS will be considered as part of the recruitment and selection process and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an oath of secrecy, pre-employment screening, case study, pre-assessment, psychometric assessment and or vetting, and a declaration of private interest. The appointment is also subject to appropriate reference(s) and security clearance where applicable.

South African Revenue Service