Mainframe Modernization Senior Manager

Senior Manager Mainframe Modernization

As a Senior Manager in our Mainframe Modernization practice, you will lead high-impact transformation programs that modernize clients' mission-critical legacy mainframe environments. You will combine deep mainframe expertise with executive-level client engagement, strategic vision, and people leadership to guide cross-functional teams from assessment through go-live. This is a senior leadership role with direct accountability for delivery quality, client relationships, and practice growth.

Strategic Leadership

• Define the strategic direction for mainframe modernization programs in collaboration with client executives and internal stakeholders.
• Develop comprehensive transformation roadmaps—covering rehosting, reengineering, refactoring, re-platforming, and hybrid approaches—that align with client business objectives and risk appetite.
• Stay ahead of industry trends in mainframe modernization, cloud migration, and emerging technologies, applying new thinking to continuously elevate practice capabilities.

Client Engagement & Advisory

• Build and sustain trusted advisor relationships with C-level and senior client stakeholders across the engagement lifecycle.
• Provide expert counsel on modernization strategies, clearly articulating business value, technical trade-offs, and risk.
• Represent the practice in business development activities, contributing to proposals, client workshops, and industry events.

Program & Delivery Management

• Lead cross-functional teams—architects, developers, QA, and business analysts—in executing mainframe modernization projects on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Establish and own the program governance framework, including reporting cadences, escalation paths, and change management protocols.
• Identify and proactively mitigate risks across technical, operational, and organizational dimensions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable security, regulatory, and data governance requirements throughout transformation programs.

Solution Design

• Partner with technical architects to design modernization solutions tailored to clients' unique environments and constraints.
• Evaluate existing mainframe ecosystems, identify optimization opportunities, and propose migration architectures leveraging modern cloud-native patterns and Dev Ops practices.
• Oversee quality assurance and validation processes to confirm that modernized systems meet performance, reliability, and functional requirements.

People & Practice Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of modernization professionals, fostering a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and innovation.
• Define talent and capability development priorities for the practice, identifying skill gaps and sponsoring targeted growth initiatives.
• Communicate complex technical and program status to both technical and non-technical audiences with clarity and confidence.

This role may require up to 100% travel based on client engagement requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum 8+ years of consulting experience including leadership of mainframe modernization or large-scale legacy transformation programs.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience with mainframe technologies and modernization strategies (rehosting, reengineering, refactoring, re-platforming).
• Minimum 8+ years of experience working with Mainframe Migration and Modernization partners and vendor ecosystems.
• Demonstrated experience with microservices architecture, Dev Ops practices, and CI/CD pipelines as modernization targets.
• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent minimum 12 years' work experience. (Associate's Degree requires minimum 6 years' work experience.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong leadership track record with demonstrated success managing large, geographically distributed teams on complex transformation programs.
• In-depth knowledge of legacy mainframe platforms (IBM z/OS, CICS, DB2, COBOL, IMS) and their modernization pathways.
• Hands-on familiarity with major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) as modernization destinations.
• Experience with Dev Ops tool chains (CI/CD, automated testing, infrastructure-as-code) in a modernization context.
• IBM, AWS, Azure, or GCP certifications relevant to mainframe modernization.
• PMP, SAFe, or equivalent program management certification.