Information Systems Advisor - IBM zVM Systems Administrator

Office of the Illinois Secretary of State

Office of the Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

Job Title: Information Systems Advisor I – IBM zVM Systems Administrator

Division: Technology Office – Infrastructure

Union: IFT

Location: 501 S 2 nd St., Springfield, IL – Sangamon County

Salary: Range from $6,759 to $12,573 monthly. Commensurate with experience

Benefits: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..html

Attention: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; the Office of the Secretary of State will not complete certification and/or sponsorship requests.

Responsible for managing and maintaining the State’s mission‑critical IBM mainframe virtualization infrastructure. This role acts as an IBM z/VM Administrator and is responsible for the installation, configuration, monitoring, and administration of IBM z/VM environments, ensuring system stability, performance, and security in support of statewide business applications and services. Must have deep expertise in z/VM systems management, zLinux virtualization, and resource administration, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively on high‑availability, enterprise‑scale environments.

• Install, configure, and maintain IBM z/VM operating environments.
• Apply maintenance, service packs, and system upgrades.
• Monitor and manage z/VM system resources including CPU, memory, and I/O.

• Administer virtual machine definitions, directory entries, and user access.
• Manage z/VM spool, minidisks, and shared resources.
• Maintain performance tuning and capacity planning documentation.

• Implement and enforce RACF policies for z/VM directory and resource access.
• Configure and support secure networking with AT‑TLS and SSL/TLS keyrings.
• Ensure compliance with SOC2, IRS Pub 1075, and other State of Illinois security frameworks.

• Participate in Disaster Recovery (DR) testing and system restoration planning.
• Develop and maintain z/VM recovery runbooks and operational procedures.

• Troubleshoot and resolve z/VM system issues, performance problems, and outages.
• Work with vendors (IBM, HPE, etc.) and internal DoIT teams for upgrades, migrations, and issue resolution.
• Provide documentation, training, and mentoring to junior staff and operations personnel.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of two years of college, with coursework in the computer science field AND four years of experience with technical systems and/or programming experience and/or IT project management OR any equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Extensive knowledge of systems design and implementation, including the way programs are written, compiled, and tested, the methods of operating computers, and the way data is transcribed into a form suitable for reading by computer and has an appreciation of the wider business context for those programs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for effective engagement with colleagues and internal users/customers.
• Exercise sound judgment in analyzing, appraising, evaluating, and solving problems of a procedural, organizational, administrative, and technical nature.
• Aware and adherent to organizational standards for security, privacy and ethics.
• Knowledge of devices for capturing data for computers and the means available for receiving and transmitting data from remote locations to a computer.
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of computer system documentation.
• Knowledge of advantages and limitations of computer communication, and information retrieval systems as management information tools.
• Ability to organize facts and findings, analyze data logically and present results with clarity and comprehension, orally and in written or graphic form.
• Ability to use and understand appropriate methods, tools, applications, and processes to demonstrate a rational and organized approach to work.
• Willingness to travel and possession of a valid Illinois driver’s…