Project Manager / Deployment Manager — Network Infrastructure

Location: FT Lauderdale, FL

• Own the end-to-end project plan for a full network refresh, covering server hardware/OS upgrades, firewall replacement or reconfiguration, switching, routing, and related network infrastructure.
• Organize and manage multiple project pods/work streams (e.g., data center, firewall/security, network core, site rollouts), ensuring alignment on scope, timeline, and dependencies across teams.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, resource plans, RAID logs (risks, actions, issues, decisions), and budgets.
• Coordinate cutover/migration windows, maintenance schedules, and downtime planning with minimal business disruption.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between technical pods, stakeholders, and leadership; provide regular status reporting and escalate risks proactively.
• Manage vendor and contractor relationships, including hardware/software procurement timelines, SOWs, and delivery schedules.
• Ensure change management, documentation, and compliance requirements are met throughout the refresh (e.g., change control boards, security sign-offs).
• Drive risk mitigation planning for firewall cutovers, server migrations, and network downtime scenarios.
• Facilitate cross-pod standups, sprint/phase reviews, and post-implementation reviews.
• Track and report on budget, timeline, and milestone delivery to senior leadership.

• 5+ years of project management experience, with at least 2–3 years managing IT infrastructure, network, or data center projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-team/multi-pod projects with interdependent workstreams.
• Solid working knowledge of networking concepts (firewalls, routers, switches, VLANs, VPNs) and server infrastructure (physical/virtual, OS upgrades, data center operations).
• Experience planning and executing cutover events, migrations, or infrastructure refresh cycles with minimal downtime.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills — able to translate technical detail for both engineers and executives.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Asana) and reporting/dashboarding.
• Experience with change management and IT governance processes.

• PMP, PRINCE2, or similar project management certification.
• Experience with specific firewall platforms (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco ASA/Firepower) or network vendors.
• Familiarity with ITIL practices.
• Experience managing budgets in the six-to-seven-figure range for infrastructure programs.
• Background in leading cross-functional or matrixed teams without direct authority.

• Highly organized with strong attention to detail across parallel work streams.
• Comfortable operating in high-stakes environments where downtime and security are critical concerns.
• Proactive communicator who can manage up, down, and across the organization.
• Calm under pressure during live cutover/migration events.