IMS database specialist

We are seeking an experienced IMS Database Administrator to join a core Mainframe Systems team. Reporting to the Team Leader, you will play a critical role in ensuring the availability, performance, and reliability of IMS databases across enterprise mainframe environments.

This is a senior, hands-on technical position requiring deep expertise in IMS database architecture, performance tuning, backup and recovery, and system design. You will also act as a technical mentor, providing guidance and leadership to junior team members while working closely with multiple technical and application teams.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide expert-level guidance on IMS database design, usage, performance tuning, monitoring, and optimisation.
• Lead and deliver IMS database enhancements and new functionality in partnership with application and development teams.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system stability, reduce operational risk, and improve service outcomes.
• Mentor and support junior team members, fostering capability uplift within the team.

Service Delivery & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate closely with Production Services, enterprise support teams, and application developers to deliver reliable IMS-based solutions.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to business and technology stakeholders.
• Communicate best practices and educate users on efficient and effective IMS database usage.
• Maintain high standards of platform stability, availability, and performance.

Operations & Technology

• Provide day-to-day operational support for IMS database environments, including performance, throughput, and availability.
• Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues across production environments.
• Support high availability and future-ready database solutions.
• Contribute to technology planning, resource estimation, and project delivery.
• Participate in a 24x7 on-call support roster.

Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to the ongoing strategic and tactical direction of the Mainframe platform.
• Stay current with mainframe technology trends, including hardware, automation, networking, and industry developments.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience in IMS Database Administration, including availability, capacity planning, performance tuning, recovery, security, and data integrity.
• Expert knowledge of IMS Full Function and Fast Path databases.
• Strong working knowledge of IBM z/OS.
• Hands-on experience with IBM and BMC IMS utilities.
• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to work across multiple teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated customer focus and ability to translate business needs into effective technical solutions.
• Experience delivering and supporting enterprise-scale technology services.

Desirable

• IMS database experience within HOGAN environments.
• Exposure to banking or large-scale enterprise environments.
• Broad understanding of end-to-end technology services, including applications, networks, and storage.
• Experience with project management methodologies.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications.

Key Competencies

• Results-driven and proactive
• Strong customer focus
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Strategic mindset
• Continuous improvement focus
• Strong problem-solving capability
• Demonstrates initiative and ownership