Implementation Manager - Mainframe Product Migration Programme - Square One Resources

Job Title:Implementation Manager - Mainframe Product Migration Programme
Location: Remote
Salary/Rate: £550-600 per day inside IR35
Start Date: Immediate
Job Type: Initial 6-12 month contract

Company Introduction
We have an exciting opportunity now available with one of our sector-leading consultancy clients! They are currently looking for a skilledImplementation Manager - Mainframe Product Migration Programme to join their Tier 1 banking client on a remote basis.

Job Responsibilities/Objectives
Plan, coordinate, and execute the end-to-end implementation of a mainframe product migration into production, ensuring a controlled, compliant, and low-risk cutover. Own the integrated deployment/cutover plan, readiness, and go/no-go governance across technology, operations, business, and third parties.

• Create and maintain the integrated implementation (deployment/cutover) strategy and plan covering scope, approach (big bang/phased), timeline, dependencies, and critical path.
• Lead cutover planning: detailed runbooks, rehearsal plans, roles/responsibilities, communications, checkpoints, and contingency/rollback.
• Coordinate release and change management activities (CAB submissions, implementation approvals, change records, stakeholder signoffs).
• Drive environment and operational readiness: capacity, access, monitoring, scheduling/batch windows, support model, service transition.
• Manage data migration implementation activities with clear sequencing, validation steps, reconciliation, and operational controls.
• Orchestrate dress rehearsals / mock cutovers, capture lessons learned and harden runbooks.
• Lead implementation governance: readiness reviews, RAID management, decision logs, and executive reporting.
• Coordinate hyper care/post-go-live: incident triage, defect backlog prioritisation, stabilisation metrics, and handover to BAU.
• Ensure alignment with risk/compliance/audit requirements (evidence packs, approvals, segregation of duties where required).
• Manage third parties/vendors involved in deployment (e.g., infrastructure, platform, data, app support, schedulers).

Deliverables (typical)

• Implementation strategy and Integrated Cutover Plan
• Detailed cutover runbooks (minute-by-minute where needed)
• Rehearsal plans and rehearsal outcomes/actions log
• Change/CAB artefacts and approval pack
• Readiness criteria, go/no-go checklist, and decision log
• Hypercare plan, support model, and BAU handover pack
• Implementation closure report and lessons learned

Required Skills/Experience
The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Proven Implementation/Cutover/Deployment Management on mainframe or large-scale legacy migrations.
• Strong understanding of z/OS production operations constraints: batch cycles (JCL), scheduling (e.g., Control-M/CA-7), DB2/IMS considerations, CICS regions, interface dependencies, and resilience/DR practices.
• Experience running dress rehearsals, coordinating cross-team cutovers, and leading go/no-go forums.
• Working knowledge of ITIL-aligned change, release, and incident management in regulated environments.

Skills & behaviours

• Excellent planning and dependency management; strong ?get it done? execution bias.
• Clear, calm leadership during high-pressure cutover windows.
• Strong stakeholder management across technology, operations, business, risk/compliance, and suppliers.
• Crisp written communication: executive updates, RAID, and runbook clarity.

Tools / methods

• Planning: MS Project/Smartsheet/Jira/Confluence
• Change/ITSM: ServiceNow (or equivalent)
• Reporting: Excel

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply now with your updated CV in Microsoft Word/PDF format.

Disclaimer
Notwithstanding any guidelines given to level of experience sought, we will consider candidates from outside this range if they can demonstrate the necessary competencies.
Square One is acting as both an employment agency and an employment business, and is an equal opportunities recruitment business. Square One embraces diversity and will treat everyone equally. Please see our website for our full diversity statement.