Software Release Manager

The Release Manager will work within a team of 5 reporting to the Release Management Officer. The RM will work in cooperation with Team Leaders and Managers across the company to ensure that Releases are delivered following Apple policy, processes and best practice. Release Management is Initial escalation point for issues relating to software release.

The Release Manager will coordinate software releases to ensure that the integrity of the live Apple Online Store environment is protected and that the correct components are released in the proper order.

Specific Duties:

• Review release project requests (IRPs) and approve or reject them based on their adherence to documented release management process requirements and standards.
• Manage daily release management operations such as publication of the release schedule and other release reports.
• Facilitate regular release readiness meetings and prepare all meeting materials. Publish meeting minutes and track action items.
• Coordinate with engineering and operations staff to develop detailed Release Execution Plans. Review and approve these plans with leadership.
• Periodically conduct Post Implementation Review (PIR) on closed changes to gauge quality.
• Capture and publish release metrics, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Critical Success Factors (CSFs).
• Raise and track change management related issues and conflicts. Remove barriers, resolve issues and escalate issues appropriately where required. Maintain and improve process effectiveness (quality), process efficiency (cost), process performance (throughput) and process vulnerability (security).
• Initiate follow-up actions to correct any problems or inefficiencies arising during execution of the release process and highlight any issues or ideas of improvement to leadership.
• Responsible and accountable for translating technical software changes/ updates into user based communications.

• 5 years of experience in software release management supporting a high volume web facing property.
• 2-4 years or more experience leading small teams in a technical setting.
• Prefer PMI, ITIL, ISO/IEC Foundation, TQM, COBIT or Six Sigma certification
• Demonstrated experience developing policies and procedures necessary to protect production and manage change.
• Experience with release management principles, methodologies and tools High level experience with software web development (including C++, Java, XML, messaging protocols, and Web Services), service-oriented architecture
• Advanced experience with MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio) to include experience creating documents, spreadsheets, presentations and Visio diagrams
• Excellent written and verbal communication, coordination, listening and leadership skills
• Ability to translate technical changes into user based communications Ability to actively participate as a member of the team and be held to constantly improving standards, working to always improve the change control process for all involved
• Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences, including the ability to influence across the organization
• Proven communication skills with multiple levels of an organization, including interaction with a senior leadership team within a company