Technical Project Manager – Network & Infrastructure Refresh

Technical Project Manager - Network & Infrastructure Refresh Location: North London (2-3 days per week onsite non-negotiable) Rate: Up to £650/day (Inside IR35) Contract: 6-8 months | Start: Immediate Client: Local Government Overview Salt are partnered with a North London Local Authority delivering a large-scale Network and Infrastructure Modernisation Programme. This role will lead delivery of a multi-site network transformation, replacing end-of-life Cisco and Aruba infrastructure with a cloud-managed, resilient, and scalable architecture to support hybrid working and the council's digital strategy. It's a visible and hands-on role within the Digital Delivery Team, working with stakeholders across Infrastructure, Architecture, Security, and Procurement. Programme Context The current environment is based on legacy Cisco and Aruba systems, a hub-and-spoke WAN model, and ageing LAN switches. This setup limits performance, introduces single points of failure, and constrains the rollout of modern technologies such as Wi-Fi 6. The modernisation programme will transition the council to a cloud-managed distributed architecture, introducing Direct Internet Access (DIA) at each site to enhance resilience, security, and performance. Delivery is structured into multiple workstreams: LAN, WLAN, WAN/DIA, and remote access. Key Responsibilities Lead end-to-end delivery of the network and infrastructure refresh across all workstreams. Develop and maintain delivery plans, test strategies, and implementation roadmaps. Coordinate internal technical teams, external suppliers, and contractors to meet quality and governance standards. Oversee procurement activity (spec writing, tender coordination, contract award) in partnership with Corporate Procurement. Manage full lifecycle delivery from pilot testing through to deployment and operational handover. Ensure all technical changes are governed through CAB and comply with organisational security standards. Manage communications and user readiness for changes such as MFA and access policies. Track CAPEX timelines to ensure all equipment is receipted by the 31st March deadline. Provide clear reporting to senior stakeholders: board updates, risk logs, and escalation management. Maintain focus on delivery outcomes: improved performance, reduced risk, and long-term cost efficiency. Essential Experience Proven record delivering large-scale network and infrastructure projects across multi-site or complex environments. Strong understanding of modern network architectures, including: Cloud-managed Wi-Fi (Cisco Meraki, Aruba Central or equivalent) LAN refresh (PoE++, multi-gig switches) SD-WAN / SASE / Direct Internet Access (DIA) Azure-based hybrid remote access Experience navigating public sector procurement frameworks and supplier engagement. Strong track record managing technical teams and third-party vendors. Confident stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to explain complex technical change clearly. Experience operating within formal governance (CAB, board reporting, risk/change management). Ability to work at pace to meet capital and fiscal deadlines. Desirable Hands-on familiarity with Cisco or Aruba wireless technologies and Azure networking. Experience delivering projects to tight year-end budget deadlines. Understanding of Zero Trust principles and identity-based access. Prior Local Government or wider public sector infrastructure delivery experience. Why Apply This is a chance to lead a strategically critical infrastructure transformation that directly shapes how a major public sector organisation delivers digital services. You'll take ownership of a high-impact programme, working closely with senior stakeholders and leading vendors to deliver measurable improvements in performance, resilience, and security. *Rates depend on experience and client requirements