Information Systems Advisor II - z/OS Administration

Illinois Secretary of State•Springfield, IL

1d•$8,020 - $14,138•Onsite

About The Position

The Information Systems Advisor II – z/OS Administration plans, implements, coordinates, and evaluates complex technical software functions for the Illinois Secretary of State Mainframe environment. The role maintains, modernizes, and optimizes the z/OS operating system and core subsystems, oversees IBM SAN storage, replication, and VTL environments, and supports IBM mainframe hardware infrastructure. It implements and maintains vendor software, provides 24x7 on-call support for critical issues, and guides staff in managing z/VM for virtualized workloads. The position also handles mainframe security through RACF, monitors and tunes system performance, manages z/OS networking, ensures thorough documentation, and maintains the disaster recovery environment to support continuity and rapid recovery. The position is in the Technology Office, represented by IFT, and is located at 501 S 2nd St, Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. The monthly salary range is $8,020 to $14,138, commensurate with experience. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; the Office will not complete certification or sponsorship requests. Preference will be given to Illinois residents in hiring and selection, in accordance with the Illinois Secretary of State Merit Employment Code.

Requirements

Knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of two years of college, with coursework in computer science, and 4.5 years of technical systems and/or programming experience and/or IT project management, including at least one year of supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive knowledge of systems design and implementation, including how programs are written, compiled, and tested; computer operating methods; and data transcription, with an understanding of the wider business context for programs.
Excellent oral and written communication skills for engaging effectively with colleagues and internal users or customers.
Sound judgment in analyzing, evaluating, and solving procedural, organizational, administrative, and/or technical problems.
Ability to use and understand appropriate methods, tools, applications, and processes and to approach work rationally and systematically.
Awareness of and adherence to organizational security, privacy, and ethics standards.
Extensive knowledge of computer data-capture devices and methods for receiving and transmitting data from remote locations.
Extensive knowledge of computer system documentation principles and techniques.
Willingness to seek learning and professional development opportunities.
Extensive knowledge of the advantages and limitations of computer communication and information retrieval systems as management information tools.
Ability to follow oral and/or written instructions and carry out established routine operations without further instructions.
Ability to organize facts and findings, analyze data logically, and present results clearly and comprehensibly in oral, written, or graphic form.
Willingness to travel and possession of a valid Illinois driver’s license, as required by individual positions within the class.
Ability to lift, carry, and push/pull 0–50 lbs.
Must be authorized to work in the United States; the Office will not complete certification or sponsorship requests.

Responsibilities

Maintain, modernize, and optimize z/OS operating systems and core subsystems, including TWS, DB2, CICS, and MQ, to ensure stability, reliability, and adherence to enterprise standards and modernization strategy.
Support IBM mainframe hardware infrastructure, including processors, storage subsystems, and peripheral components; monitor performance and capacity, and coordinate maintenance, firmware updates, and hardware lifecycle activities.
Implement and maintain vendor software that interfaces with system programs and hardware.
Provide 24x7 on-call support for critical system issues, perform diagnostic analysis, and coordinate resolution to maintain system availability.
Manage IBM SAN storage and replication environments and IBM VTL systems, including allocation, placement, capacity planning, catalog integrity, backup strategies, and recovery processes.
Administer and support z/OS networking components, including TCP/IP configuration, network routing, encryption, z/OS Connect, and other networking technologies; perform security-focused network tuning and troubleshooting.
Monitor and maintain the ILSOS disaster recovery environment, using IBM Flexible Capacity and failover functions to support resilience, continuity, and rapid recovery of mainframe operations.
Assist with maintaining mainframe security controls using RACF and related technologies, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity, audit, and regulatory requirements.
Ensure junior staff produce comprehensive documentation covering system configurations, operational standards, maintenance procedures, and technical troubleshooting guides.
Guide staff in configuring and maintaining z/VM environments for virtualized Linux workloads and interoperability with z/OS.
Monitor and tune system performance using Omegamon, RMF, zLinux, and WLM; analyze trends, identify bottlenecks, and adjust system parameters to improve throughput and efficiency.
Perform other duties as assigned.