Job Description

Release Manager- LOCAL to CHICAGO AREA

**** W2 ONLY- NO C2C ****

Location: Bolingbrook, IL 60040 
Setting: Hybrid MUST BE LOCAL
Contract: 6+months 
Pay Rate: 65.00-75/hour on W2 

Job Description: 

The Release Manager manages and coordinates software development, testing, and deployment processes. This role ensures that product releases are delivered on time, within scope, and with minimal disruption to business operations. The Release Manager works closely with development, operations, quality assurance, and project management teams to streamline the release lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Release Planning and Coordination:
   1. Develop release schedules and plans, including dependencies, risks, and mitigations.
   2. Coordinate across teams to ensure smooth execution of releases.
   3. Align releases with business objectives and stakeholder requirements.
2. Release Execution:
   1. Manage and oversee the deployment process in production and non-production environments.
   2. Ensure all changes meet quality and security standards before release.
   3. Conduct release readiness reviews and post-deployment support.
3. Process Improvement:
   1. Analyze and optimize the release management process.
   2. Implement best practices for continuous integration, delivery, and automation.
   3. Document and maintain release policies, standards, and procedures.
4. Risk Management:
   1. Identify, track, and mitigate risks associated with releases.
   2. Develop rollback strategies in case of release failures.
5. Stakeholder Communication:
   1. Act as the main point of contact for release-related activities.
   2. Provide regular updates on release progress and challenges to stakeholders.
   3. Facilitate post-mortems to analyze release performance and outcomes.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Proven experience in release management (minimum 5 years).
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC), agile methodologies, and DevOps practices.
• Hands-on experience with release management tools (e.g., Jenkins, Jira, Confluence, Git).
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Certification in ITIL, PMP, or similar frameworks is a plus.

Soft Skills:

• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal skills.