Release Manager

Admiral Careers; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading employment firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Release Manager to oversee deployment across multiple applications. You will be responsible for ensuring stability and efficiency in a complex IT landscape, while also leading a team and collaborating with internal stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership qualities, experience in managing releases, and a solid understanding of agile methodologies. Benefits include up to 38 days off annually and opportunities for share ownership.

Benefits

Up to £3,600 of free shares

33 days holiday increasing up to 38 days

Great workplace culture

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Experience in release management or related roles.
• Capacity to learn from and adapt to a changing technical environment.
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies and cloud technology.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Agile Release Train and manage release schedules.
• Lead a team of technical release analysts.
• Manage risks and resolve issues affecting release scope.

Skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Leadership and team-management skills

Excellent organisational and analytical skills

Creative problem-solving skills

Ability to work independently and in a team

Tools

ServiceNow

Jira

Confluence

Azure DevOps

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

• Oversee the Agile Release Train (ART) and ensure minimal disruptions to operations.
• Coordinate and communicate release schedules and activities with all Value Streams and senior business users.
• Lead a team of technical release analysts and release coordinators, applying strong knowledge of agile methodologies, cloud computing, and pipeline processes.
• Resolve immediate environment challenges while maintaining a strategic view of resolution plans.
• Provide implementation‑coordination support for Platform, Networks, Security, Modern Workplace, and DBA.
• Ensure correct governance and sign‑off is applied to all releases (TRB, CAB, business, and when required emergency CAB).
• Implement and maintain release‑management best practices for a controlled and efficient release process.
• Strategically plan toward fully automated release processes through all environments and into production.
• Work with QA and Tech to establish robust standards for management of environments.
• Plan and coordinate releases, preventing scheduling conflicts and ensuring sufficient resource allocation.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and customers to understand needs and priorities.
• Manage and maintain 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.
• Report on the status and success of software releases to senior management.
• Implement a continuous improvement mindset and consistency across BTG release management.
• Work with business change functions to ensure effective communication to business areas.

The Release Manager is expected to work in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment, which may include on‑call duties and working outside regular business hours to support critical releases.

Experience Required

Essential Experience

• Experience in release management or related roles.
• Ability to work with structured frameworks, methodologies, and best practices.
• Capacity 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 technologies quickly.
• Excellent organisational and 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 planning and executing software releases in a complex IT environment.
• Experience with Guidewire technology and release process.
• Experience with CI/CD.
• Familiarity with ServiceNow, Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps or equivalent tools.
• Experience in 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 yourself and rely on 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 eligible for up to £3,600 of free shares each year after one year of service.
Everyone receives 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) upon joining, increasing up to a maximum of 38 days (including bank holidays) the longer you stay, with an option to buy or sell up to an additional five days of annual leave. We’re proud of our culture and have been recognised as a Great Place to Work for Women, for Wellbeing, and overall for over 25 years! We are fully committed to ensuring your progression is not slowed or halted by barriers related to race, gender, age, sexuality, or any protected characteristics.