Lead Mainframe Database Administrator (DBA)

At the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), we encourage applications from everyone, particularly groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. We pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has and promote inclusivity and equality of opportunity for all. Our recruitment process is anonymised, which means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.
Are you a Software Engineer with experience in Adabas administration and mainframe systems?
If so, this role will provide the challenge you are looking for!, The DVLA maintain several important mainframe applications including Drivers 90 which maintains the UKs national register of drivers and driving licences.
We are looking for a Lead Mainframe Database Administrator to lead the team of DBAs who manage and maintain Adabas databases and associated applications running on the IBM z/OS operating system.
The role holder will work directly with the existing mainframe engineering teams playing a critical role in the design, organisation and governance of administration work on mainframe applications and systems.
Essential Skills
+ Adabas database administration
+ Natural programming
+ JCL
+ IBM z/OS
The DVLA deliver wide reaching digital services to the UK public and industry. We maintain the national record of vehicles and drivers so if you have applied for a driving licence, taxed your vehicle, or completed a vehicle enquiry you would have used one of our services.
As an Agency we operate both legacy applications on older systems, as well as utilising modern technologies like cloud and serverless solutions, but whilst we migrate onto new technologies it is important that we maintain the stability and security of our existing systems.
We are looking for a Lead Mainframe Database Administrator to join IT Services (ITS), to lead a small mainframe DBA team and provide development and technical leadership. You’ll act as a senior point of escalation on methodology and/or development issues. You will ensure your team understands and applies the conventions and best practice associated with the legacy technology or SaaS system.
You will have demonstrable knowledge of ADABAS, Natural and JCL and be able to work on your own initiative and collaboratively within a team structure supporting and learning from other team members. From this you will develop your own skills and actively coach and develop others.
In this role you will develop and maintain good relationships with stakeholders across the business. Within and between our teams, we have a friendly and stable engineering community. Keeping work/life enjoyable is key to us, and we strive to ensure the efficient and secure use of software and infrastructure.
As part of our ongoing mission to support and develop all staff within the DVLA, you will be given a high spec Windows laptop or Macbook as well as giving you the freedom and support necessary to perform in your role and continuously develop your skill set., + Be an expert in one or more Legacy Software or SaaS Systems.
+ Govern and assure the way in which others work with one or more Legacy or SaaS Systems.
+ Set the approach and design when deciding how legacy or SaaS systems should be modified to meet changing requirements.
+ Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring within a Legacy Software or SaaS team.
+ Contribute to the developer community.
+ Promote Knowledge sharing and adoption of good practice.
+ Write clean and secure code.
For further responsibilities please review the attached Role Profile.
Additional information
Applications will be accepted from full time/part time/job sharers. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Part time and/or flexible working may also be available subject to the needs of the business. If you have a flexible or part time working requirement, you should contact the vacancy holder in advance of making an application to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your desired working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role. To contact the vacancy holder, please use the job contact details listed under ‘Contact point for applicants’.
This role will be based in Swansea, and we will be operating a hybrid working model that allows you to work between home and on-site giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work, subject to business needs and this also allows for ongoing support, development, and collaboration with colleagues.
Therefore, the expectation is that you will spend a minimum of 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace (DVLA). We would encourage you to discuss the working arrangements for this role with us during the recruitment process., + Working within a team to build and support mainframe systems.
+ Implementing technical changes to mainframe applications built using Natural and Adabas.
+ Undertaking root cause analysis to investigate Live system issues.
Please note that any part of the role profile could be tested at sift/interview.
If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
+ An interview and technical coding exercise.
Technical Skills
Government Digital & Data Framework Profession Capability Framework – Software Developer - Senior Developer
1. Availability and Capacity Management: You can manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets (Skill level: working).
2. Service support: You can: identify, locate and fix faults (Skill level: practitioner).
3. Programming and Build (Software Engineering): You can collaborate with others when necessary to review specifications. You can use the agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity, using the right standards and tools (Skill level: practitioner).
Assessment and Interview
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV to Inspire People (our Recruitment Partners) which outlines your experience and suitability for the role (based on the experience points outlined in the essential criteria on this advert).
On receipt of your CV, DVLA Hiring Managers will complete a sift.
Please note; the sift will be completed on a rolling basis whilst the campaign is still live and so there is potential for feedback to be shared with you (on your application) before the advert closes.
If at sift your application is successful, you will be invited to the first stage of the interview process (hosted by inspire people), where you will be asked to complete a pre-recorded video interview (this again will be based on the experience points outlined in the essential criteria on this advert).
If you are successful at this stage, you will be invited to a final stage interview (which will include an assessment) and be conducted by DVLA Hiring Managers.
Final stage interview/assessments will take place from Monday the 29th of July 2024.
At the final interview stage, you will be assessed against various Behavioural and Technical elements. (Find more information around these elements by following the Success Profiles and Technical skill links in the advert).
This interview will be conducted via a video, details of which will be provided, should you be selected for interview.
Please familiarise yourself with the Government Digital & Data framework as you will be tested on elements of this during the interview stage.
The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.
Please take note that DVLA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Reasonable adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact dvla@inspirepeople.net as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Should your application be successful to interview stage, you should contact dvla@inspirepeople.net to advise upon any reasonable adjustment requirements you may need for the interview or presentation stage.
Document Accessibility

You will already be an experienced software engineer with comprehensive knowledge of mainframe Adabas systems.
We’re looking for hardworking and motivated people with the right experience to join and help us grow. You will be working alongside our software engineering colleagues where you’ll get to collaborate and participate in cross-team events and communities.
To thrive in this role, you will have extensive experience of working in mainframe Adabas/Natural systems. You will have also gained experience within multiple technology areas, with a specialism within one or more areas.
You will be a self-starter who looks to add real value to ITS, someone who can gain rapport quickly with others as you look to build effective working relationships. You will have strong communication skills both verbally and in writing with the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences.
You’ll have a passion for specialist technologies that support the needs of DVLA, with the ability to, influence those around you and driving your team towards a shared goal. You will have good organisational skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple (and often conflicting) workloads on time and to a high standard.

We strive to ensure that DVLA is a great place to work where everybody can be their true self, be treated with dignity and respect, and according to their individual needs. We have a number of staff network groups run by staff to support their colleagues.
Working for the DVLA Digital Team
At DVLA, licensing is just the start. Every project you implement, touch and deliver has a ripple effect that’ll wash across the nation. Here the work you’re doing has the capacity to change the way 50 million people interact with our services. As we aim to keep our roads some of the safest in the world, our innovative, transformative digital-led services help optimise a nation of individuals and business every single day.
To see how our people are transforming our digital services, head over to our DVLA Digital Services Blog and, to understand more about the great opportunities and benefits of working at DVLA read our Inside DVLA blog.
Government Digital and Data Profession Pay Framework
The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.
The base pay is £51,997. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £28,403.
The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.
Please note, the new Capability–Based Pay Framework comes into effect on 1st August 2024, and this will be the earliest available start date for this role.
Here are more details on the pay framework.
Due to the evolving nature of the business, vacancies can become available at any time. Therefore, this campaign may create a reserve list to fulfil demand if it arises which will be held for a period of 12 months., Passionate, reliable and always willing to push yourself and those around you, you’ll continue to seek improvement in your own role and challenge us too. Because we pride ourselves on how we approach your development. From training courses to specialist skills workshops and opportunities to grow your expertise, we thrive when you thrive. You can find out more about all of the above here alongside a full list of our benefits:
+ Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
+ Generous employer contribution of at least 26.6%, depending on rate of salary and chosen pension scheme
+ Digital communities with clear career frameworks
+ On-site gym plus personal training available (membership applies)
+ On-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar
+ 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 each year (up to 30) & 1 extra day for the King’s birthday
+ Free parking, A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.