Mainframe Project Manager

Virtual Labs; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Virtual Labs is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead Mainframe Modernization and Legacy Transformation programs. You will drive end-to-end delivery, manage budgets, and coordinate across Mainframe, Cloud, Infrastructure, and Development teams.

The role emphasizes governance, stakeholder engagement, and risk management to ensure on-time production migration and continuous improvement across complex enterprise environments.

Qualifications

• Experience leading Mainframe Modernization programs with enterprise impact.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale modernization initiatives from planning through deployment.
• Strong governance, reporting, and stakeholder communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of Mainframe Modernization and Legacy Transformation initiatives.
• Develop plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocation strategies.
• Drive migration, testing, cutover, and production deployment activities.
• Coordinate across Mainframe, Cloud, Infra, DevOps, Security, and Business teams.
• Establish governance forums and executive reporting mechanisms.
• Monitor progress, dependencies, risks, and mitigation actions.
• Ensure scope control, budget adherence, and on-time delivery.
• Facilitate steering committees and project review sessions.
• Drive continuous improvement and modernization best practices.
• Ensure compliance with standards and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Project management

Mainframe modernization

Legacy transformation

Application migration

Cloud transformation

Delivery methodologies

Budget & forecasting

Vendor engagement

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Governance & reporting

Distributed teams

CI/CD & DevOps

Cloud platforms

Tools

Azure DevOps

Jira

ServiceNow

Confluence

Job description

Mainframe Modernization (10+ Years) Experience 10+ years of experience in IT Project Management with proven expertise in leading Mainframe Modernization, Legacy Transformation, Application Migration, and Enterprise Transformation programs.

Experience managing large-scale modernization initiatives involving Mainframe applications, cloud migration, DevOps adoption, and cross-functional delivery teams.

Required Skills

• Strong experience in Project Management, Program Delivery, and Enterprise Transformation initiatives.
• Proven experience leading Mainframe Modernization programs involving COBOL, CICS, JCL, DB2, IMS, VSAM, and z/OS environments.
• Hands-on experience managing application migration, rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, and cloud transformation projects.
• Strong understanding of Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, and Hybrid delivery methodologies.
• Experience managing project budgets, resource planning, forecasting, and vendor engagements.
• Expertise in stakeholder management, executive communication, governance, and reporting.
• Experience managing distributed teams across Development, Infrastructure, Testing, DevOps, Security, and Business functions.
• Strong knowledge of risk management, issue management, change control, and project governance processes.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform.
• Understanding of DevOps, CI/CD practices, release management, and modernization frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of Mainframe Modernization and Legacy Transformation initiatives.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, and resource allocation strategies.
• Drive application modernization activities including portfolio assessment, migration planning, execution, testing, and production deployment.
• Coordinate activities across Mainframe, Cloud, Infrastructure, Development, Testing, Security, and Business teams.
• Establish project governance forums, status reporting mechanisms, and executive-level communication plans.
• Track project progress, manage dependencies, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies.
• Manage project scope, change requests, budget adherence, and delivery timelines.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings, steering committees, and project review sessions.
• Ensure successful execution of migration, cutover, and post-implementation support activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and recommend modernization best practices to improve delivery efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with organizational standards, security policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare project documentation, delivery reports, dashboards, and executive presentations.

Preferred Skills

• PMP, PRINCE2, SAFe, Scrum Master, PMI-ACP, or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience managing Mainframe-to-Cloud migration programs.
• Knowledge of Mainframe Modernization tools and platforms such as IBM Modernization Solutions, Micro Focus, Rocket Software, Raincode, Astadia, or TmaxSoft.
• Experience with Azure DevOps, Jira, ServiceNow, Confluence, or similar project management and collaboration tools.
• Understanding of CI/CD pipelines, DevOps transformation initiatives, and release automation practices.
• Experience working with global delivery teams and large enterprise transformation programs.
• Familiarity with API modernization, microservices architecture, and cloud-native application development concepts.

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced transformation programs.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and influencing skills.
• Self-driven with a focus on delivery excellence and customer satisfaction.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across business and technology teams.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and risk management mindset.

Primary Skill: Mainframe Modernization Program & Project Management

Secondary Skills: Legacy Transformation, Application Migration, Cloud Migration, Agile Delivery, Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, Budget Management, DevOps, CI/CD, Governance, Vendor Management, Azure/AWS, COBOL, CICS, JCL, DB2, z/OS