Senior Release Manager

About the Directorate

As IT&D, we help to create the University of the future by co-designing new ways of working, enhancing productivity, reducing complexity, supporting innovation, and providing the insights to drive continual improvement. Embracing a digital future in an evolving modern university, you will be working in partnership with our academic and Professional Services colleagues to deliver digital services that help the University achieve its strategic objectives in teaching and research, nationally & globally.

About the Department

We build, buy, configure and enhance enterprise scale software and services to solve unique problems and support mission critical functions within the university enabling it to achieve its strategic goals. We ensure our systems and data are highly resilient, available, and secure and work collaboratively with our colleagues within IT & Digital and across the wider university to deliver best in class products and services.

About the Team

The Quality teams is responsible for ensuring that every release is delivered safely, and to a high standard, adhering to strict governance processes. We support the full release and test management lifecycle, from requirement validation through to release, supporting our teams to deliver consistent high quality.

About the Role

The Senior Release Manager will report to the Head of Quality and will be responsible for leading and influencing the implementation of best practice, improving on effectiveness and efficiency of the release management function.

Key Responsibilities

• Management of the release schedule and roadmap using Jira
• Implementation and adherence of best practice initiatives
• Regular liaison with colleagues, senior managers within IT & Digital to ensure alignment across relevant departments
• Management of the Release Management process, methods, tools and applications
• Mentoring and supporting less senior colleagues
• Lead in communicating complex concepts
• Attending, contributing, and occasionally leading on ceremonies and other occasional meetings within the department
• Managing risk across releases

Key Skills & Experiences Essential:

• A degree/professional qualification or relevant experience as a Release Manager
• Proven experience in a release management role
• Experience in an Agile environment
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Experience of working across multiple projects and stakeholder groups

Desirable:

• Experience in a Higher Education or public sector environment
• ITIL 4 Qualifications
• Experience with Jira, or similar tools
• Lean Six Sigma or BPMN certification
• Understanding of data protection regulations including GDPR

Assessment Process

• To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter detailing your suitability, on the application portal.
• Interviews are expected to be scheduled in the w/c 04 March
• For informal enquiries, about this vacancy, please contact Hannah Dix on

To learn more about this exciting opportunity and benefits we offer, please read the JD and Candidate Pack provided below.

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you!

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.