Release Manager

Release Manager’s primary function is to oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of software releases within the organization and support the Project Manager in planning, organizing, and controlling project activities.
Responsibilities
· Release Planning and Strategy
o Collaborate with stakeholders, including product managers, development teams, and business leaders, to establish objectives, priorities, and schedules
o Assist the Project Manager in developing plans, including defining objectives, scope, deliverables, and timelines, specifically as it relates to releases
o Track progress against defined plans, identifying and addressing any deviations or issues
· Release Coordination and Execution
o Coordinate activities across multiple teams, such as development, quality assurance, operations, and support, to ensure a smooth and timely delivery of releases
o Manage the release calendar, schedule release milestones, and track progress against planned releases
o Facilitate release readiness reviews and ensure that all release-related tasks such as code freezes, build creation, packaging, and deployment, are executed effectively
· Resource Management
o Collaborate with the Project Manager to identify resource requirements and allocate resources effectively
o Assist with ensuring that project team members have the necessary tools, information, and support to perform their tasks
o Monitor resource utilization and coordinate with the Project Manager to implement needed adjustments
· Risk Management and Issue Resolution
o Identify potential risks, dependencies, and barriers that may impact the release process and assist in developing appropriate mitigation strategies
o Monitor and report on the status of identified risks and issues, escalating critical issues to the Project Manager
o Work closely with appropriate teams to resolve issues that arise during the release cycle, ensuring minimal disruption to the release schedule
· Change and Configuration Management
o Collaborate with the Project Manager to Establish and maintain effective change management processes to govern the release cycle
o Collaborate with leadership and any identified advisory boards to review and approve release plans, ensuring compliance with established policies and procedures
o Manage configuration items and ensure proper version control and documentation of artifacts
· Quality Assurance and Testing
o Collaborate with the Project Manager to Define and implement release testing strategies, including regression testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing
o Ensure appropriate test environments are available and test plans and scripts are executed efficiently
o Monitor and analyze release-related metrics and quality indicators to drive continuous improvement in the release process
· Communication and Stakeholder Management
o Communicate release plans, progress, and status updates to stakeholders, including the Project Manager, development team, customers, and senior management
o Assist in maintaining effective communication and collaboration among cross-functional teams, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed about release-related activities
o Act as a point of contact for release-related inquiries, feedback, and support requests
· Continuous Improvement and Best Practices
o Continuously evaluate and improve release management processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance efficiency, quality, and reliability
o Stay updated with industry best practices and emerging trends in release management and incorporate them into the organization’s release practices, where applicable
o Foster a culture of continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and collaboration within the release management function
Desired Experience
· Prior experience in managing software release within a complex software development environment. Candidate should be familiar with release planning, coordination, and execution processes
· Strong project management skills. Candidate should have experience in managing project scheduled, coordinating cross-functional teams, and mitigating risks and issues
· A solid understanding of different SDLC methodologies. Experience with Agile or Scrum is highly desirable.
· Experience in working with development teams and familiarity with software engineering practices are beneficial
· Experience with JIRA ticketing process and reporting capabilities
· Candidates should have experience in managing software artifacts and version control strategies
· Familiarity with QA and testing processes, including test planning, test execution, and defect management, is valuable. Experience in implementing and improving testing strategies is beneficial
· Knowledge of change management principals and practices
· Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential for effective collaboration with stakeholders across different teams and levels of the organization
· Strong problem-solving skills to identify issues, analyze data, and make informed decisions
· Have a mindset of continuous improvement and a track record of driving process enhancements and efficiencies
· Basic understanding of business intelligence suites (Tableau, PowerBI, COGNOS, etc.)
· Basic understanding of relational databases
Basic understanding of reporting/analysis tools (PowerBI, Tableau, Jupyter Notebooks, Python, R)

Education Requirements
· Bachelor’s degree in relevant field ( i.e. Project Management, Information Systems, Software Engineering)
· Professional certification(s) desired (PMP, ITIL, Agile, Scrum, etc)
Clearance Requirements:
· TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph