The South African Revenue Service (SARS)
Job Purpose
To develop implementation plans and provide strategic leadership advice in multiple projects, technologies and technical consulting strategies, in order to achieve overall organisational objectives.
Education and Experience
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required
Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) IT, Computer Science or Similar AND 10-12 years’ experience in Enterprise IT Security Architecture, of which 6-8 years is at a Senior specialist level / Architect level.
ALTERNATIVE #
Bachelor’s Degree / Advanced Diploma IT, Computer Science or Similar (NQF 7) with Cybersecurity or architecture certification (e.g. CISSP, CISM, CCSP, TOGAF Security) AND 12 – 15 years’ IT Security Architecture experience of which 6-8 years is at a Senior Specialist level/Architect level
Minimum Functional Requirements
Enterprise Cybersecurity Architecture (conceptual, logical, and physical levels)
Secure infrastructure design for AI and data platforms (data protection, access control, encryption, model security)
Security architecture for web applications, portals, APIs, and digital channels
Integration security covering APIs, messaging, RPC, file transfer, and service-based architectures
Identity and Access Management (IAM), including privileged access and federation
Secure network and platform architecture (on prem, hybrid, and cloud-ready designs)
Application and platform security principles (OWASP, Zero Trust, defence-in-depth)
Relevant IT certification:
Cybersecurity or architecture certification (e.g. CISSP, CISM, CCSP, TOGAF Security)
Job Outputs:
Process
To provide enterprise-level cybersecurity architecture and technical consulting leadership within the IT Security Operations division by designing secure infrastructure, platforms, and integration patterns that support, AI and advanced analytics platforms, enterprise case management systems, Secure, scalable taxpayer digital portals
Design secure end to end architectures for AI platforms, case management systems, and taxpayer portals, with consideration for operational security requirements
Define security architecture standards, patterns, and reference architectures that can be effectively implemented and supported within an IT Security Operations environment
Embed security controls into infrastructure, application, and integration designs to support monitoring, detection, and response capabilities
Conduct architecture risk assessments and provide remediation guidance aligned to operational risk management practices
Provide authoritative cybersecurity architecture advice to delivery teams, IT Security Operations, and other stakeholders
Influence solution design decisions to ensure security, resilience, and operational supportability
Translate cybersecurity policy, regulatory, and operational requirements into practical, supportable designs
Ensure solution architectures are aligned with IT Security Operations capabilities, including incident response, threat detection, vulnerability management, and continuous monitoring
Collaborate with IT Security Operations teams to ensure architectures support effective security operations, logging, alerting, and forensic readiness
Support the operationalisation of security controls by ensuring clear handover from design to build and run phases
Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
Develop multiple practices in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks, supporting tactical development and excellence.
Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge & experience to identify & recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
Influence and communicate across business areas impacted by practice area to minimise resistance and ensure on-boarding of new thinking.
Integrate business information, compare, analyse & produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies & inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy development and optimisation of practises, processes & systems across an internal value chain.
Plan for value-added, continuous multiple practice and system improvement optimisation to deliver on objectives and to enhance tactical excellence.
Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; developing best practice solutions.
Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
Translate top down policy, apply modification in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
Provide support to integration projects by applying the required specialised skills in terms of architecture, data, design, services, processes, monitoring and patterns.
Ability to apply multi-skilled capabilities to influence, identify and resolve complex issues in the IT environment.
Engage with relevant stakeholders and establish operational and IT transformational demand.
Successfully deliver projects, impactful improvements initiatives & business as usual enhancements, improve effectiveness, service and productivity.
Governance
Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.
People
Engage business, IT, and IT Security Operations teams to ensure security requirements are understood, adopted, and operationally supported
Support digital transformation initiatives through trusted security architecture leadership within an IT Security Operations context
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
Adaptability
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
Creative and Innovative Thinking
Efficiency improvement
Functional Policies and Procedures
IT Knowledge
Knowledge of IT Governance and Business
Policy analysis
Reporting
System Thinking
Technical Expertise
Deadline:30th April,2026
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