Director, Mainframe Systems Programming

Director, Mainframe Systems Programming
· Remote - United States 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.

A strong business orientation is essential to operate the function as a true business unit, guided by clear metrics, benchmark-driven performance, and measurable progress milestones. A solid foundation in project management principles, coupled with a disciplined, process-oriented approach, is critical for success.

This role also demands a forward-thinking leader who can challenge traditional service delivery models, reimagine underlying assumptions, and drive continuous capability maturity. The candidate will actively advance innovation and automation initiatives to enhance efficiency, scalability, and service quality.

As a relentless ally, be able to anticipate client expectations and incorporate needs proactively into client roadmaps. The successful candidate will be a skilled communicator that can influence internal and external stakeholders at multiple levels. The candidate will be able to navigate complex technical topics and communicate them with clarity, brevity, and impact.

Leverage your breath of experiences to lead the organization through cross-functional and collaborative efforts. Partner with solutioning and sales to shape new opportunities and presales efforts.

An engaged and motivated leader, see the value in our associates. Coach, mentor and leverage our talent management processes to effectively lead managers, build your talent and create a highly engaged team.

• 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.