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Project Manager – Cisco Software-Defined Access (SDA) / Cisco TrustSec

Pay Range: $75/hour to $80/hour

Job Summary

We are seeking a seasoned IT Infrastructure Project Manager to support the continued deployment of an enterprise-wide Cisco Software-Defined Access (SDA) and Cisco TrustSec environment. This role will work closely with the primary Project Manager, who has already led the conversion of more than 50% of the enterprise network.

The successful candidate will help drive the consistent replication of the established deployment model across remaining sites. The role requires strong project management experience, enterprise infrastructure knowledge, and the ability to coordinate complex site readiness, deployment, cutover, validation, and issue-resolution activities.

This is a project management role. The candidate does not need to configure Cisco technologies but must understand the relevant concepts, dependencies, deployment workflows, and operational processes well enough to effectively manage technical teams and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the primary Project Manager to manage the continued rollout of Cisco SDA and TrustSec across enterprise network sites.
• Replicate and consistently execute the existing deployment template and standardized implementation approach.
• Assess and confirm site readiness before scheduling deployments and cutovers.
• Track and manage project prerequisites, including:
• Network hardware availability
• Cabling readiness
• IP addressing
• Software and licensing requirements
• Cisco ISE readiness
• Site-specific technical dependencies
• Coordinate deployment schedules, cutovers, rollback plans, and post-implementation validation.
• Manage exceptions to the standard design and coordinate appropriate resolution paths.
• Coordinate with local site contacts, network engineering teams, security teams, infrastructure teams, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor project progress, risks, issues, dependencies, and changes.
• Track and report key performance indicators, including:
• Sites completed versus planned
• Open issues by severity
• Change success rate
• Rollback rate
• Outstanding dependencies
• Budget variance
• Schedule variance
• Support validation and acceptance testing activities.
• Maintain project documentation, status reports, RAID logs, schedules, and executive-level reporting.
• Identify risks and blockers early and drive them toward resolution.
• Help ensure deployments are completed consistently, on schedule, and in accordance with the established technical design and governance processes.

Required Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of experience managing IT infrastructure or enterprise technology projects.
• Proven experience managing complex infrastructure deployments, network refreshes, or large-scale technology transformation programs.
• Experience with one or more of the following:
• Enterprise network refreshes
• Cisco Software-Defined Access (SDA)
• Cisco TrustSec
• SD-WAN
• Network Access Control (NAC)
• Data center migrations
• Enterprise network transformation programs
• Strong understanding of project planning, scheduling, risk management, issue management, dependency tracking, change management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, business stakeholders, site contacts, and executive leadership.
• Experience with executive reporting and project status communication.
• Ability to manage multiple sites, workstreams, dependencies, and competing priorities in a complex enterprise environment.

Preferred Technical Knowledge

The ideal candidate should have a conceptual understanding of the following technologies and processes:

• Cisco Catalyst Center, formerly known as Cisco DNA Center
• Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
• 802.1X authentication
• Cisco TrustSec Security Group Tags (SGTs)
• Virtual Networks (VNs)
• SDA Fabric Edge Nodes
• SDA Border Nodes
• SDA Control Nodes
• Site onboarding workflows
• Network deployment and cutover processes
• Rollback planning and execution
• Validation and acceptance testing