Change and Release Manager (IT)

Job Summary

The Change and Release Manager will oversee the planning, coordination, and management of all IT change and release processes within the organization. This role ensures that changes to IT services, systems, and infrastructure are implemented in a controlled and efficient manner, minimizing risk and disruption to business operations. The Change and Release Manager will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT operations, development, and service management, to ensure smooth deployment and release of new and updated technologies. The role demands strong leadership, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) best practices.

Key Responsibilities: •

1. Change Management:

o Lead and manage the Change Management process, ensuring changes are planned, assessed, and approved in alignment with organizational goals and ITIL guidelines. o Conduct regular Change Advisory Board (CAB) meetings to evaluate and approve changes. o Monitor the progress of changes and ensure they are implemented according to agreed-upon schedules. o Assess the impact, risks, and benefits of changes to mitigate disruptions to production environments. o Maintain and update the change management process documentation. •

2. Release Management: o Coordinate the release lifecycle, including planning, scheduling, and controlling software builds, deployments, and patches. o Ensure that releases are tested and validated before deployment to production. o Collaborate with development and IT operations teams to ensure releases are smoothly integrated into the existing infrastructure. o Create and maintain release documentation, including release notes and implementation plans.

3. Risk Management: o Perform risk assessments on changes and releases to identify potential issues and propose mitigation strategies. o Monitor the post-release environment to ensure system stability and address any issues that arise.

4. Continuous Improvement: o Continuously improve the change and release management processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and service quality. o Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess the success and impact of changes and releases.

5. Stakeholder Communication: o Act as the main point of contact for all change and release-related matters within the organization. o Provide regular updates and reports to stakeholders regarding the status of changes, releases, and risk assessments. o Facilitate training and knowledge sharing across teams to promote best practices in change and release management.

Qualifications:

1. Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (preferred).
• ITIL Foundation Certification (required); advanced certifications in ITIL (e.g., ITIL Expert, ITIL Practitioner) are a plus.
• Project management certification (PMP, Prince2) is an advantage.

2. Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in IT service management, with at least 2 years in a Change and Release Management role.
• Proven experience managing change and release processes in a complex IT environment.
• Strong understanding of ITIL methodologies, specifically in Change and Release Management.

3. Skills:

• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Strong knowledge of release management tools and software.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking skills. o Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.

4. Technical Knowledge:

• Understanding of IT infrastructure, applications, and deployment methodologies.
• Experience with version control, build automation, and deployment tools (e.g., Jenkins, Git, etc.).
• Familiarity with change management software (e.g., ServiceNow, Remedy, Jira).