CLIENT RELEASE MANAGER

About the Role

We are looking for a customer-focused Client Release Manager to own the planning, governance, coordination, and communication of Aptumo software releases across our customer base.

This role is the key link between Product, Delivery, Technical Operations, Testing, Service Management, and customers, ensuring releases are delivered in a controlled, predictable, and customer-centric manner while maintaining service stability.

The successful candidate will manage the end-to-end release lifecycle, including planning, readiness reviews, customer communication, deployment coordination, and post-release activities.

Key Responsibilities

Release Planning & Governance

• Manage the end-to-end Aptumo release lifecycle for UK and Australian customers.
• Coordinate release schedules, scope, dependencies, and deployment windows across multiple teams.
• Maintain release plans and version information within Jira.
• Facilitate release readiness reviews and Go/No-Go decisions.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate release risks.
• Ensure compliance with Change Management processes and ITIL best practices.

Customer Release Management

• Act as the primary customer-facing contact for all planned Aptumo releases.
• Communicate release schedules, impacts, timelines, and required customer actions.
• Coordinate customer acceptance testing and sign-off activities.
• Support customer CAB meetings and governance forums.
• Manage customer expectations and communicate changes effectively.

Documentation & Communication

• Coordinate the creation and publication of release notes.
• Maintain deployment schedules, knowledge articles, rollback plans, and release records.
• Translate technical release information into clear customer-focused communications.
• Ensure documentation is accurate, complete, and stored appropriately.

Deployment & Readiness Coordination

• Validate completion of testing, operational readiness, and deployment prerequisites.
• Coordinate with technical teams to ensure release readiness.
• Support deployment communications and transition activities.
• Track and escalate release issues where necessary.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships across Product, Development, QA, Technical Operations, Service Desk, Service Management, and customer teams.
• Provide regular release updates highlighting key risks, dependencies, decisions, and actions.
• Collaborate effectively across multiple regions and time zones.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead post-release reviews and lessons-learned sessions.
• Improve release processes, templates, governance, and communications.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort through automation.
• Support the ongoing development of Release Management capabilities.

What You'll Bring

Essential Experience

• Experience coordinating software releases in SaaS, managed services, or enterprise technology environments.
• Strong customer engagement and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional technical and business teams.
• Working knowledge of Jira or similar work management tools.
• Understanding of software release management, change control, and service transition principles.
• Experience creating release documentation, reports, and customer communications.
• Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of Aptumo and its customer environment.
• Experience with Salesforce products, environments, or managed package releases.
• ITIL Foundation certification or equivalent service management experience.
• Experience within the utilities or water sector.
• Experience supporting customers across different regions and time zones.
• Understanding of DevOps, automated deployment, and modern release practices.

Key Competencies

• Customer Focus: Builds trust through proactive and effective communication.
• Ownership: Takes accountability and proactively manages risks.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
• Judgement: Balances delivery, quality, risk, and customer impact.
• Communication: Simplifies complex information for different audiences.
• Continuous Improvement: Drives positive process improvements and operational excellence.

Success in This Role

You will be successful if:

• Releases are delivered according to agreed plans and timelines.
• Release governance, approvals, and readiness activities are completed consistently.
• Customers receive clear, timely, and accurate communications.
• Risks are identified and managed proactively.
• Stakeholders have visibility of release progress, dependencies, and decisions.
• Post-release learnings result in measurable process improvements.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation and performance-based incentives.
• Exposure to global clients and cross-functional teams.
• Opportunities for upskilling and career advancement.
• A collaborative and inclusive work culture.