Overview
Skills
Job Details
Job Title:
Project Manager Mainframe Retirement & Technical Debt
Location: 100% Remote
Duration: 2 - year Contract
W2 Only
IMPORTANT NOTE MUST READ BEFORE APPLYING:
This position strictly requires prior experience as a Project Manager directly responsible for the retirement of Mainframe Technologies and managing technical debt.
If this experience is not clearly outlined on your resume (including specific technologies, environments, and stakeholder involvement), please do not apply.
Preferred candidates will have worked on similar efforts within a state government environment.
Job Description:
A government agency is seeking a highly experienced Project Manager (PM) to lead a strategic initiative aimed at sunsetting 27 legacy applications that currently operate on outdated and unsupported technologies primarily hosted on a mainframe system (IBM Z-Series).
The selected PM referred to as the "Technical Debt PM" will oversee and coordinate all aspects of this modernization initiative. This includes working across IT and business units to plan, transition, decommission, and/or replace these legacy systems. A critical focus will be managing and reducing technical debt, ensuring continuity, and retiring systems using COBOL, DB2, ADABAS, and other legacy technologies.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the planning and execution of the mainframe decommissioning and application retirement efforts.
Manage scope, budget, timeline, risk, and communications for this high-impact program.
Coordinate with multiple stakeholders including internal teams, external vendors, and temporary contract staff.
Ensure legacy data is appropriately migrated or archived and that decommissioned applications do not affect business continuity.
Collaborate with Large IT Project Manager and Oversight Project Manager for quality, compliance, and reporting.
Lead technical and functional discussions related to software migration, sunsetting of legacy systems, and implementation of modern solutions.
Identify and mitigate risks, particularly related to security, continuity, and compliance.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Strong and proven experience as a Project Manager retiring Mainframe Technologies.
10+ years of IT Project Management experience.
5+ years of experience in software development, systems architecture, IT infrastructure, or troubleshooting.
Solid understanding of technical debt, its impact, and strategies for reduction.
Proficiency in project methodologies including Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Experience coordinating cross-functional technical and business teams.
Preferred Skills:
Experience managing mainframe retirement or technical debt projects in state or public sector environments.
Familiarity with COBOL, ADABAS, DB2, and IBM Z-Series mainframe technologies.
Certifications such as ScrumMaster, PMP, GIAC Project Manager, or equivalent.
Strong documentation and presentation abilities.
Key Soft Skills:
Leadership: Ability to drive outcomes and inspire cross-functional teams.
Communication: Clear, concise, and proactive with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Problem-Solving: Proficient in assessing legacy technical challenges and proposing viable solutions.
Risk Management: Strong capability to foresee and mitigate potential project risks.