Project Manager - IT Infrastructure Upgrade

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & incentives

Medical aid & retirement contributions

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an IT Project Manager to lead a major infrastructure upgrade across campuses in Polokwane, Limpopo, ZA. The role combines remote work with on-site collaboration, driving end-to-end delivery of network, server, and endpoint deployments.

Ideal candidates have 6+ years in IT project management, strong vendor relations, ITIL/PMP or Agile experience, and a proven track record of delivering complex infrastructure projects on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, CS, Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years IT project management experience, infrastructure focus.
• Experience with network hardware, server virtualization, storage.
• Familiarity with ITIL, PMP or Agile methodologies.
• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute project plans for IT infrastructure upgrades.
• Manage scope, timelines, budgets, and resources.
• Lead procurement of hardware, software, and services.
• Coordinate internal IT staff and external vendors.
• Identify and mitigate project risks and dependencies.
• Oversee deployment, testing, and documentation; transfer knowledge.

Skills

IT Project Management

Vendor Management

Risk Management

Stakeholder Communication

Agile / PMP

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Engineering

Tools

VMware

Hyper-V

ITIL

Jira / MS Project

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and growing organization in the education sector, is seeking a skilled IT Project Manager to lead a critical infrastructure upgrade project. This role, based in Polokwane, Limpopo, ZA, will involve managing the deployment of new network hardware, server infrastructure, and end-user computing devices across multiple campuses. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement, blending remote work flexibility with essential on‑site collaboration. You will be responsible for the end‑to‑end project lifecycle, from planning and procurement to implementation and post‑deployment support. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical acumen, excellent organizational skills, and a proven track record of delivering complex IT infrastructure projects on time and within budget. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance the technological capabilities of a key educational institution in Polokwane, Limpopo, ZA and ensure a robust and reliable IT environment for students and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive project plans for IT infrastructure upgrades, including network, server, storage, and endpoint devices.
• Manage project scope, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation effectively.
• Oversee the procurement process for hardware, software, and services, ensuring compliance with organizational policies.
• Lead and coordinate teams of internal IT staff and external vendors/contractors involved in the implementation.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and dependencies, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
• Ensure successful deployment, configuration, and testing of new infrastructure components.
• Manage stakeholder expectations, providing regular progress updates and resolving issues promptly.
• Oversee the documentation of the new infrastructure and provide knowledge transfer to the operational support teams.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in IT project management, with a strong focus on infrastructure upgrades and deployments.
• Proven experience managing projects involving network hardware, server virtualization (e.g., VMware, Hyper‑V), and storage solutions.
• Familiarity with ITIL best practices for service management is a plus.
• Excellent understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., PMP, Agile).
• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid model, balancing remote and on‑site responsibilities in Polokwane, Limpopo, ZA.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, performance incentives, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and retirement contributions.
• This hybrid role provides a blend of remote work flexibility and the opportunity for in‑person collaboration at our Polokwane, Limpopo, ZA campus.
• Employees benefit from continuous professional development, including training programs and opportunities to work with the latest IT technologies.
• Join a supportive and forward‑thinking team dedicated to advancing educational technology.