LEAD ADMINISTRATOR L1

Job Description

Role Overview:

As a key member of our team, you will provide 24×7 support for IBM Z mainframe operations, playing a crucial role in maintaining platform stability and ensuring compliance with operational controls and procedures. Your responsibilities include continuous monitoring of mainframe consoles to identify and respond swiftly to system and application alerts, spanning dataset, CICS, and DB2 domains. You will manage batch and online workloads efficiently, leveraging Job Control Language (JCL) and scheduling tools such as Tivoli Workload Scheduler (TWS). Your daily activities extend to job submissions, executing controlled system restarts, and supporting Initial Program Load (IPL) operations under supervision to guarantee smooth operational continuity.

In addition to routine tasks, you will actively participate in Disaster Recovery (DR) drills, meticulously executing runbook instructions, conducting validation checks, and documenting evidence to strengthen recovery readiness. A key focus of your role is to maintain rigorous shift handover protocols, ensuring seamless communication and strict adherence to operational governance policies, thereby preserving the integrity and reliability of our mainframe environment.

This role offers the opportunity to develop specialized expertise in mainframe operations within a dynamic and supportive workplace, emphasizing collaborative problem-solving and continuous process improvement.

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Technical Expertise and Qualifications:

• IBM Z Console Operations: Master system monitoring practices, interpreting alerts, messages, and logs to take swift, appropriate corrective actions that uphold service availability.
• Job Management: Oversee job execution life cycles, identify and troubleshoot failures promptly, restart or release jobs effectively, and manage job dependencies and priority sequencing.
• Batch Processing: Expertly submit, schedule, and manage batch jobs utilizing JCL scripts and job schedulers like TWS to ensure timely and efficient processing.
• Infrastructure Support: Provide support for IPL processes, role transitions, and controlled restarts of system components, contributing to operational resilience.
• Operational Housekeeping: Conduct regular maintenance and housekeeping activities to ensure system hygiene and readiness.
• Application Alert Response: Monitor and address alerts from CICS and DB2 systems, performing initial diagnostics and escalating as per documented escalation protocols.
• 24/7 Shift Operations: Engage in rotating shift work, demonstrate adaptability during varying operational demands, and maintain high service availability during critical incident handling.
• Continuous Improvement: Participate in retrospectives and feedback loops for refining operational processes, driving automation initiatives to minimize manual tasks.
• Collaboration and Communication: Coordinate with Service Centers and support teams to facilitate escalation management, incident resolution, reporting, and clear operational communications.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a comparable discipline is preferred.
• 4 to 5+ years of hands-on experience in mainframe or enterprise operations/support, preferably within a complex, risk-managed ecosystem.
• Knowledge of ITIL frameworks including incident, problem, and change management along with a disciplined approach to shift handovers.
• Strong analytical mindset paired with calm, decisive action under pressure.
• A commitment to cultural awareness, fostering inclusivity within a global, diverse team.
• Reliability and flexibility to respond effectively to high-severity incidents and operational surges.
• Proven ownership of tasks with strict adherence to runbook procedures and accurate evidence documentation.

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Detailed Technical Skills and Core Competencies:

• IBM Z Console Operations: Proficient in monitoring system messages, alerts, and log files to quickly detect and address anomalies that could impact platform availability.
• Job Control and Scheduling: Skilled in submitting, monitoring, troubleshooting, and managing batch jobs using JCL and scheduling tools like TWS, ensuring uninterrupted processing adhering to established priorities and dependencies.
• Operational Support Activities: Experience supporting IPL activities, facilitating role swaps, and implementing controlled restarts to maintain service continuity.
• Housekeeping and Resiliency: Aid in routine housekeeping to maintain system integrity and enhance operational resiliency through disciplined execution of procedures and controls.
• Alert Response: Responsive to CICS and DB2 alerts with ability to undertake first-level verification, troubleshooting, and escalation as stipulated by existing documentation.
• Shift-Based Incident Management: Comfortable working rotating shifts in high-pressure environments, adept at managing incidents to sustain high availability and performance.
• Process Enhancement: Actively contribute to retrospectives and collaborate on automation projects aimed at reducing manual workload and streamlining operations.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Liaise effectively with Service Centres and support teams to manage incident escalations, resolve issues expediently, report status updates, and ensure transparent operational communications.

General Skills:

• Strong problem determination and analytical capabilities to effectively detect, triage, and contain processing anomalies and system errors.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, particularly adept at explaining complex technical details clearly during incidents and shift handovers.
• Ability to foster collaborative relationships across diverse technology teams and service centers, building trust through consistent, dependable performance.
• Comfortable and effective in a globally distributed, collaborative team environment, offering support and approachability.
• Prior experience within banking or finance sectors is advantageous, especially familiarity with environments demanding high availability and stringent risk governance.

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Essential Qualifications and Personal Attributes:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related field is preferred, providing a solid foundation for the technical demands of the role.
• Minimum 4 to 5 years of demonstrated experience in mainframe or enterprise operations and support, highlighting a thorough understanding of complex operational environments.
• Working knowledge of ITIL-based processes including incident management, problem management, change control, and strict adherence to shift handover protocols to maintain operational excellence.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with an aptitude for maintaining composure and delivering solutions under pressure.
• Strong cultural sensitivity and an inclusive mindset to effectively engage within a diverse, global workforce.
• Flexibility and dependability, particularly during high-severity incident scenarios and peak operational periods, ensuring continuity of critical services.
• Demonstrated ownership and accountability; capability to meticulously follow runbooks and operational controls, while diligently capturing required evidence for compliance and audit purposes.

This role requires a proactive, disciplined individual committed to operational excellence and continuous learning, with the aptitude to thrive in a dynamic, security-conscious environment.