Senior Network Project Manager at thinkahead

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together advances in cloud infrastructure, automation and analytics, and software delivery, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation. At AHEAD, we prioritize creating a culture of belonging, where all perspectives and voices are represented, valued, respected, and heard. We create spaces to empower everyone to speak up, make change, and drive the culture at AHEAD.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate based on an individual's race, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law, whether actual or perceived.  We embrace all candidates that will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives at AHEAD.  Key Responsibilities Program & Project Leadership • Own end‑to‑end delivery of network infrastructure projects and programs, from initiation through closure. • Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, schedules, RAID logs, and governance artifacts. • Manage complex dependencies across infrastructure, security, application, and business teams. • Lead project execution using Waterfall, Agile, or Hybrid methodologies as appropriate. Network Domain Engagement (Preferred/Ok if they don't have expertise in all these domains) • Drive delivery of initiatives such as: • WAN / LAN upgrades and migrations • SD‑WAN implementations • Data center network refresh or relocation • Cloud connectivity (Azure/AWS/GCP) • Network security and Zero Trust initiatives • Partner with network architects and engineers to understand design, sequencing, and risk impacts. • Ensure cutover, migration, and rollback plans are defined and tested. Stakeholder & Executive Management • Serve as a trusted interface between technical teams and senior leadership. • Communicate project status, risks, and mitigation plans in business‑relevant terms. • Proactively manage stakeholder expectations and resolve priority conflicts. Risk, Issue & Change Management • Identify, assess, and mitigate program‑level risks early. • Lead resolution of high‑severity issues, including failed cutovers or outages. • Manage scope changes using formal change control and impact assessment. Vendor & Commercial Management • Manage third‑party vendors, service providers, and system integrators. • Track vendor performance against SLAs, milestones, and contractual commitments. • Support RFPs, vendor evaluations, and commercial negotiations when required. Governance, Quality & Compliance • Establish and operate delivery governance aligned with enterprise standards. • Ensure compliance with security, audit, and regulatory requirements. • Drive best practices, documentation standards, and post‑implementation reviews. Leadership & Mentorship • Mentor junior project managers and team leads. • Influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority. • Act as a role model for delivery discipline and accountability. Required Qualifications & Experience • 8+ years of experience in IT Project or Program Management, with significant focus on network/infrastructure projects. • Proven track record managing large, complex, multi‑site network initiatives. • Strong understanding of enterprise networking concepts (WAN, LAN, data center, cloud, security). • Experience working with global teams and vendors. • Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. • Ability to lead under pressure, especially during cutovers and critical incidents. Preferred Qualifications • PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent project management certification. (Totally fine if they don't have this) • Experience in regulated or large enterprise environments. • Exposure to ITIL‑based operating models. • Experience with tools such as MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or equivalent. Why AHEAD: Through our daily work and internal groups like Moving Women AHEAD and RISE AHEAD, we value and benefit from diversity of people, ideas, experience, and everything in between. We fuel growth by stacking our office with top-notch technologies in a multi-million-dollar lab, by encouraging cross department training and development, sponsoring certifications and credentials for continued learning. India Employment Benefits include:  Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees, with options to extend coverage to dependents Paid time off and company holidays, along with additional leave benefits as per policy Flexible work arrangements, supporting work-life balance Learning and development opportunities to support continuous growth and upskilling Employee wellness initiatives and programs focused on physical and mental well-being Retirement and statutory benefits in line with India regulations Inclusive and people-first culture, with a strong focus on collaboration and ownership