Position Reports to:   Manager: App Development Maintenance   

Division:                        Strategy Modernisation and Technology

Location:                       Head Office Pretoria

Advert Closing Date:  06 August 2025

About the Position

If you are passionate about creating leading edge software in an exciting and ever-changing environment, this position may be for you!

SARS is looking for a skilled, suitably experienced, and results-driven Software Developer, specializing in Natural ADABAS Development with a particular emphasis on Mainframe z/OS. 

The candidate must have strong communication skills and be able demonstrate the ability to conceptualize ideas and turn these into practical solutions. 

Experience in implementing systems both independently and as part of a software development team is required.

Job Purpose

To provide expertise, advice and support to deliver on operational implementation plans and / or associated service delivery processes, ensuring effective and efficient development, enhancements, implementation, maintenance and optimisation of application modules/subsystems, in order to continuously enhance service delivery.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

Bachelor’s degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) Information Technology (IT) AND 5-7 years' experience in a Natural / ADABAS environment, of which 2-3 years is at functional specialist level.

OR

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) and a relevant IT Qualification(s) / Certification(s) Information Technology (IT), and 5-7 years' experience in a Natural / ADABAS environment, of which 2-3 years is at functional specialist level.

ALTERNATIVE#

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 10 years development experience in a Natural / ADABAS environment, of which 2-3 years is at functional specialist level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

• Natural ADABAS
• NaturalONE
• IBM Mainframe (z/OS)
• Job Control Language (JCL)
• Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) and IBM MQ

Job Outputs:

Process

• Accumulate information to review work progress that provides input to reporting, decision making and the identification of improvement opportunities.
• Apply practical and applied knowledge and act authoritatively on methods, systems and procedures to identify trends and potential risks.
• Communication of situational interpretation and judgement of work outputs and queries in area of specialisation.
• Correctly apply policies, practices, standards, procedures and legislation in the delivery of work outputs.
• Draw on own knowledge and experience to diagnose symptoms, causes and possible effects in order to solve emerging problems.
• Initiate process and procedural change, implement the change and provide guidelines and support related to new requirements as a result of the change.
• Plan for value-added process improvements, initiatives and services to deliver on operational strategy and objectives.
• Execute specialist input through investigation &opportunities within the product process including risk concern.
• Provide specialist input through the investigation of opportunities for operational and process product and risk optimisation.
• Keep up to date on trends and developments within Project Management, Software Development Life Cycle, supporting methodology, and the industry of the organisation.
• Apply software changes in a manner that contributes to efficient and effective service delivery and optimized quality.
• Implement initiatives relating to projects that will lead to improved processes within business.
• Utilize specialised technical specifications that will enhance operational delivery within predefined standards.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with peers and SARS role players to achieve business objectives.
• Ensure that completed work adhere to relevant policies, procedures, governance and legislative requirements and report on deviations & discrepancies.
• Mentor peers and junior employees
• Expected to be able to influence through communication plus ability to make complex decisions
• Responsible for raising and communicate issues, highlight project risks and escalate the issues for resolution where required
• Responsible for issue identification during testing and Production as well as making fixes required.
• Provide clear and timely account of issues as well as mitigating factors to prevent such from happening again.
• Review specification and artefacts that enable development.

Governance

• Implement and provide input into the development of governance, compliance, integrity and ethics processes within area of specialisation.

People

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with peers and team members to achieve predefined objectives.
• Search for, integrate and share new knowledge attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.

Finance

• Adhere to organisational policies and procedures to ensure cost effectiveness and reduction of financial costs.

Client

• Contribute to a culture of service excellence, which builds positive relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service.
• Provide authoritative, specialist services, expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Building Sustainability
• Commitment to Continuous Learning 
• Conceptual ability
• Customer Service
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity 
• Organisational awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Application Development and Maintenance
• Business Knowledge
• Computer Literacy
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures 
• IT Development
• IT Knowledge
• Reporting and Interpretation  
• Systems Thinking

Compliance Competency

• Application Systems 
• Application Implementation
• GOC Confidential 

Employment Equity

The 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.