The South African Revenue Service (SARS)
Senior Specialist Database Administrator (Fixed Term Contract)
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Job Type: Fixed Term Contract
Experience: 8 – 15 years
About the Company
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is the national authority responsible for collecting taxes and managing customs. As an autonomous agency, SARS ensures the country’s tax system is administered efficiently to support national growth and development.
Job Purpose
The successful candidate will coordinate and compile technical information to support data analysis, management reviews, and decision-making. You will be responsible for ensuring the database environment is optimized, secure, and aligned with organizational goals.
Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Option 1: A Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in IT or Computer Science, plus 8–10 years of experience in a DB2 environment (including 3–4 years at a specialist level).
- Option 2: A Senior Certificate (NQF 4) and a relevant IT Certification, plus 8–10 years of experience in a DB2 environment (including 3–4 years at a specialist level).
- Option 3: A Senior Certificate (NQF 4) and 15 years of experience in a DB2 environment (including 3–4 years at a specialist level).
Technical Skills and Experience
We are looking for candidates with deep technical expertise in the following areas:
- Advanced administration of the latest IBM DB2 LUW versions.
- Experience managing large-scale, high-volume transaction environments.
- Query troubleshooting, optimization, and performance tuning.
- Database backup and recovery procedures.
- High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) and clustering.
- Advanced scripting in AIX or Linux environments.
- Experience with RDBMS functions like partitioning, compression, and XML/JSON.
- Ability to develop automated processes and a strong understanding of database architecture.
Key Responsibilities
- Analyze and recommend improvements for database systems and procedures.
- Advise on resource planning and help optimize the use of organizational resources.
- Identify technical problems and implement effective, long-term solutions.
- Produce detailed reports to identify trends or inconsistencies for management.
- Ensure all database activities comply with governance and risk management policies.
- Provide expert advice and mentorship to team members and stakeholders.
- Execute changes and innovations to improve system performance.
Competencies
- Professionalism: High level of honesty, integrity, and accountability.
- Thinking Skills: Strong analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities.
- Efficiency: Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to continuous learning.
- Communication: Strong verbal communication and customer service skills.
- Adaptability: Ability to adjust to changing environments and organizational needs.
Application Details
Interested candidates who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply through the SARS careers portal. Ensure your application highlights your relevant DB2 experience.
Application Deadline: 11th February 2026