Lead Release Management Specialist

work location: Gurgaon

work mode: hybrid

Summary:
We are seeking a skilled and experienced Release Management Specialist to join our dynamic IT team. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and tracking the processes, schedules, and coordination involved in planning, designing, and deploying software releases, ensuring that applications and upgrades are delivered efficiently and effectively with minimal disruption. This candidate will also manage risks and look for ways to improve processes. This role requires strong organization skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication, and the ability to lead and collaborate with diverse teams.
Responsibilities:
Planning and Scheduling
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Create and manage release schedules and plans, ensuring timely deployments, and coordinating across multiple teams.
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Coordinate with development, QA, and other teams to ensure timely and successful releases.
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Manage release windows and cycles across different environments.
Process Improvement
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Analyze existing release processes and recommend improvements to streamline deployment workflows, reduce risks, and enhance efficiency.
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Analyze the current release strategy and develop more efficient and repeatable processes.
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Identify and recommend service improvements to improve the overall quality and reliability of software releases.
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Conduct regular audits and performance tuning to optimize processes, policy, and procedures for software release management.
Risk Management
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Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with software releases, ensuring stability and reliability of the production environment.
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Develop rollback plans in case of issues.
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Analyze incident logs to identify process failures and recommend improvements.
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Ensure that testing processes are adhered to prior to release into production.
Coordination
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Facilitate communication and collaboration between development, QA, and operations teams to ensure a smooth and successful release process.
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Provide regular updates on release progress to stakeholders.
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Communicate release results and any deviations from the plan.
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Coordinate with all release owners to ensure that requests are raised and executed according to defined policy and process.
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Coordinate and facilitate release representation on Change Advisory Boards (CABs) and forward planning meetings.
Documentation
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Maintain detailed documentation of release processes, procedures, release notes, and environments.
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Maintain accurate records of deployment procedures, change logs, and any issues encountered.
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Conduct reviews after each release to identify areas for improvement and ensure documented lessons learned are applied to future releases.
Deployment Management and Support
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Ensure proper deployment of software releases into different environments (testing, staging, and production).
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Create and maintain deployment plans, ensuring all steps are documented and followed.
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Implement and improve automation for deployment processes to reduce manual effort and increase efficiency.
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Manage post-deployment monitoring to identify and address any issues or defects that may arise after the software is released.
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Monitor and review the release management process and the quality of code being deployed to decrease rework.
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Lead and train team members on deployment processes and tools
Collaboration and Communication
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Communicate release plans, timelines, and any changes to stakeholders on a regular and timely basis.
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Work closely with product owners, digital partners, application owners, business analysts, developers, SAP and other strategic vendor key contacts and others to ensure seamless integration and alignment of SAP solutions with business processes.
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Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment, encouraging knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
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Ensure that software releases are delivered on time and within budget to assist in meeting customer needs and expectations.
Monitoring and Support
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Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for software release management and related technologies and guide stakeholders in the process.
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Provide knowledge transfer to familiarize stakeholders with tools and processes around release management best practices.
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Stay up-to-date with the latest developments, best practices, and industry trends related to release management, CI/CD pipelines, and ITSM tools.
Essential Functions of the Role**:
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Indicate any physical requirements needed for the role
Work Experience Requirements
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Number of Overall Years Necessary: 8-12
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At least 8+ years of experience in project management, including risk management, scheduling, and stakeholder communication.
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Proven track record of staying current with technologies and trends used in release management such as version control systems, CI/CD pipelines, and ITSM tools.
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Experience specifically in release management, including planning, coordinating, and overseeing software releases.
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Experience with third-party integrations to SAP systems and products.
Education Requirements
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Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
Specialized Skills/Technical Knowledge:
Technical Skills
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Proficiency in software development tools and techniques, familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, and understanding of development and testing environments.
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Experience with tools and technologies used in release management, such as version control systems, CI/CD pipelines, and ITSM tools.
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Understand scripting languages like Python, Bash, or PowerShell to automate repetitive tasks and streamline deployment processes.
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Experience with monitoring tools and logging tools to track the health and performance of deployments.
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Knowledge of cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, including their deployment and management services.
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Proficiency with ITSM tools for managing incidents, changes, and releases.
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Certifications desirable but not required
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Project Management Professional (PMP)
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Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
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ITIL Foundation
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Certified Release Train Engineer (RTE)
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AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
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Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
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Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
Soft Skills
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Ability to identify and resolve issues quickly and efficiently.
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Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
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Strong communication skills, ability to work effectively with diverse teams, and excellent interpersonal skills.
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Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make recommendations for process improvements.
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and innovatively.
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Strong leadership and project management abilities, with experience leading cross-functional teams.
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Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
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Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
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Strong understanding of software development lifecycles (SDLC) and release management processes.
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Familiarity with version control systems.
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Experience with build and deployment tools.
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Strong networking skills to build and maintain relationships with SAP key contacts and stakeholders at Hollister and our vendors.
Local Specifications (English and Local Language):
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Excellent communication skills, written and verbal (English).
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Required to be on-site minimum 3 days a week with flexible work timing overlapping with US time.
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work location: Gurgaon

work mode: hybrid