Network Release manager

Job Title: Network Release Manager
Location: Naperville, IL 60563
Mode : Contract (6+ Months) Onsite from Day 1

Key Activities:
Create release plans, test checklists or pre /post validation (Network and business applications), rollout trackers/schedules, coordinate contents of the release package
Create roll-back and recovery plans
Create release packages and prepare for deployment
Evaluate and communicate any expected impact to service levels due to release
Manage & Coordinate promotion/release into production
Communicate release progress through success (or reasons for rollback)
Evaluate release management performance based on established criteria (e.g., elapsed time, level of automation, percentage of successful on-time releases, etc.)
Manage & Coordinate 'go/no-go' release decision making
Facilitate, request to raise, and record change requests; and submit standard intake for PM, Info Sec., partners; business testers, and/or additional resources when appropriate.
Manage/Coordinate/Facilitate Network team members, 3rd party vendors for releases, and business testers (when no PM)
Manage/Coordinate to the Project Assessment, network design, timelines, the budget, quotes execution, and change order requests
Participation in the development of Project Plan in respect to Network solution delivery (with PMO when appropriate)
Track NS financials through the life cycle of the project
Qualifications
University degree/college diploma or equivalent
Key products and services, processes and controls for the designated business
5 -10 years of demonstrated Network Release Project Management experience delivering fault tolerant data and voice network infrastructure solutions Hardware, Software, Services, and Support.
Project Management Professional Certification is desired (but not required).
Superior verbal and written communication skills are required.




Working Knowledge, Skills, Experience an understanding of the following is required:
- Cisco routers, Cisco switches, DNA Center, Cisco ICE /Aruba Clearpass, F5 Load Balancers, BT DNS/DHCP, Ixia (Anue), Ivanti (Pulse Secure VPN), Broadcom (BlueCoat) Proxy, Aruba Controllers CAPs, IAPs / WiFi, Checkpoint and Juniper Firewalls;
- Upgrading code and/or configuring 2960, 3650, 3750, 3800, 3900, 4500, C9300s, C9500s, C9600s, 5Ks, 77Ks, N9Ks, or similar model switches.
- Upgrading code and/or configuring 1800, 2800, 3800, and ASR1000, ASR1002 or similar model routers.
- Upgrading Checkpoint FWs, Junos OS code and/or configuring SRX 345, 650, 1400/1500, or current models
- Knowledge familiarity with BGP, OSPF, RIP, EIGRP, L3-7 switching, HSRP, VoIP and Multicast
- Carrier / Telco WAN technologies / MPLS, AVPN, SD-WAN, VPN, Broadband, 5G/LTE, Point-to-Point, SONET, OC3, DS3, T1, PRI, POTS (experience is required)
- Understanding of Network Tools (SPACE, STRM, Tufin, Lotus Notes (WorkTrack), ServiceNow CHG MGT, etc.) and
- ITIL standards as they relate to incident/problem/change management concepts are desired.
- Weekly timesheet/progress reports, project portfolio updates, and timely escalations on project obstacles to management
- Must have good working knowledge of Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint), Microsoft Project, Visio, Outlook, SharePoint, Office 365, Skype for Business, and Network Tools.