Release Manager

Admiral Group Plc; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services company in Cardiff is seeking a Release Manager to oversee software deployment processes in a complex IT environment. The role requires excellent leadership skills and knowledge of agile methodologies, cloud computing, and release management. With remarkable benefits, including up to 38 days holiday and opportunities for career growth, this position is ideal for someone looking to make a significant impact in their next role.

Benefits

Up to £3,600 of free shares annually

33-38 days holiday

Flexible annual leave options

Qualifications

• Experience in release management or related roles.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent organisational and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Agile Release Train ensuring minimal disruptions.
• Coordinate and communicate release schedules with stakeholders.
• Manage risks and resolve issues affecting release scope and quality.

Skills

Release management

Agile methodologies

Cloud computing

Team management

Problem-solving

Communication

Tools

Service Now

Jira

Confluence

Azure Dev Ops

Job description

We are on the search for a Release Manager who will be responsible for ensuring the smooth and controlled deployment across multiple applications for software releases, and updates in a complex IT landscape. This role is critical for maintaining the stability, security, and efficiency of the IT environment while meeting customer needs.

Main Duties

The primary objectives of the Release Manager are:

• To oversee the Agile Release Train (ART), ensuring minimal disruptions to operations.
• To coordinate and communicate release schedules and activities with all Value Streams and senior business users.
• To lead a team of technical release analysts and release coordinators with a strong understanding of agile methodologies, cloud computing, and pipeline processes.
• Ensure immediate environment challenges are resolved along with a strategic view of resolution plans.
• Provide implementation coordination support for Platform, Networks, Security, Modern workplace and DBA.
• To ensure correct governance and sign off has been applied to all releases, TRB, CAB, business and when required emergency CAB.
• To implement and maintain release management best practices to ensure a controlled and efficient release process.
• Strategically planning toward the goal of fully automated release processes through all environments and into production.
• Working with QA and Tech to build a set of robust standards for management of environments.
• Planning and coordinating the releases, ensuring no scheduling conflicts and sufficient resource allocation, including support.
• Collaborating with various internal stakeholders and customers to understand their needs and priorities.
• Managing and maintaining relationships with third-party vendors and service providers related to releases.
• Prepare and manage the release management budget.
• Manage risks and resolve issues that affect release scope, schedule, and quality.
• Reporting on the status and success of software releases to senior management.
• Implementing a continuous improvement mindset and consistency across BTG release management.
• Working with business change functions to ensure effective communication to our business areas.

The Release Manager is expected to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. This may include on-call duties and the need to work outside of regular business hours to support regular and sometimes critical releases.

This is not a full definition of the role but covers the main aspects and drivers for success.

Experience Required

Essential

• Experience in release management or related roles.
• Able to work with structured frameworks, methodologies, and best practices.
• An ability to learn from, and adapt to, a changing technical environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Technical competence and aptitude to learn new things quickly.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Demonstrable analytical skills.
• Significant and proven creative problem-solving skills.

Desirable

• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies, cloud computing, and pipeline processes – specifically sAfe and Cloud technology.
• Experience in planning and executing software releases in a complex IT environment.
• Experience of Guidewire tech and release process.
• Experience of CI/CD.
• Service Now, Jira, Confluence and Azure Dev Ops or equivalent tools.
• Risk and budget management.

Admiral: Where You Can

We take pride in being a diverse and inclusive business. It's a place where you can Be You, and show up as you are. We’re committed to fostering a people-first culture where everyone is accepted, supported, and empowered to be brilliant. You can, Grow And Progress at a pace and direction that suits you, Make A Difference for our customers and each other, and Share in Our Future with all colleagues eligible for up to £3,600 of free shares each year after one year of service.

Everyone receives 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) when they join us, increasing the longer you stay with us, up to a maximum of 38 days (including bank holidays). You also have the option to buy or sell up to an additional five days of annual leave.

We’re proud of our people-first culture. In fact, we've been recognised as a Great Place to Work for Women, a Great Place to Work for Wellbeing, and an overall Great Place to Work for over 25 years! We’re fully committed to making sure your progression is not slowed or halted by barriers related to race, gender, age, sexuality or any of the protected characteristics.

Our fantastic benefits make sure our colleagues have a great work-life balance; You can view some of our other key benefits here.