Mainframe Developer: Analyst Programmer (13349) at The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGY

• Contribute to the execution of the IT development strategy by designing, developing and maintaining enterprise applications aligned to business priorities.
• Provide technical input and advisory support for application development, DevOps enablement, integration and mainframe modernisation initiatives.
• Engage with internal departments, business users and external stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into sustainable technical solutions.
• Provide technical problem-solving leadership for complex application, integration and operational support matters.
• Identify architectural, performance and process improvement opportunities and recommend appropriate remedial actions.
• Support business objectives by enhancing systems and services that improve operational efficiency, customer engagement and revenue-related processes. 

BUSINESS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

• Analyse, design, develop, test, implement and maintain cost-effective application solutions in line with approved business and technical requirements.
• Compile and maintain technical documentation, including flow charts, entity relationship diagrams, functional specifications, technical specifications and change request documentation.
• Develop efficient, reusable and reliable programs using Natural, Natural ONE and ADABAS in accordance with approved coding standards and procedures.
• Perform database-related development activities and liaise with database administrators to ensure alignment between application logic, data structures and performance requirements.
• Conduct unit testing, quality assurance and performance checks to ensure application effectiveness, reliability, security and responsiveness.
• Provide application maintenance, troubleshooting, incident resolution, report development and end-user support for Natural/ADABAS solutions.
• Support availability of critical mainframe online systems, including standby, after-hours support and participation in business continuity exercises where required.
• Develop ad hoc reports, data extracts and short-term system enhancements to support operational, audit, financial control and business reporting requirements.
• Liaise with external agents and internal stakeholders to ensure data received and processed conforms to agreed standards, controls and service expectations.
• Provide technical input for RFI, RFP and procurement-related activities to ensure proposed solutions align with SABC systems, standards and business requirements.
• Extract, analyse and document business rules from existing code where formal documentation is incomplete or unavailable.
• Participate in new development discussions, facilitation, systems analysis and application modernisation initiatives.
• Report progress, risks, issues and delivery status to management on a regular basis.

GOVERNANCE RISK AND COMPLIANCE

• Comply with applicable SABC policies, procedures, governance frameworks, SDLC controls, ITIL practices and financial control requirements.
• Review and support the maintenance of relevant standards, procedures and controls in line with regulatory, audit and operational requirements.
• Identify, analyse, respond to and monitor IT risks affecting application development, support, security, continuity and data integrity.
• Contribute to the upkeep of risk registers, issue logs and action-tracking mechanisms to ensure findings are managed to closure.
• Support audit, compliance, RFI and RFP responses by providing accurate technical information, evidence and system-related documentation.
• Promote consistent use of approved templates, standards, taxonomies, deployment practices and access control requirements.
• Participate in organisational health, safety and risk management activities as required.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with business users, IT teams, external agents, vendors and governance stakeholders.
• Take ownership of assigned technical queries and ensure timely, professional and effective resolution within agreed service expectations.
• Record key interactions, requirements, decisions and support outcomes to maintain traceability and continuity of service.
• Provide monthly or periodic service, SLA, project and operational progress reports to IT leadership and business customers.
• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, Procurement, Finance and other enabling functions where application changes or support activities have governance, contractual or control implications.

LEADERSHIP AND PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

• Manage own performance, development objectives and delivery commitments in line with SABC performance management requirements.
• Contribute to long-term team goals, reporting mechanisms, maturity models and continuous improvement roadmaps for development and support practices.
• Meet agreed IT performance, quality, governance and service delivery standards.
• Participate in formal performance reviews and compile an annual Individual Development Plan.
• Support coaching, mentoring and knowledge transfer to junior staff and team members in line with operational needs and best practice.
• Attend relevant training and development interventions in accordance with the Workplace Skills Plan and approved development requirements.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant IT NQF level 6 (National Diploma) qualification.
• Relevant IT NQF level 7 (Degree) qualification is considered an advantage.
• 3-5 years’ experience within a systems development environment, with exposure to the full System Development Life Cycle.
• Mainframe development experience, preferably including Natural ONE, Natural and ADABAS.

 KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of the Software Development Life Cycle, ITIL practices, change control and application support processes.
• Knowledge and understanding of mainframe systems, Natural ONE, Natural, ADABAS, mainframe utilities and JCL.
• Knowledge of database concepts, relational databases, data analysis, file formats, flow diagrams and entity relationship diagrams.
• Knowledge of systems analysis, functional specification, technical specification, testing, quality assurance and root cause analysis practices.
• Knowledge and understanding of business systems, debtor systems, TV Licence-related processes and end-user core business processes.
• Knowledge of integration between systems and relevant enterprise software applications.
• Knowledge and understanding of information technology best practice, including platforms, applications, security and operational controls.
• Knowledge of relevant company policies and procedures, including finance, HR, procurement, risk, safety and health requirements.
• Business acumen, customer service orientation, planning, organising, time management and work control.
• Problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, adaptability, quality orientation and ability to provide technical and operational support advice.