Network Deploy Project Manager

This is a full time, permanent role for BMO, work model is hybrid, however the candidate needs to occasionally attend onsite meetings

A Network Release Project Manager (RM) is a specialist, recognized expert for Network, part of the larger organization – Engineering and Deploy team in the U.S. and International locations providing bank standard Solution Delivery project release coordination and facilitation, consulting, cost management, and project release planning in the delivery of networking technology changes and project releases for BMOFG.

The Release Manager determines business and operational project requirements of a complex nature (in addition to what’s been provided in Project Assessment and/or High-Level Requirements Documents), provides recommendations and direction on technology opportunities including/through: feasibility options and functionality analysis.

The RM leads the Network team in cost effective superior quality technology framework designs highlighting strategic direction, security governance, disaster recovery, and business continuity.

The RM provides leadership and guidance to other Network staff members in understanding client’s business, business drivers, and technology priorities. The RM will provide project support to other COEs and project release coordination from a Network Solution Delivery perspective.

Job Mandate

Overview: Manage & Coordinate the release of changes into production through a standard procedure designed to minimize risk to existing services.

Key Activities:

• 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.
• Communicate release progress through success (or reasons for rollback)
• Manage/Coordinate to the Project Assessment, network design, timelines, the budget, quotes execution, and change order requests
• Create release packages and prepare for deployment
• Create release plans, test checklists or pre /post validation (Network and business applications), rollout trackers/schedules, coordinate contents of the release package
• Track NS financials through the life cycle of the project
• Manage & Coordinate ‘go/no-go’ release decision making
• Manage/Coordinate/Facilitate Network team members, 3rd party vendors for releases, and business testers (when no PM)
• Manage & Coordinate promotion/release into production
• Participation in the development of Project Plan in respect to Network solution delivery (with PMO when appropriate)
• Create roll-back and recovery plans
• Evaluate and communicate any expected impact to service levels due to release
• Evaluate release management performance based on established criteria (e.g., elapsed time, level of automation, percentage of successful on-time releases, etc.)

The Release Manager will confirm all action items and resources responsible (US/INTL Deploy, Firewall Management & Deployment, Engineering, Hostmaster, Bell, AT&T, Partners, etc.) for said to action items; are on the same page and available at the time of the coordinated change window.

This is true for Network Only changes and testing (aka Pass-through) and changes co-coordinated with PMO (Tech PM) programs or projects.

Release Managers will interact with the bank lines of business, SME, COEs, LOBs, PMO, vendors, carriers, and internal Network staff for all assigned projects in order to meet objectives. Work hours will vary. Most changes in the bank environment are performed during specified change windows at night and over the weekend.

PLEASE NOTE: “On call 24x7 coverage”, etc., for most teams required (or possibly required) for changes (Hostmaster, Engineering, Firewall Deployment, Network Automation / Tools, Bell, AT&T, etc.) CAN NOT be ad hoc requests or day/night of the scheduled change. They must know in advance and accept. The Release Manager must coordinate all resources in advance…if the project requires them on the bridge during the change window, or in most cases available “on call”…for any urgent matters discovered during the change window - to eliminate to our best ability, any surprises -- is part of our Release Managed Solution Delivery Mandate.

Qualifications

• 5 -10 years of demonstrated Network Release Project Management experience delivering fault tolerant data and voice network infrastructure solutions – Hardware, Software, Services, and Support.
• University degree/college diploma or equivalent
• Superior verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Key products and services, processes and controls for the designated business
• Project Management Professional Certification is desired (but not required).

Release Managers must possess the ability to work independently, be highly organized, team-oriented, project prioritization a must; assigning and tracking tasks to resources, creating release packages, facilitate team meetings, identify “at-risk” items - mitigating risk prior to release, updating projects status, key milestones, drive target timelines, line of business testing coordination pre and post change, go live support & transition, financial budget versus actual on all funded projects; and effectively direct or influence others and ensure that significant design issues and compliance challenges are resolved by engineering, deploy, SMEs, Vendor/Partners in a timely manner.

Working Knowledge, Skills, Experience – an understanding of the following is required:

• Understanding of Network Tools (SPACE, STRM, Tufin, Lotus Notes (WorkTrack), ServiceNow CHG MGT, etc.) and
• 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 Checkpoint FWs, Junos OS code and/or configuring SRX 345, 650, 1400/1500, or current models
• Upgrading code and/or configuring 2960, 3650, 3750, 3800, 3900, 4500, C9300s, C9500s, C9600s, 5Ks, 77Ks, N9Ks, or similar model switches.
• Weekly timesheet/progress reports, project portfolio updates, and timely escalations on project obstacles to management
• Carrier / Telco WAN technologies / MPLS, AVPN, SD-WAN, VPN, Broadband, 5G/LTE, Point-to-Point, SONET, OC3, DS3, T1, PRI, POTS (experience is required)
• Must have good working knowledge of Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint), Microsoft Project, Visio, Outlook, SharePoint, Office 365, Skype for Business, and Network Tools.
• ITIL standards as they relate to incident/problem/change management concepts are desired.
• Upgrading code and/or configuring 1800, 2800, 3800, and ASR1000, ASR1002 or similar model routers.
• Knowledge familiarity with BGP, OSPF, RIP, EIGRP, L3-7 switching, HSRP, VoIP and Multicast

U.S. International Network Release Manager’s Coordination and Facilitation Project Examples:

• And other Line of Business Sponsored Projects for U.S. and International locations
• Corporate Real Estate Projects – Renovations, Relocations, Openings, Closings/Decommissioning
• Information Security Monitoring Program : 1900 End Point migration
• Merger/Acquisitions - Implement BMO Network Standards - Data, Voice, and Wi-Fi services at BMO Harris Bank and Affiliate locations
• Capital Markets Trading Floor Expansion in US and Overseas (Europe/Asia)
• Network Capacity Bandwidth Upgrades (ongoing : 5-10 per month); SDWAN Migrations, and Hosted VOIP projects : 600+ locations over 6 month period, etc.
• Network Currency Projects (upgrading and replacing switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, PBX TDM and VOIP) – in U.S. and International Data Center and Non Data Center Locations
• Vulnerability Remediation and Management on all bank owned / managed Network Devices
• Wealth Management WiFi turnups 20+ locations, and Voice Mail Customized Zero Out projects

The selected candidate will interact with the bank lines of business, SME, COEs, LOBs, vendors, carriers, and internal NetOps staff for all assigned projects in order to meet objectives. Work hours will vary. Most changes in the bank environment are performed during specified change windows at night and over the weekend.

We’re here to help

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at https://jobs.bmo.com/ca/en

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.