IT Release Manager

Profile Summary

Voya is seeking a Release Manager to manage the lifecycle of hardware and software modifications, new deployments, and related release activities across multiple application suites and delivery methodologies. This role is responsible for following Voya's release management process and other core IT service management processes as needed, while partnering closely with business leaders, technology teams, project management, operations, infrastructure, QA, development, and supplier resources. The Release Manager will support release planning, stakeholder communication, risk management, approvals, implementation coordination, post-installation support, and continuous service improvement.

Profile Description

• Manage the lifecycle of releases for hardware and software modifications and new deployments by following release management and applicable IT service management processes.
• Build and maintain release roadmaps to identify scope, timelines, dependencies, and execution plans in collaboration with team members and leadership while minimizing or avoiding risk of collision with other changes or releases.
• Meet monthly or quarterly with business leaders to review priorities and plan for future work.
• Document the full lifecycle of releases in the service management tool, including tollgate activities, stakeholder approvals, project management approvals, and required IT service management process steps.
• Identify risks, manage interdependencies and timing concerns, support milestone adherence, and ensure release integrity can be measured.
• Coordinate with other release managers and application suite managers across large multidisciplinary teams in a matrixed organization to confirm resource availability and escalate concerns to senior leaders as appropriate.
• Partner with operations, business analysts, quality assurance, developers, project management, infrastructure, senior business and IT leaders, and supplier resources to support release scope and execution.
• Create release plans and conduct release readiness, milestone, and business go/no-go reviews with technical teams, project managers, and business stakeholders.
• Develop communication plans, including scope and change control management, and communicate execution plans and impacts to configuration item asset owners affected by the release.
• Communicate and escalate issues related to release plan, scope, schedule, implementation quality, and final release results.
• Provide release metrics, release scorecards, reporting, and escalation updates as appropriate.
• Coordinate execution plans and monitor activities during release implementation, ensuring technical support is available before, during, and after installation.
• Ensure production issues are identified, tracked, and resolved during the post-installation phase.
• Adhere to SLA agreements and request approval for deviations from SLAs when permitted by process policies and guidelines.
• Participate in post-implementation reviews, continuous service improvement meetings, CAB meetings, and release advisory meetings.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field.
• 3-5 years of release management experience or enterprise-wide project/delivery management experience.
• 10 years of experience in application and hardware implementation.
• Detailed understanding of ITIL Release, Change, and Configuration Management.
• Advanced knowledge of the software development lifecycle.
• Demonstrated effective leadership and critical thinking skills.
• Very strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build relationships with various stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Proven record of flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Exposure and familiarity with automated testing tools, process management tools, agile delivery tools, and change management.
• Experience with ServiceNow and analytics tools.
• Expert-level Microsoft Office knowledge, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to problem solve and apply strong critical thinking skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• ITIL v3 Foundation certification.
• Understanding of Voya Change Management and Release Management processes.
• Copilot/AI prompting experience.

Competencies

• Release planning and execution
• Risk, dependency, and change management
• Stakeholder communication and relationship management
• Matrixed team coordination
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Adaptability and prioritization
• Service management process discipline

Compensation Pay Disclosure:

Voya is committed to pay that's fair and equitable, which means comparable pay for comparable roles and responsibilities.

The below annual base salary range reflects the expected hiring range(s) for this position in the location(s) listed. In addition to base salary, Voya offers incentive opportunities (i.e., annual cash incentives, sales incentives, and/or long-term incentives) based on the role to reward the achievement of annual performance objectives. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Voya Financial is willing to pay at the time of this posting.

Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted salary range based upon the candidate's geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

$79,620 - $132,720 USD

Be Well. Stay Well.

Voya provides the resources that can make a difference in your lives. To us, this means thriving physically, financially, socially and emotionally. Voya benefits are designed to help you do just that. That's why we offer an array of plans, programs, tools and resources with one goal in mind: To help you and your family be well and stay well.

What We Offer

• Health, dental, vision and life insurance plans
• 401(k) Savings plan - with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%)
• Voya Retirement Plan - employer paid cash balance retirement plan (4%)
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Paid time off - including 20 days paid time off, nine paid company holidays and a flexible Diversity Celebration Day.
• Paid volunteer time - 40 hours per calendar year

Learn more about Voya benefits (download PDF)

Critical Skills

At Voya, we have identified the following critical skills which are key to success in our culture:

• Customer Focused: Passionate drive to delight our customers and offer unique solutions that deliver on their expectations.
• Critical Thinking: Thoughtful process of analyzing data and problem solving data to reach a well-reasoned solution.
• Team Mentality: Partnering effectively to drive our culture and execute on our common goals.
• Business Acumen: Appreciation and understanding of the financial services industry in order to make sound business decisions.
• Learning Agility: Openness to new ways of thinking and acquiring new skills to retain a competitive advantage.

Learn more aboutCritical Skills