Head Of Release Management / Director

Pontoon; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading employment consultancy in London is seeking a Head of Release Management / Director to lead transformative initiatives in release management. This hybrid role demands significant experience in financial services and proven leadership skills. The ideal candidate will foster team collaboration, ensure compliance, and drive innovative changes. Join a dynamic environment that values your contribution and puts you at the forefront of change.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in regulated industries, particularly financial services.
• Strong understanding of modern software architecture and DevOps principles.
• Proven ability to drive cultural change across teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop a multi-year roadmap aligned with business objectives.
• Ensure governance and compliance with audit-ready controls.
• Oversee the end-to-end release lifecycle.

Skills

Release and environment management

Leadership skills

Technical understanding of CI/CD

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Tools

Jenkins

Azure DevOps

GitLab

ServiceNow

Terraform

Ansible

Dynatrace

Splunk

Job description

Job Title: Head of Release Management / Director

Location: London (Hybrid: 5 days in 10)

Contract Length: 6 Months (with potential for permanent placement)

Daily Rate: £885 (Inside IR35)

Contract Type: Temporary

Working Pattern: Full Time

Overview

Join Us in Transforming Release Management!

Our client, a leading player in the Financial Services sector, is on the lookout for an enthusiastic and dynamic Head of Release Management / Director to spearhead their innovative journey! This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a brand-new role focused on shaping release and environment management across EMEA.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Developing a multi-year roadmap aligned with business objectives and regulatory standards.
• Governance & Compliance: Establishing frameworks and maintaining audit-ready controls that ensure safe and compliant releases.
• Collaboration: Partnering with Architecture, Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Software Development teams to drive a robust Continuous Delivery (CD) model.
• Team Building: Leading a high-performing team of release managers and coordinators, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Expertise: Extensive experience in release and environment management within regulated industries, particularly within financial services.
• Technical Acumen: Strong understanding of modern software architecture, CI/CD toolchains, and DevOps principles.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with compliance requirements such as DORA, FCA/PRA, and ISO standards.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to drive large-scale cultural and technological change across diverse teams.
• Hands-On Experience: Proficiency with tools like Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitLab, ServiceNow, Terraform, Ansible, and monitoring solutions such as Dynatrace and Splunk.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end release lifecycle to ensure changes are delivered efficiently and securely.
• Define and enforce environment lifecycle policies to ensure stability and compliance.
• Monitor performance through established quality metrics and KPIs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for auditors and provide evidence of compliance.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Role: This is a pivotal opportunity to redefine release practices in EMEA, allowing you to leave your mark on the organisation.
• Dynamic Environment: Work in a fast-paced, innovative environment where your ideas and leadership will be valued.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team that champions collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Additional Information

Note: Please be advised that this role requires a commitment to full-time hours and will involve some on-call and out-of-hours support for critical release and environment activities.

Application

Apply Now! Submit your application today and embark on a transformative journey with us in the world of Financial Services! This is your chance to lead, innovate, and make a difference.

About Pontoon

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.