IT Change and Release Manager

IT Change and Release Manager

Location: Reading or Havant

Initial contract length: 6 months Inside IR35

Rate: £500 pay rate

Start Date: ASAP

This role supports a large, diverse energy company involved in the production, storage, distribution, and supply of gas, and the generation, transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity and other energy services to over 9 million customers. The company is undergoing a significant IT transformation programme over the next 5+ years, aiming to harness data and analytics as a strategic capability.

Main Purpose of the Job:

• Minimize business risk by effectively managing IT Change.
• Plan, schedule, and control the build, test, and deployment of releases to deliver business value while protecting service integrity.
• Own and be accountable for all aspects of the Change and Release Management processes, including development, governance, compliance, performance, reporting, and continual improvement.
• Ensure the process aligns with documented requirements, targets, SLAs, and OLAs.
• Work with other process owners to integrate Change and Release Management into the overall Service Management System.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and maintain IT Change Management and Release Management strategies to minimize unplanned service disruption.
• Ensure the risks associated with IT Change are understood, articulated, and communicated across IT, third parties, and business areas.
• Provide visibility of planned Change activity to stakeholders and manage Change Freezes when necessary.
• Reduce Change risk by grouping related Changes and managing their deployment via a defined Release Management process.
• Ensure proper planning, design, build, configuration, and testing for all Release packages.
• Ensure compliance with all aspects of the Change and Release Management process.
• Define, document, maintain, and manage the process in line with ITIL guidelines and ISO 20000 requirements.
• Regularly review and report on process performance using Critical Success Factors (CSFs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and targets.
• Ensure effective communication between Change Management, IT, Service Assurance, and other stakeholders.
• Conduct regular reviews of the process with key stakeholders and practitioners to identify and document opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain a process risk register and ensure all associated risks are managed.
• Comply with corporate, statutory, and regulatory requirements associated with the process.

Education

• Degree in a related field or at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• ITIL Practitioner level qualification or equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience.
• Demonstrable understanding of IT Change Management and Release Management processes, acquired through similar roles.

Business Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of the energy sector.
• Understanding of how IT Change Management, Release Management, and Service Management support business service delivery.

Functional and Technical Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years' technical or functional experience.
• Knowledge of ISO 20000 standard and Service Management processes.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Fluent communicator with experience at all organizational levels.
• Able to articulate points of view and present reasoned cases.
• Self-motivated with strong personal effectiveness and independent workload management.
• Strong leadership and negotiation skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interactive communication skills.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Good relationship-building skills.
• Adept at using multiple problem-solving methodologies.
• Able to identify and implement appropriate workarounds.
• Experience resolving complex problems involving multiple technologies or business areas.
• Continual review of process improvement opportunities.
• Accountable for an entire technical or functional area.
• Responsible for scheduling and managing all IT Change Management and Release Management activities.
• Authority to suspend project activity in cases of non-compliance.