COBOL Programmer - Civil Registry

12 months - Brussels Belgium

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Intro

RELYzIT Talent is seeking a COBOL Programmer for a high-impact freelance assignment with our client, a pivotal player in the modernization of national civil registries. This is your opportunity to shape the future of citizen data management by building a new register for newborns—an initiative that will redefine how vital records are managed at a national scale. Join a mission-driven team where your expertise will directly influence the digital backbone of public services.

Why This Role Matters (Mission & Outcomes)

This role is central to the creation of a new component within the National Register, dedicated to recording newborns who do not yet have a birth certificate. Your work will ensure that every new citizen is accounted for from day one, supporting the integrity and inclusivity of national records. The outcomes of your contributions will have a lasting impact on public administration, data accuracy, and the seamless delivery of essential services to future generations.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Designing, developing, and implementing COBOL-based solutions within the central mainframe system to support the new newborn register.
• Translating functional and technical analyses into robust transaction and management products.
• Testing, validating, and deploying new functionalities to ensure reliability and compliance with project requirements.
• Continuously optimizing, adapting, and enhancing existing mainframe functionalities to meet evolving business needs.
• Managing the impact of new developments on the broader system, ensuring seamless integration and minimal disruption.
• Providing ongoing maintenance and support for developed applications, proactively identifying and resolving issues.
• Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including analysts, architects, and project managers, to deliver high-quality solutions on schedule.
• Documenting technical processes and solutions to ensure knowledge transfer and maintainability.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven expertise as a Mainframe Developer, with confirmed experience in COBOL programming.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a builder’s mindset focused on delivering impactful, future-proof solutions.
• Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end development cycles, from requirements analysis to deployment and support.
• Ability to adapt quickly to new challenges and proactively drive continuous improvement.
• Experience working in complex, mission-critical environments, ideally within public sector or large-scale registry systems.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to quality, security, and compliance in all deliverables.

Technical Skills

• COBOL (Confirmed proficiency required)
• Mainframe development environments
• Transaction processing systems
• Testing and validation tools for mainframe applications
• Change management and version control systems

Language Proficiency

Professional proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of French or Dutch is a strong asset, given the project’s context.

Other Requirements

• On-site presence required in Brussels, Belgium (remote work is not available for this assignment).
• Freelance contract for an initial duration of 12 months, with potential for extension based on project needs and performance.
• Availability to start promptly and commit to the full project lifecycle.
• Experience in public sector or civil registry projects is highly valued.

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