Release and Deployment Manager

Enterprise-Wide Technology (EWT), is the UK Firm’s internal technology division. In total, EWT comprises c. 1,100 FTEs across both retained and outsourced teams, and across both onshore and offshore locations; budget for the fiscal year is c. £160m. EWT is accountable for delivering a range of services to the UK Firm, including gathering requirements, solution design, build and run, and the execution of complex change portfolios focused on security, data, core infrastructure and business applications. 

Service Operations work with a number strategic partners to deliver IT services to all users and capabilities across the UK firm, including end user services, application management, network and hosting services ensuring these services are delivered in a secure and compliant manner. Release and Deployment is a critical capability that responsible for changes into our BAU application and service landscape are managed in a controlled manner without impacting the business or our users.

In this role, you will coordinate the release and deployment of application updates across our value chains. You will act as an experienced member of a firm wide team, using multiple communication channels for close collaboration. You’ll need to have passion for delivery best in-class service through rigorous process adherence and governance

• Utilising the service transition governance framework and transition processes to assure the release and deployment of quality products.
• Ensure ITSM and release process is integrated into the wider EWT processes and governance.
• Ensuring projects/programs are held accountable and responsible for business and operational readiness.
• Consulting with the project/program managers, wider EWT IT teams and suppliers to plan, execute and manage deployment of new or changed services.
• Chairing and facilitating service transition meetings – Operational readiness reviews, go/no go meetings - with project/program teams, suppliers and internal teams.
• Collating service acceptance and operational readiness criteria from impacted stakeholders to ensure readiness & acceptance of services into steady state operation as appropriate
• Controlling the set of service acceptance criteria and operational readiness criteria, ensuring it is maintained and is current
• Highlighting risks and issues relating to deployment of the new/changed services and ensuring these are owned by the project/program and mitigation plans are produced.
• Delivering accurate and timely reporting to the Service Management team for management consumption
• Contributing to improving the overall release and deployment process and procedures
• Responsible for driving continual service improvement within release and deployment.
• Ensure residual project risks are sufficiently resolved or transferred to Service Ownership before closure of projects.
• Navigating the complexity of operational service models and process, support delivery by speeding up the execution of processes where necessary.
• Defining clear and linear communication plans for service stakeholder engagement.
• Maintaining and monitoring the progress of any service transaction: change, configuration, test, release & deployment of any associated service asset.

Strong Customer Service Management experience and skills.

ITIL Foundation certification as a minimum – ITIL Service Transition desirable.

Strong Change, Release and Service Asset & Configuration Management experience.

Strong supplier and stakeholder management skills.

Strong communication, influencing and analytical skills.

Working knowledge and understanding of Service Introduction.

Good technology insight with a full appreciation of how technology can enable positive business change.

Experience in software project and release management.

Solid experience of Project / Release / Issue management environments & methodologies.

High level of organization with the ability to balance multiple priorities.

An ability to be highly collaborative, with a strong ability to work through issues to find solutions.

An ability to collaborate with architects and developers to define solutions and deliverables and resolve technical solutions.

An ability to stay current on technology and industry advancements and best practices

Ability to be highly effective as a remote employee on a distributed team and contribute to an inclusive, open, and collaborative workplace.

Proven written and verbal communication skills.