Role: Release Manager
Interview: Phone/Skype
Work Location: Chicago, IL
Emp Type: Permanent Job
Release Manager will be responsible for implementing and monitoring release processes for the progression of software enhancements throughout Digital Transformation projects. The release manager ensures successful delivery of our software, generate release documentation, coordinate system/user testing, and track and address impediments
Release Planning
• Manage, plan, schedule, and control builds through different stages and environments (build, testing + deploy)
• Ensure all documentation stored appropriately
• Prepare, Manage and Communicate release notes per sprint
• Manage relationships and coordinate projects between multiple teams in diverse locations
Release Monitoring
• Clearly understand the scope of the Release by working closely with Portfolio Management, Project Management, Testing and Delivery Leads to track project Epics/Initiatives, Stories, Patches in a Release
• Track/Monitor/Report release health and identify risks and issues that affect release scope, schedule and quality and provide status (as needed)
• Ensure production releases comply with change management processes. Ensure requesters create and move change records through the approval process in compliance with Change Management guidelines
• Works with extended project delivery team members to determine inter-dependencies of projects/changes when projects are added or pulled from a release
• Ensure all deferred defects are logged and tracked
• Monitor, Track and Report on projects for compliance to enterprise milestones/checkpoints
• Facilitate Go/No-Go decision for the Release and Communicate to stakeholders
Release Deployment
• Document and communicate overall Release Scope and Deployment plan with stakeholders
• Monitor to ensure all change records are identified and deployed within the release (includes monitoring completion of closure code information)
• Ensure proper contact names/phone numbers are available for deployment weekend support
• Lead and coordinate the Go-Live activities including the execution of the deployment Plans and checklists (if applicable)
• Measure and monitor progress to ensure application releases are deployed successfully
• Tracks issues reported during deployment/validation process
Release Post Deployment
• Monitor all release issues through resolution and communicate status during functional release window
• Facilitate completion of Lessons Learned documentation
• Participate in continuous improvements initiatives
General Leadership
• Change administration – possess the ability to explain the change process to change requesters for which you are responsible – be an advocate for your “area of responsibility”
• Working with others to research, define, document, and implement process improvements to increase release and project health preparedness and readiness
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related work experience
• Experience in Technology Project Management
• ITIL/ITSM knowledge
• ITIL Certification in Service Transitions (ST) or Release Control and Validation (RCV) is a nice to have
• Exceptional ability to communicate and correspond effectively with all levels of Leadership, including C-level executives; this is a high-visibility role within the organization
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to present to a diverse audience on a variety of project and release topics
• Ability to lead and facilitate meetings involving a diverse group on a variety of topics
• Proficient with JIRA for Release Management activities
• Strong Experience with at least one Agile methodology (Scrum, Kanban, Scaled frameworks such as SAFe, LeSS, Spotify, etc.)
• Proficiency with software change management (e.g., manage versions, artifact decomposition/traceability, etc.) , source code management (e.g., branching schemes, merge strategies, etc.), packaging, and testing concepts (unit, integration, system, etc.)
• Solid knowledge of CICD & DevOps principles. Hands-on implementation, or proven track of driving release optimization, is strongly desired
• Ability to operate within Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket is required
• Knowledge of any of the following applications - ServiceNow, Artifactory, Jenkins, Cloud Platform such as AWS/Azure, Adobe Experience Manager and Oracle Commerce Cloud is a plus
8-10 Years
Market Rate