diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/admin.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/admin.ts
index e7d39fcef007..3f6de14b053b 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/admin.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/admin.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ declare global {
 Cypress.Commands.add('initAdmin', () => {
   cy.log('redirect to home');
   cy.visit('/');
+  cy.byTestID('loading-indicator').should('not.exist');
   cy.log('ensure perspective switcher is set to Administrator');
   nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
   nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/project.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/project.ts
index 5e38de660239..f220f0998523 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/project.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/support/project.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,6 @@ Cypress.Commands.add('deleteProject', (name: string) => {
   listPage.titleShouldHaveText('Projects');
 });
 
-Cypress.Commands.add('deleteProjectWithCLI', (name: string) => {
-  cy.exec(`oc delete project ${name}`);
+Cypress.Commands.add('deleteProjectWithCLI', (name: string, timeout?: number) => {
+  cy.exec(`oc delete project ${name}`, { timeout });
 });
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/debug-pod.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/debug-pod.cy.ts
index e9283f5790fd..b3ad595ea6ef 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/debug-pod.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/debug-pod.cy.ts
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@ spec:
 describe('Debug pod', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -42,14 +43,8 @@ describe('Debug pod', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.visit(`/k8s/ns/${testName}/pods`);
-    listPage.rows.shouldBeLoaded();
-    listPage.filter.byName(POD_NAME);
-    listPage.rows.clickKebabAction(POD_NAME, 'Delete Pod');
-    modal.shouldBeOpened();
-    modal.submit();
-    modal.shouldBeClosed();
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.visit('/');
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/demo-dynamic-plugin.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/demo-dynamic-plugin.cy.ts
index 47f1d8a8dfbe..74f35d3a854c 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/demo-dynamic-plugin.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/demo-dynamic-plugin.cy.ts
@@ -21,19 +21,14 @@ const CHECK_UPDATES_ALIAS = 'checkUpdates';
       2a. build the plugin locally, and run the server
       2b. using bridge running with the plugin arguments that point to the local dynamic plugin server and i18n namespace
           e.g., ./bin/bridge -plugins=console-demo-plugin=http://localhost:9001 -i18n-namespaces=plugin__console-demo-plugin
-      2c. will intercept the check update call to mock a toast notification that a plugin has been enabled
-      2d. will not use all workload definitions defined in the yaml (not using the env variable for pull spec)
+      2c. will not use all workload definitions defined in the yaml (not using the env variable for pull spec)
     3. run on ci:
       3a. ci will build the dynamic plugin and provide the pullspec in the env var: CYPRESS_PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC
       3b. that pull spec will be used to create the deployment on the cluster
-      3c. intercepting the check-updates call will not occur as the toast will appear when the plugin is enabled
     4. the scaffolding should remain the same except modifying the constants above
  */
 
 const enableDemoPlugin = (enable: boolean) => {
-  cy.visit('/');
-  nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-  nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
   // find console demo plugin and enable it
   cy.visit('k8s/cluster/operator.openshift.io~v1~Console/cluster/console-plugins');
   cy.url().should(
@@ -58,17 +53,7 @@ const enableDemoPlugin = (enable: boolean) => {
     .within(() => {
       cy.byTestID('edit-console-plugin').contains(enable ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled');
     });
-  if (isLocalDevEnvironment) {
-    // for local dev env trigger a change by removing the plugin to activate the toast
-    cy.intercept('/api/check-updates', {
-      consoleCommit: '',
-      plugins: [],
-    }).as(CHECK_UPDATES_ALIAS);
-    cy.wait(`@${CHECK_UPDATES_ALIAS}`, { requestTimeout: CHECK_UPDATE_WAIT });
-    cy.log('Running plugin test locally using bridge.');
-  } else {
-    cy.log(`Running plugin test on ci using PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC: ${PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC}`);
-  }
+  cy.log(`Running plugin test on ci using PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC: ${PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC}`);
   cy.byTestID(refreshWebConsoleLink, { timeout: CHECK_UPDATE_WAIT })
     .should('exist')
     .then(() => {
@@ -101,9 +86,7 @@ if (!Cypress.env('OPENSHIFT_CI') || Cypress.env('PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC')) {
   describe('Demo dynamic plugin test', () => {
     before(() => {
       cy.login();
-      nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-      nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-      cy.createProject(PLUGIN_NAME);
+      cy.createProjectWithCLI(PLUGIN_NAME);
       cy.readFile(`${PLUGIN_PATH}/oc-manifest.yaml`).then((textManifest) => {
         const yamlManifest = safeLoadAll(textManifest);
         const deployment = yamlManifest.find(({ kind }) => kind === 'Deployment');
@@ -150,7 +133,9 @@ if (!Cypress.env('OPENSHIFT_CI') || Cypress.env('PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC')) {
             listPage.rows.shouldBeLoaded();
             listPage.filter.byName(PLUGIN_NAME);
             listPage.rows.shouldExist(PLUGIN_NAME);
-            enableDemoPlugin(true);
+            if (!isLocalDevEnvironment && PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC) {
+              enableDemoPlugin(true);
+            }
           });
       });
     });
@@ -160,8 +145,10 @@ if (!Cypress.env('OPENSHIFT_CI') || Cypress.env('PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC')) {
     });
 
     after(() => {
-      enableDemoPlugin(false);
-      cy.deleteProject(PLUGIN_NAME);
+      if (!isLocalDevEnvironment && PLUGIN_PULL_SPEC) {
+        enableDemoPlugin(false);
+      }
+      cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(PLUGIN_NAME);
       cy.logout();
     });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/filtering-and-searching.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/filtering-and-searching.cy.ts
index 84a6a2aaec61..f37487bcc65d 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/filtering-and-searching.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/filtering-and-searching.cy.ts
@@ -14,10 +14,8 @@ const WORKLOAD_LABEL = `lbl-filter=${testName}`;
 describe('Filtering and Searching', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.initAdmin();
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.visit(`/k8s/ns/${testName}/deployments`);
     listPage.clickCreateYAMLbutton();
     cy.byTestID('yaml-view-input').click();
@@ -36,6 +34,10 @@ describe('Filtering and Searching', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
+  });
+
   afterEach(() => {
     checkErrors();
   });
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ describe('Filtering and Searching', () => {
     modal.shouldBeOpened();
     modal.submit();
     modal.shouldBeClosed();
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/node-terminal.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/node-terminal.cy.ts
index 42c82bc4f84a..daf835f310cb 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/node-terminal.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/node-terminal.cy.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ import { listPage } from '../../views/list-page';
 describe('Node terminal', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/overview.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/overview.cy.ts
index 5b5c834946f3..3753977e5100 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/overview.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/overview.cy.ts
@@ -25,10 +25,7 @@ const overviewResources = ImmutableSet([
 describe('Visiting Overview page', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -40,6 +37,7 @@ describe('Visiting Overview page', () => {
       const resourceName = `${testName}-${kindModel.kind.toLowerCase()}`;
 
       before(() => {
+        cy.initAdmin();
         cy.visit(`k8s/ns/${testName}/${kindModel.plural}/~new`);
         masthead.username.shouldBeVisible();
         yamlEditor.isLoaded();
@@ -57,6 +55,10 @@ describe('Visiting Overview page', () => {
         });
       });
 
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        cy.initAdmin();
+      });
+
       it(`displays a ${kindModel.id} in the overview list page`, () => {
         cy.visit(`/k8s/cluster/projects/${testName}/workloads?view=list`);
         overviewPage.projectOverviewShouldBeVisible();
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/poll-console-updates.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/poll-console-updates.cy.ts
index 86c4b0aa6dda..c5e2c30733cf 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/poll-console-updates.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/app/poll-console-updates.cy.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ describe('PollConsoleUpdates Test', () => {
     cy.wait(`@${CHECK_UPDATES_ALIAS}`, WAIT_OPTIONS);
     cy.intercept(PLUGIN_MANIFEST_URL2, { forceNetworkError: true }).as(CHECK_MANIFEST_ALIAS2);
     cy.wait(`@${CHECK_MANIFEST_ALIAS2}`, WAIT_OPTIONS);
+    // cy.wait(`@${CHECK_MANIFEST_ALIAS2}`, WAIT_OPTIONS).should('have.property', 'error');
     cy.byTestID('loading-indicator').should('not.exist');
     cy.get(refreshWebConsoleLink).should('not.exist');
     cy.intercept(PLUGIN_MANIFEST_URL2, PLUGIN_MANIFEST_DEFAULT2).as(CHECK_MANIFEST_ALIAS2);
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-cli-download.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-cli-download.cy.ts
index c2b023b4bcf6..74d6bf2a8349 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-cli-download.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-cli-download.cy.ts
@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@ describe(`${crd} CRD`, () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    cy.byLegacyTestID('resource-title').contains('Overview');
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-external-log-link.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-external-log-link.cy.ts
index c6c7e0b03632..bca6583c1500 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-external-log-link.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-external-log-link.cy.ts
@@ -19,10 +19,11 @@ describe(`${crd} CRD`, () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ describe(`${crd} CRD`, () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-link.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-link.cy.ts
index 58cc608c1659..bf607b7e18d4 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-link.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-link.cy.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ describe(`${crd} CRD`, () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-notification.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-notification.cy.ts
index 7483a4340d56..f1be06f208ef 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-notification.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crd-extensions/console-notification.cy.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ describe(`${crd} CRD`, () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/add-storage-crud.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/add-storage-crud.cy.ts
index 8c56e19fb2ea..53bbf5543938 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/add-storage-crud.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/add-storage-crud.cy.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ const resourceObjs =
 describe('Add storage is applicable for all workloads', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -37,7 +41,7 @@ describe('Add storage is applicable for all workloads', () => {
         console.error(`Failed to delete ${resourceType} example:\n${error}`);
       }
     });
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName, 300000); // increase timeout to allow cascading deletes above to complete
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/annotations.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/annotations.cy.ts
index a618034a94e4..4c5cba4377ac 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/annotations.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/annotations.cy.ts
@@ -7,10 +7,14 @@ import { listPage } from '../../views/list-page';
 import { modal } from '../../views/modal';
 import { nav } from '../../views/nav';
 import * as yamlEditor from '../../views/yaml-editor';
+import { projectDropdown } from '../../views/common';
 
 const createExampleConfigMapInstance = () => {
+  cy.initAdmin();
   nav.sidenav.clickNavLink(['Workloads', 'ConfigMaps']);
   cy.byLegacyTestID('resource-title').should('have.text', 'ConfigMaps');
+  projectDropdown.selectProject(testName);
+  projectDropdown.shouldContain(testName);
   listPage.clickCreateYAMLbutton();
   cy.byTestID('yaml-view-input').click();
   cy.byTestID('resource-sidebar').should('exist');
@@ -66,10 +70,7 @@ const nameValueEquals = (row: JQuery<HTMLElement>, name: string, value: string)
 describe('Annotations', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
     createExampleConfigMapInstance();
   });
 
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ describe('Annotations', () => {
 
   after(() => {
     deleteExampleConfigMapInstance();
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/bulk-create-resources.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/bulk-create-resources.cy.ts
index 58b83695fd41..283eae5cd573 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/bulk-create-resources.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/bulk-create-resources.cy.ts
@@ -75,10 +75,11 @@ stringData:
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(namespace);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(namespace);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ stringData:
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(namespace);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(namespace);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/customresourcedefinition.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/customresourcedefinition.cy.ts
index 73924a2cc4bf..cbd3231e08bb 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/customresourcedefinition.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/customresourcedefinition.cy.ts
@@ -73,10 +73,11 @@ describe('CustomResourceDefinitions', () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ describe('CustomResourceDefinitions', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/image-pull-secret.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/image-pull-secret.cy.ts
index 3a9bd914b190..6d34b3155805 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/image-pull-secret.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/image-pull-secret.cy.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { checkErrors, testName } from '../../support';
 import { listPage } from '../../views/list-page';
 import { nav } from '../../views/nav';
+import { projectDropdown } from '../../views/common';
 
 const clickCreateImagePullSecretDropdownButton = () => {
   cy.byTestID('item-create')
@@ -50,15 +51,18 @@ describe('Create image pull secret', () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     nav.sidenav.clickNavLink(['Workloads', 'Secrets']);
     listPage.titleShouldHaveText('Secrets');
+    projectDropdown.selectProject(testName);
+    projectDropdown.shouldContain(testName);
     clickCreateImagePullSecretDropdownButton();
   });
 
@@ -67,7 +71,7 @@ describe('Create image pull secret', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/labels.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/labels.cy.ts
index f6c2d98ae349..140867a6b3bf 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/labels.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/labels.cy.ts
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ describe('Editing labels', () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.initAdmin();
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.visit(`k8s/ns/${testName}/${plural}/~new`);
     yamlEditor.isLoaded();
     yamlEditor.getEditorContent().then((content) => {
@@ -45,7 +43,7 @@ describe('Editing labels', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/namespace-crud.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/namespace-crud.cy.ts
index 4c72cc334bf3..c6e179946f42 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/namespace-crud.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/namespace-crud.cy.ts
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@ import { nav } from '../../views/nav';
 describe('Namespace', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ describe('Namespace', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ describe('Namespace', () => {
     nav.sidenav.clickNavLink(['Administration', 'Namespaces']);
     listPage.rows.shouldNotExist(newName);
     listPage.filter.byName(testName);
-    listPage.rows.shouldExist(testName); // created via cy.createProject(testName) above
+    listPage.rows.shouldExist(testName); // created via cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName) above
     cy.testA11y('Namespace List page');
 
     cy.log('creates the Namespace');
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/other-routes.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/other-routes.cy.ts
index 5befb150703a..9fdaf977a005 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/other-routes.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/other-routes.cy.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ describe('Visiting other routes', () => {
     cy.login();
   });
 
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
+  });
+
   afterEach(() => {
     checkErrors();
   });
@@ -142,6 +146,7 @@ describe('Test perspective query parameters', () => {
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
     cy.visit('/k8s/cluster/projects');
     listPage.rows.shouldBeLoaded();
   });
@@ -155,8 +160,6 @@ describe('Test perspective query parameters', () => {
   });
 
   it('tests Developer query parameter', () => {
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
     cy.visit('/topology/all-namespaces', {
       qs: {
         view: 'graph',
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/quotas.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/quotas.cy.ts
index 071f28dafb27..0fdcd7e8bd60 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/quotas.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/quotas.cy.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ const deleteClusterExamples = () => {
 describe('Quotas', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
     createExampleQuotas();
   });
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ describe('Quotas', () => {
 
   after(() => {
     deleteClusterExamples();
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/resource-crud.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/resource-crud.cy.ts
index 65ac5f254a4c..997d2e8a083b 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/resource-crud.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/resource-crud.cy.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { errorMessage } from '../../views/form';
 import { listPage, ListPageSelector } from '../../views/list-page';
 import { modal } from '../../views/modal';
 import * as yamlEditor from '../../views/yaml-editor';
+import { init } from 'i18next';
 
 type TestDefinition = {
   kind: string;
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ type TestDefinition = {
 describe('Kubernetes resource CRUD operations', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ describe('Kubernetes resource CRUD operations', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
@@ -133,6 +134,10 @@ describe('Kubernetes resource CRUD operations', () => {
     describe(kind, () => {
       const name = `${testName}-${_.kebabCase(kind)}`;
 
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        cy.initAdmin();
+      });
+
       it(`creates the resource instance`, () => {
         cy.visit(
           `${namespaced ? `/k8s/ns/${testName}` : '/k8s/cluster'}/${resource}?name=${testName}`,
@@ -204,7 +209,7 @@ describe('Kubernetes resource CRUD operations', () => {
       });
 
       it('displays detail view for newly created resource instance', () => {
-        cy.url().should('include', `/${name}`);
+        cy.visit(`${namespaced ? `/k8s/ns/${testName}` : '/k8s/cluster'}/${resource}/${name}`);
         detailsPage.isLoaded();
         detailsPage.titleShouldContain(name);
         cy.testA11y(`Details page for ${kind}: ${name}`);
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/roles-rolebindings.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/roles-rolebindings.cy.ts
index 37fc13a222ef..1d13823d9841 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/roles-rolebindings.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/roles-rolebindings.cy.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ const deleteClusterExamples = () => {
 describe('Roles and RoleBindings', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
     createExampleRoles();
     createExampleRoleBindings();
   });
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ describe('Roles and RoleBindings', () => {
 
   after(() => {
     deleteClusterExamples();
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ describe('Roles and RoleBindings', () => {
       listPage.rows.shouldBeLoaded();
       projectDropdown.selectProject(testName);
       projectDropdown.shouldContain(testName);
+      listPage.rows.shouldBeLoaded();
       listPage.filter.by('cluster');
       listPage.filter.byName(clusterRoleOrBindingName);
       listPage.rows.clickRowByName(clusterRoleOrBindingName);
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/secrets.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/secrets.cy.ts
index b3bfdcc04ad3..593c6275cc90 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/secrets.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/crud/secrets.cy.ts
@@ -34,10 +34,11 @@ describe('Create key/value secrets', () => {
 
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ describe('Create key/value secrets', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/cluster-dashboard.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/cluster-dashboard.cy.ts
index 59a331cbc2a3..33f95d085e41 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/cluster-dashboard.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/cluster-dashboard.cy.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,10 @@ import { nav } from '../../views/nav';
 describe('Cluster dashboard', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
     cy.visit(`/dashboards`);
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/project-dashboard.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/project-dashboard.cy.ts
index f59d18b125d2..a372595ca839 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/project-dashboard.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/dashboards/project-dashboard.cy.ts
@@ -4,13 +4,11 @@ import { nav } from '../../views/nav';
 describe('Project dashboard', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
     cy.visit(`/k8s/cluster/projects/${testName}`);
   });
 
@@ -26,7 +24,7 @@ describe('Project dashboard', () => {
 
       const expectedValues = [
         { assertion: 'have.text', value: testName },
-        { assertion: 'have.text', value: 'kube:admin' },
+        { assertion: 'include.text', value: ':admin' },
         { assertion: 'include.text', value: `kubernetes.io/metadata.name=${testName}` },
         { assertion: 'have.text', value: 'No description' },
       ];
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/events/events.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/events/events.cy.ts
index ebafaffca02f..f3669c56585f 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/events/events.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/events/events.cy.ts
@@ -35,11 +35,7 @@ const testpod = {
 describe('Events', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    guidedTour.close();
-    cy.visit('/');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.changePerspectiveTo('Administrator');
-    nav.sidenav.switcher.shouldHaveText('Administrator');
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
     try {
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(testpod)}' | kubectl create -n ${testName} -f -`);
     } catch (error) {
@@ -47,6 +43,10 @@ describe('Events', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
+  });
+
   afterEach(() => {
     checkErrors();
   });
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe('Events', () => {
     } catch (error) {
       console.error(`\nFailed to delete pod ${name}:\n${error}`);
     }
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/i18n/pseudolocalization.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/i18n/pseudolocalization.cy.ts
index 82640209acde..76b4672a3d53 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/i18n/pseudolocalization.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/i18n/pseudolocalization.cy.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ describe('Localization', () => {
     cy.login();
   });
 
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
+  });
+
   afterEach(() => {
     checkErrors();
   });
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/monitoring/monitoring.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/monitoring/monitoring.cy.ts
index 91f697c2a1c4..46a428c78966 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/monitoring/monitoring.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/monitoring/monitoring.cy.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ const shouldBeWatchdogSilencePage = () => {
 describe('Monitoring: Alerts', () => {
   before(() => {
     cy.login();
-    cy.createProject(testName);
+    cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cy.initAdmin();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -34,7 +38,7 @@ describe('Monitoring: Alerts', () => {
   });
 
   after(() => {
-    cy.deleteProject(testName);
+    cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
     cy.logout();
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/clone.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/clone.cy.ts
index 6adec3b756fe..9ba52c4fc55b 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/clone.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/clone.cy.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ if (Cypress.env('BRIDGE_AWS')) {
   describe('Clone Tests', () => {
     before(() => {
       cy.login();
-      cy.createProject(testName);
+      cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(PVC)}' | oc apply -n ${testName} -f -`);
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(testerDeployment)}' | oc apply -n ${testName} -f -`);
       nav.sidenav.clickNavLink(['Storage', 'PersistentVolumeClaims']);
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ if (Cypress.env('BRIDGE_AWS')) {
     after(() => {
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(testerDeployment)}' | oc delete -n ${testName} -f -`);
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(PVC)}' | oc delete -n ${testName} -f -`);
-      cy.deleteProject(testName);
+      cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
       cy.logout();
     });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/snapshot.cy.ts b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/snapshot.cy.ts
index 0f8f5115b700..ab4196d3d5cd 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/snapshot.cy.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/integration-tests-cypress/tests/storage/snapshot.cy.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ if (Cypress.env('BRIDGE_AWS')) {
   describe('Snapshot Tests', () => {
     before(() => {
       cy.login();
-      cy.createProject(testName);
+      cy.createProjectWithCLI(testName);
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(PVC)}' | oc apply -n ${testName} -f -`);
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(testerDeployment)}' | oc apply -n ${testName} -f -`);
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(SnapshotClass)}' | oc apply -f -`);
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ if (Cypress.env('BRIDGE_AWS')) {
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(PVC)}' | oc delete -n ${testName} -f -`);
       cy.exec(`oc delete pvc ${snapshotName}-restore -n ${testName}`);
       cy.exec(`echo '${JSON.stringify(SnapshotClass)}' | oc delete -f -`);
-      cy.deleteProject(testName);
+      cy.deleteProjectWithCLI(testName);
       cy.logout();
     });