Director, Mainframe Systems Programming

Role Summary

The Director of Mainframe Systems Programs is mission focused to deliver client outcomes. This role will oversee a broad range of delivery projects to fulfill the client expectations for hardware and software Lifecycle Management. This individual will be leading teams responsible for managing the life cycle and patch management of z/OS and ISV upgrades, including subsystem upgrades for CICS, MQ, DB2, and IMS across multiple clients. The work leverages technologies such as SMPE, z/OSMF, AI Adoptions, Python etc.

The successful candidate will leverage strong business acumen, relationship-building capability, and a strategic mindset to consistently drive the team toward successful outcomes. They should bring proven experience managing large-scale Mainframe teams, particularly in software currency and patch management environments.

What You Will Do

• Provide strong leadership and strategic direction to the functional organization, driving accountability, performance, and outcome-based delivery.
• Operate effectively in ambiguous environments, setting clear direction, priorities, and execution frameworks for large-scale Mainframe teams.
• Lead adoption of AI-driven operations, z/OSMF workflows, and Ansible for z/OS (z/Ansible) to enable automation-first delivery, improve resiliency, and accelerate upgrade and maintenance cycles.
• Bring deep Mainframe technical expertise, including z/OS system programming, ISV Upgrades & Maintenances, RSU planning and implementation, ensuring platform stability and compliance.
• Drive innovation by challenging traditional service models and embedding AI/ML and automation to continuously improve scalability, efficiency, and service quality.
• Influence and inspire teams to consistently meet delivery commitments, fostering a culture of ownership, agility, and engineering excellence.
• Communicate with clarity and impact—translating complex technical and operational topics into concise, actionable insights for leadership and clients.
• Build trusted relationships across internal and external stakeholders, operating as a strategic service delivery partner.
• Leverage systems, data, and metrics to drive decisions, track performance against benchmarks, and ensure measurable outcomes.
• Maintain a strong balance of personal accountability, resilience, and agility in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrate high attention to detail with disciplined follow-through—creating a “trust but verify” culture across deliverables.
• Define and drive completion of individual, departmental, and organizational goals aligned to clear KPIs and milestones.
• Ensure audit readiness and compliance through strong governance, documentation, and control adherence across all engagements.

What You Will Need

• 10+ years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree. Relevant work experience will be considered in place of a bachelor’s degree.
• Able to manage up, down and across organizations, clients and/or functions.
• Strong in managing z/OS, ISV & Subsystem Upgrades via Traditional & Modern Approach
• Experienced in diverse mainframe technical environments. Experienced in one or more mainframe infrastructure, hardware, system programming technologies. Alternative experiences must include high learning agility to acquire mainframe technology knowledge and apply previous experiences to achieve operational outcomes.
• Possess communication skills to appropriately lead at the client/team/Business unit levels.
• Experienced leading complex projects and programs.
• Microsoft Office skills including Microsoft Project

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge in one or more areas of mainframe discipline.
• ITIL or ITSM oversight or expertise in Release, Change and CMDB
• Installation knowledge of ISV SW and IBM Operating systems
• Knowledge of SMP/E or maintenance routines if applicable
• Knowledge in z/OSMF, Python & zOAU.
• Knowledge system IPL processes
• Framework experience in NIST, COBIT, ITIL, ValIT and or similar
• Project management methodology experience in PMI-ACP, PMP, PRINCE or PMBOK
• Lean Six Sigma for Managers