IT Release Manager in UK

We are looking for an experienced Release Manager to join our Boots IT and Advanced Analytics function working within the dynamic Software Engineering Capability Centre (ECC).

Working primarily in an agile environment you will take a leading role in ensuring that releases to our Boots UK Digital Online and Store platforms are delivered effectively, enabling delivery of significant business benefits whilst protecting our platforms.

You will work alongside our agile scrum teams in a number of geographic areas and with other key stakeholders such as the Business Teams, Project Delivery, Test, Service and our wider partners.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of the digital transformation at Boots, playing a central role in delivering digital change across our Boots UK commerce platforms.

About the role

You will report into the Release Centre of Practice (CoP) Manager as a member of the Release Management team within the ECC.

The ECC delivers digital software for Boots which enables our website for both our online retail and pharmacy, our digital marketing and much more.

We have a core team and multiple partner teams at various locations globally, covering demand planning, software design, development, testing and release.

In this role you will form part of a Release Management team managing and delivering integrated Boots UK Digital and Retail releases onto our IT platforms.

Key responsibilities include:-

• Building, maintenance and management of integrated Release Schedules and Release Notes through close collaboration with the delivery teams
• Implementation planning and 24x7 deployment management to align with platform change windows
• Managing release related risks, issues and cross platform deployment dependencies
• Managing Release key stakeholders at all levels throughout the Release process
• Delivering major releases alongside small change, urgent change, service improvements and maintenance
• Release governance, content, configuration and change management into our integrated End to End landscape, Pre-Production and Production
• Contribution to Project planning activities – agile and waterfall
• Initial tracking and triage of warranty issues
• Release process continuous improvement

What you’ll need to have

• Proven Release Management experience in a complex / integrated agile environment
• Evidence of influential stakeholder management across all functions and levels
• Experience of using Jira or similar collaboration tools to deliver releases
• Understanding of the software development lifecycle (Agile/Waterfall)
• Experience of Change governance frameworks
• An understanding of software configuration management principles
• Effective leadership and analytical skills
• Experience of collaborating and influencing cross-functional teams in the successful delivery of software development projects
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to manage, influence, negotiate and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders at all levels in the business.
• Ability to self-organise and co-ordinate areas of work for yourself and others
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-starter, highly proactive and assertive in a demanding and dynamic environment
• Great resilience with the ability to maintain energy and enthusiasm and embrace situations positively

It would be great if you also have

• An understanding of Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
• Basic familiarity with DevOps principles and tooling, e.g. Jenkins
• General PC knowledge including Microsoft Office expert level knowledge of Excel
• Experience of delivery in a Retail environment

Our benefits

• Boots Retirement Savings Plan
• Generous employee discount plus enhanced discounts for Boots brands, Boots Opticians and Boots Hearingcare
• Excellent onsite facilities including staff shop, opticians (including free eye tests for team members), gym, cafeteria and outdoor seating

We have a great range of benefits in addition to the above that go beyond salary and offer flexibility to suit you; click here to view our full list of company benefits (all rewards and benefits are subject to change and eligibility).

What’s next?

If your application is successful, our recruitment team will be in touch to arrange an interview and to answer any initial questions you have.

If you have not been successful on this occasion, you will be notified by email.

Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options during the application process.

If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you to be at your best.

#LI-Onsite