Contractor job Technical Project Manager

Role Title: Delivery Project Manager
Location: Fleet
Duration: 31/12/2026
Days on site: 2-3
Rate £358 Inside IR35

MUST BE THROUGH UMBRELLA

Role Description:

Delivery Project Manager - Cloud Based Cards Infrastructure Gateway
Role Overview
We are seeking a delivery-driven Project Manager to lead end-to-end implementation and modernization of a cloud-native Cards Infrastructure Gateway-the core switching, routing, and security layer that processes real-time card transactions across issuing and acquiring ecosystems. The role spans delivery governance, cloud infrastructure orchestration, platform engineering, scheme integrations, and partner/vendor coordination. You will drive multi-region deployments, zero downtime releases, PCI compliant architectures, and modern, scalable payment processing built on cloud-native services.
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Key Responsibilities
1. Delivery Leadership (Cloud Transformation & BAU Change)
* Own delivery of cloud-native gateway initiatives: migration from on-prem to cloud, infra re-platforming, API gateway modernization, resilience uplift, and regional expansion.
* Shape delivery strategy across Agile/Hybrid models; manage scope, budget, timelines, and resource plans.
* Lead proactive RAID management for distributed cloud infra and multi-system dependencies.
2. Cloud-Native Platform & Technical Coordination
* Drive workstreams across key components of a cloud-native gateway:
o Microservices, API Gateway (Kong/Apigee/AWS API Gateway/Azure APIM)
o Event streams (Kafka/Pulsar)
o Service mesh (Istio/Linkerd)
o Kubernetes (AKS/EKS/GKE) and containerized workloads
o Cloud load balancers (ALB/NLB), WAF, NAT, VPC/Virtual Networks
o Cloud HSM / KMS for cryptographic operations and PIN/token security
* Govern multi-region active-active deployments and ensure traffic distribution, failover, and DR patterns.
* Oversee implementation of NFRs: performance/latency, scalability, 99.99% availability, auto-scaling, observability, and compliance.
3. Cloud Security & Compliance
* Ensure compliance with PCI DSS, data encryption standards, tokenization, and cloud security guardrails.
* Coordinate HSM/KMS integration, cryptographic key ceremonies, and secure API authentication (OAuth2, mTLS).
* Govern cloud access, IAM roles, network isolation, and regulatory audit readiness.
4. Stakeholder, Vendor & Scheme Coordination
* Lead delivery interactions with Visa, Mastercard, Amex, payment processors, and cloud service providers (AWS).
* Manage SoWs, SLAs, and multi-vendor dependencies across platform engineering, networks, SRE, and security.
* Navigate scheme certification cycles, cloud service limits, change windows, and release gates.
5. Governance, Reporting & Financials
* Drive steering committees, architecture forums, and platform governance meetings.
* Provide transparent reporting: milestones, burn-up charts, risk heatmaps, dependency matrices.
* Manage CapEx/OpEx budget for cloud infrastructure, consumption-based costs, and resource optimization.
6. Cloud Testing, Observability & Operational Readiness
* Govern performance testing using cloud-native tools and distributed load strategies.
* Ensure robust observability: logs, metrics, tracing (CloudWatch/Prometheus/Grafana/Splunk/OpenTelemetry).
* Deliver runbooks, operational dashboards, SRE onboarding, and production readiness gates.
7. Cutover, Multi-Region Deployment & Transition
* Own migration and cutover strategy for moving gateway workloads to cloud with minimal user impact.
* Coordinate DR, region failover tests, and resilience validation.
* Ensure smooth handover to SRE/BAU teams with SLAs, OLA documentation, and monitoring frameworks.
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Required Skills & Experience
Domain Expertise
o Authorization flows
o ISO 8583, EMV, Tokenization
o Scheme mandates & certifications
* Expertise in cloud-hosted payment routing, scheme connectivity, and secure transaction processing.
Cloud & Infrastructure Skills
* Strong delivery experience in AWS cloud environments.
* Coordination across:
o Kubernetes (AKS/EKS/GKE)
o API Gateway / Service Mesh
o Event streaming (Kafka/Pulsar)
o Cloud HSM (AWS CloudHSM, Azure HSM, GCP Cloud HSM)
o KMS, IAM, security groups, VPC, firewall rules
o IAC (Terraform/CloudFormation/Bicep - exposure preferred)
* Understanding of cloud scalability models, distributed systems, caching layers, and CI/CD pipelines.
Delivery & Governance
* Proven track record managing high-availability, low-latency cloud platforms.
* Large-scale migration experience (on-prem ? cloud) is highly desirable.
* Strong vendor and partner management across schemes, cloud providers, processors, and SI partners.
Soft Skills
* Excellent communication with senior stakeholders, engineering leads, and business heads.
* Strong risk framing, decision-making, and negotiation capability.
* Ability to drive delivery across large matrix enterprises and multi-disciplinary teams.
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LA International is a HMG approved ICT Recruitment and Project Solutions Consultancy, operating globally from the largest single site in the UK as an IT Consultancy or as an Employment Business & Agency depending upon the precise nature of the work, for security cleared jobs or non-clearance vacancies, LA International welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people with diverse experience and backgrounds.

Award Winning LA International, winner of the Recruiter Awards for Excellence, Best IT Recruitment Company, Best Public Sector Recruitment Company and overall Gold Award winner, has now secured the most prestigious business award that any business can receive, The Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, for the second consecutive period.