IT Project Manager

Locations: Hybrid in MN-Hopkins Excelsior Blvd, may also accept candidates from other Hubs in Dallas (Irving TX), Hubs in Minneapolis, and in Chicago. Duration: 9 Month contract Hours: Core working hours from 8 to 5 central

Position Overview

We are seeking a Contract Project Manager (9-Month Engagement) to lead and coordinate initiatives across traditional enterprise infrastructure and modern DevOps-aligned delivery teams. This is a time-bound role focused on delivering high-impact infrastructure and automation initiatives within a defined 9-month period.

This role is responsible for driving execution of projects spanning data center, network, compute, storage, and cloud platforms, while integrating automation, CI/CD, and DevOps practices.

The ideal candidate combines strong foundational infrastructure expertise with a practical understanding of DevOps operating models, enabling them to bridge legacy operational teams with modern engineering practices and accelerate outcomes within a compressed timeline.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Program Delivery

• Lead end-to-end delivery of infrastructure and platform-related initiatives, including:
• Data center, server, network, and storage projects
• Cloud migrations (private/public/hybrid)
• Automation and DevOps enablement efforts
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, dependencies, risks, and budgets to align with the 9-month delivery window
• Drive alignment across cross-functional teams including infrastructure, security, platform engineering, and application teams

Infrastructure & Operations Alignment

• Partner with traditional infrastructure teams to:
• Modernize operational processes
• Improve patching, deployment, and maintenance workflows
• Increase visibility into dependencies and service impacts
• Ensure projects align with enterprise standards for resiliency, security, and compliance

DevOps & Modern Delivery Enablement

• Facilitate adoption of DevOps practices, including:
• CI/CD pipeline integration
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, etc.)
• Automated testing and deployment practices
• Act as a liaison between infrastructure teams and engineering teams to enable faster, more reliable delivery

Governance & Reporting

• Provide clear status reporting to stakeholders and leadership
• Track KPIs related to delivery timelines, risk, and operational improvements
• Ensure adherence to governance frameworks (change management, risk controls, audit requirements)

Stakeholder Management

• Engage with senior stakeholders across technology and business units
• Facilitate decision-making and resolve blockers quickly
• Communicate complex technical initiatives in a clear, business-friendly manner

Required Qualifications

• 7 years of experience in IT Project/Program Management
• Strong background in traditional infrastructure environments, including:
• Servers, OS (Windows/Linux), virtualization
• Network and data center operations
• Storage and backup/recovery systems
• Proven experience managing cross-functional infrastructure initiatives at scale
• Solid understanding of ITIL-based operational processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of DevOps principles and tools, including:
• CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps)
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation)
• Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience supporting cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Familiarity with Agile and hybrid delivery models
• Experience driving automation and operational efficiency initiatives
• PMP, PgMP, or Agile/Scrum certification

Key Competencies

• Ability to operate effectively across legacy and modern technology paradigms
• Strong organizational and execution discipline, especially in time-bound engagements
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to translate between infrastructure and engineering teams
• Results-oriented with a focus on accelerated delivery and measurable outcomes

Success Measures

• On-time delivery of infrastructure and DevOps transformation initiatives within the 9-month period
• Improved deployment velocity and stability
• Increased automation and reduced manual operational effort
• Strong stakeholder satisfaction and clear executive reporting