Release Manager

Job Introduction

Are you looking for a new challenge in Selfridges that gives you the chance to get creative and use your knowledge of the business to take IT to the next level?  Looking for a company that wants to help further your career in IT as well as provide you with an exciting, inspiring and fun place to work?  

If the answer to all of these questions is ‘yes’ then you’re just the kind of person we’re looking for! 

Role Responsibility

As Release Manager you will organise, direct and manage activities for delivering technical changes for Selfridges. This role creates the overall Release plans and directs the required resources to deliver the changes for each Release, supporting both BAU and Project deliveries. You will be responsible for ensuring the capture, management, planning and coordination of the Release requirements for certain Service lines, from reviewing designs, planning environments, through Test stages and into Live Service. ​

The delivery of this Service Line is using Agile delivery methodologies, so you will need to be able manage and support Releases through Environments in an Agile lifecycle. There are at least 2 different Agile teams delivering in this Service line so managing across 2 different Agile teams is important.

As Release Manager you will:​

• Be the primary contact for stakeholders from the Service line for anything related to Release or Environment policies and processes, as well as details of current and future Releases in plan​

• Experience managing releases through an Agile Delivery Lifecycle is a requirement for this role, as well as managing across at least 2 different Agile teams

• Collaborate with Service Delivery teams, Project teams, Development & Deployment Partners and Test teams to build, integrate, test and deliver Releases​

• Review requirements and assess delivery options and potential synergies or impact to other work underway​

• Plan and establish the technical Test environments needed to successfully support Development and Testing phases of the lifecycle, through to Production deployment​

• Schedule and track all changes and supporting activities throughout the lifecycle​

• Evaluate scope and set priorities for Release criteria and product quality requirements​

• Ensure the correct mix of resources across Development, Product SMEs and other technical teams are available to deliver each Release​

• Establish regular and repeatable delivery patterns for the applications in scope, using Agile methodologies

• Track and log all incidents, risks and issues and ensure these are both maintained for the lifecycle and useable for future PIR and lessons learnt activities

The Ideal Candidate

• Experienced. You will have extensive experience in a similar Release Management role and have worked in a heavily federated environment, ideally in a fast pace delivery environment with competing priorities​

• Knowledgeable. You will be familiar with Infrastructure configuration such as firewalls and connection protocols, as well as Knowledge of Private/Public SSH configuration and have an understanding of data refresh and data obfuscation​

• Skilled. You will be ITIL qualified, specifically with a good appreciation of Service Transition  and have strong process knowledge of Software development Life Cycles, including Agile​

• Strong process knowledge of Software development Life Cycles, including Agile

• A great communicator, both verbal and written. You excel in the relationships you build with stakeholders, able to work across various teams at different levels​

• Organised and proactive. You are able to multi-task, prioritise and work to tight deadlines with effective time management skills​

• Inquisitive. You will continually question current customs and practice, and initiate quality improvements.​

• A problem solver. You are able to identify and manage issues and risks in a structured and analytical way​

• An example of our values, a trusted and respected colleague​

• Knowledge of DevOps and automation processes and tooling is required for this role

  • Experience managing Releases and environments using an Agile methodology is required for this role

• Knowledge of Digital platforms and applications, such as WCS V6 / V9, AEM, Mobile Apps and supporting services is required for this role.

This guide represents a summary of the role, however all team members are expected to be flexible in the work they undertake, which may change from time to time, according to the needs of the business

This job is a brilliant opportunity to join a close-knit team who are incredibly passionate about taking IT to the next level. If you’re looking to come into a new role and make a real impact, then this will be perfect for you.

About the Company

Our creative spirit

We are more than a shop. We are a social space where culture and commerce collide to release an energy that we call the Selfridges spirit. We are here to make our world brighter, and everyone is welcome.

Our awards cabinet

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. 

Our future

Since 1909 we have been at the forefront of retail and today our stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham – alongside selfridges.com and the Selfridges App – continue to redefine the way we shop and socialise. As a Selfridges team member, you will learn what it takes to consistently drive innovation, success and amazing customer experiences.

THE FUN STUFF

There are lots of reasons to be excited about joining Team Selfridges – from our fantastic team member communities to volunteer days and behind-the-scenes Selfridges experiences throughout the year.

Other benefits and rewards include:

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme

• Discounted gym memberships

• Pension contributions 

• Annual travel pass and cycle to work schemes

• A volunteer day for all team members

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development

Selfridges