Job Summary
Role: Mainframe Scheduling (OPC/TWS) Specialist / Lead
Primary Tools: IBM OPC / Tivoli Workload Scheduler (TWS)
Platform: IBM OS Mainframe
The role is responsible for planning, administering, monitoring, optimizing, and supporting enterprise batch workloads while ensuring high availability, SLA compliance, production stability, and continuous service improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
1.Batch Scheduling Administration
Create, maintain, and document production batch schedules.
Configure calendars, dependencies, resources, and workstations.
Install and maintain batch jobs within the scheduling tool.
Support production workload planning and scheduling governance.
Manage scheduler administration activities.
2.Production Scheduling & Optimization
Schedule production, urgent, and ad-hoc workloads.
Resolve job dependency and scheduling conflicts.
Identify critical batch processing paths.
Optimize batch windows and improve workload distribution.
Support peak-period processing and special business schedules.
Recommend automation and efficiency improvements.
3.Monitoring & Operations
Monitor batch execution and scheduler health.
Perform operational controls:
Hold
Release
Restart
Skip
Cancel
Execute daily batch operational checklists.
Support environments with multiple scheduling masters.
Ensure timely incident detection and recovery.
4.Incident, Problem & Change Management
Troubleshoot batch and scheduling failures.
Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
Execute recovery procedures for failed workloads.
Participate in Change and Problem Management activities.
Escalate unresolved issues appropriately.
Ensure production availability targets are achieved.\\\\r\\\\n5. Governance & Continuous Improvement
Maintain scheduling standards and operational procedures.
Develop documentation and runbooks.
Collect and analyze operational performance metrics.
Drive continuous service improvement initiatives.
Improve scheduling effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Skill Requirements
Technical Skills Required
Enterprise Scheduling Tools
IBM OPC (Operations Planning and Control)
Tivoli Workload Scheduler (TWS)
Equivalent workload automation platforms
Scheduling Expertise
Job scheduling
Dependency management
Resource scheduling
Calendar management
Critical path identification
Trigger-based scheduling
Batch window optimization
Mainframe Technologies
OS
JCL (Job Control Language)
TSO/ISPF
Mainframe production operations
Operations & Monitoring
Batch monitoring
Production control
Scheduler database administration
Incident handling and service restoration
Multi-scheduler environment support
Performance & Optimization Skills
The candidate should be able to:
Analyze batch execution statistics and trends.
Identify scheduling bottlenecks.
Optimize resource utilization.
Reduce batch cycle duration.
Improve critical path performance.
Support workload balancing and scheduling efficiency.
Service Management Skills
Knowledge of:
Incident Management
Problem Management
Change Management
SLA Management
Availability Management
Operational Metrics Reporting
Continuous Service Improvement (CSI)
Other Requirements
Preferred Soft Skills
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
Ability to work in high-pressure production environments
Effective stakeholder communication
Customer-centric mindset
Coordination across infrastructure, application, and operations teams
Ability to support 24x7 operations