At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mainframe operations and ensure critical systems run smoothly and securely.
- Company: Join Principality, a supportive and inclusive community focused on wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, competitive pay, and a comprehensive wellbeing package.
- Other info: Be part of an award-winning team committed to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by leading teams and driving operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in IT operations, strong leadership skills, and a passion for automation.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
BELONG – There’s no place like Principality. At Principality, belonging isn’t just a value — it’s how we work. When you join us, you’re welcomed into a supportive, inclusive community where your home life, wellbeing, and individuality are genuinely respected. From flexible ways of working to benefits designed around you, we’re committed to helping you feel comfortable, valued, and able to thrive. We believe great work happens when people feel connected — to each other, to our purpose, and to the communities we serve. That’s why we encourage balance, invest in wellbeing, and focus on growing and improving together.
Why join us? There are plenty of reasons to build your career with Principality:
- Flexible hybrid working – Our award-winning approach gives you the flexibility to work from home and from the office. Collaboration matters to us, so you’ll spend at least 8 days per month based in our Cardiff office.
- A truly inclusive workplace – Proudly named in the 2025 Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List, ranked 27th, recognising our ongoing commitment to inclusion and belonging.
- Customer excellence you can be proud of – Winners of Double Gold Awards for Customer Satisfaction at the Fairer Finance Awards 2025 for both Savings and Mortgages.
- Engaged, supported colleagues – Our colleague engagement scores consistently exceed 85%, reflecting a positive and supportive culture.
- Wellbeing at the heart of what we do – Our Belong benefits package is designed to put our people first, supporting your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
These achievements reflect more than awards — they represent our long-term commitment to creating a workplace where colleagues feel supported and customers feel cared for. When it comes to belonging, there truly is no place like Principality.
Are you passionate about keeping critical systems running smoothly and leading teams that make it happen? We’re looking for a Mainframe Operations Manager to take ownership of our production environment, ensuring key platforms and workloads run reliably, securely, and predictably. Reporting to the IT Service Operations Manager, the role sits on the Service Operations Leadership Team and leads mainframe operations, enterprise scheduling, production control and operational automation, providing the operational backbone for service-owning technology teams.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead day-to-day production operations, ensuring scheduled workloads and critical services run reliably, securely and to agreed standards.
- Own operational readiness across supported services, maintaining effective runbooks, procedures, support models and operational controls.
- Lead production support during incidents and major incidents, coordinating technical recovery and acting as a trusted deputy for Incident and Problem Management leadership.
- Drive problem resolution and continual improvement, identifying root causes and reducing recurring issues through strong operational discipline.
- Champion operational resilience, ensuring recovery procedures, testing activities and readiness practices remain effective.
- Drive automation initiatives that reduce manual effort, improve stability and increase operational efficiency.
- Define and maintain production governance, operational controls and service readiness requirements for changes entering live service.
- Use operational insight, performance data and trends to improve service quality, resilience and production outcomes.
- Partner with technology teams and third-party providers to manage production risk, dependencies and service restoration activities.
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing operations team while fostering a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
What we’re looking for:
- Strong experience leading production or IT operations teams in a complex environment.
- Knowledge of mainframe operations, enterprise scheduling, and batch processing.
- Confidence working in incident and major incident environments, making decisions under pressure.
- A passion for automation and continuous improvement.
- Experience improving operational resilience and recovery practices.
- Strong analytical thinking, using data to drive decisions and improvements.
- Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across teams and partners.
- Awareness of risk, governance, and working in regulated environments (desirable).
What makes you stand out:
- Leads with clarity and builds high-performing, resilient teams.
- Stays calm and makes sound decisions—even in high-pressure situations.
- Thinks ahead, designing systems and processes with recovery and stability in mind.
- Sees opportunities to simplify through automation and smarter ways of working.
- Builds strong relationships and brings people together to solve problems.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications.
Mainframe Operations Manager in Cardiff employer: Principality Building Society
Join a dynamic organisation where you can play a pivotal role in shaping funding and liquidity strategy as a BSM Senior Manager. Our collaborative, high-performing team offers a supportive work culture that values innovation and continuous improvement, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and influence at the executive level. With a focus on strategic decision-making and a commitment to robust risk management, this role is perfect for those looking to make a meaningful impact in a regulated environment.
Contact Details:
Principality Building Society Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mainframe Operations Manager in Cardiff
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Principality Building Society values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Principality Building Society might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Principality Building Society!
✨Direct Apply to Principality Building Society
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Principality Building Society website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Mainframe Operations Manager in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Principality Building Society.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Principality Building Society. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Principality Building Society
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
