Role: Change and Release Manager
Contract Length: 6 months initial contract
Location: Southport - travel as required (minimum of twice per month) Potential on-call/out of hours working – to a minimum (during deployments) – Not necessarily called on-site
Background
The role will be implementing processes to support the delivery of the CReST Programme which has committed to the transformation and replacement of core civil registration systems, and infrastructure and to scan and transcribe hard copy records of birth, deaths and marriages. This aligns with the Home Office (HO) vision and the Government’s wider digital identity ambitions.
Summary of the role
The Change and Release manager will play a leading role in implementing and embedding process to manage releases and changes within the CReST programme and overlay with business as usual.
They will be expected to navigate the complex landscape of technologies, 3rd party suppliers, internal and cross-government teams in order to provide a key service within DDaT and will need to be able to make difficult decisions based on information gathered and effectively assess risk, applying process, methods, tools and applications to provide the best possible availability and performance from the technology.
They will set the strategy for the Operational Release Management team, deciding areas of focus and priority, ensuring that processes are well-documented and reflective of best practice, and agreeing templates and frameworks for process variations that might be applicable across services and portfolios.
They will be expected to manage and get the best out of team members and suppliers in order to provide the best possible service and deliver work in a timely and efficient manner. You will have strong analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills as well as an ability to prioritise and implement decisions quickly.
They will be expected to understand the Programme’s strategic decisions, direction, policies to ensure the team’s goals and targets are in alignment.
The overall objective is to support CReST programme by:
• leading and managing the Release Management process and allocated staff and workload for the assigned services, ensuring that standards and timescales are met, whilst demonstrating value for money
• organising team engagement with Incident Management during major incidents, ensuring that appropriate release management representation is made on technical bridge calls when required.
• Managing patterns or trends of non-compliance of the Release assurance policies and processes, by engaging at a senior level with Business Portfolios, Suppliers, Transition or Project Managers where necessary
• Engaging with service transition teams to define processes for interim operating model capabilities for those assigned to release management.
• Setting the strategy for the Operational Release Management team, deciding areas of focus and priority, ensuring that processes are well-documented and reflective of best practice, and agreeing templates and frameworks for process variations.
• Support Portfolio stakeholders in all programme delivery activities.
• Provide inputs to help develop delivery strategies, scheduling delivery.
• Manage program/portfolio schedule.
• Plan and organise Go / NO-GO meetings and help achieve decisions.
• Update business stakeholders on progress and everything related to delivering the project.
• Manage portfolio delivery pipeline.
• Organise and contribute to CAB (Change Board)
• Review resource and skill availability to ensure effective delivery.
• Co-ordinate with different project managers, delivery teams and help resolve queries, blockers.
Essential Skills and experience.
You’ll have a demonstrable passion for change management of a service, with the following skills or strong experience in:
· experience of developing, implementing, and adhering to ITIL v3 / v4 management processes and procedures
· performing a similar role within the Civil Service or at other organisations
· excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to communicate effectively and professionally.
· proven ability to lead and manage large teams.
· proven ability to build and manage relationships with suppliers and senior stakeholders.
· excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
· deeply customer-focused
· Excellent document writing and presentation skillset
· Proven ability to influence Service Architect & Design function to develop robust plans focused on service introduction and releases to minimise disruption to operational services
The skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office DDaT Profession Skills and Competency Model (based on the industry standard SFIA framework).
Desirable Skills and Experience:
· Working with suppliers and stakeholders across all grades and working with internal / external stakeholders to deliver results.
· creating and managing end to end plans, containing complex dependences and multiple workstreams.
· navigating cross-government teams and supplier agreements
· supporting the design, agreement, and implementation of a relevant service
· understanding of Lean, Agile and DevOps principles within a Product-centric delivery model
· In depth operational knowledge of the General Register Office and His Majesty Passport Office
· Experience in the key critical services undergoing transformation in the CReST programme
· Test management background to effectively orchestrate multiple change and release roadmaps
Qualifications Required
Essential Qualifications:
Strategy and Architecture:
· Business Strategy and Planning
o Technology Service Management (ITMG) – level 3
Change and Transformation:
· Business Change Management
o Business Situation Analysis (BUSA) – level 3
Delivery and Operation:
· Service Transition
o Service Acceptance (SEAC) – level 4
o Change Control (CHMG) –level 4
o Release and Deployment (RELM) –level 5
Relationships and Engagement:
· Stakeholder Management
o Stakeholder Relationship Management (RLMT) – level 3
Deliverables and outcomes
leading and managing the Release Management process
• organising team engagement with Incident Management during major incidents, ensuring that appropriate release management representation is made on technical bridge calls when required.
• Managing patterns or trends of non-compliance of the Release assurance policies and processes, by engaging at a senior level with Business Portfolios, Suppliers, Transition or Project Managers where necessary
• Setting the strategy for the Operational Release Management team, deciding areas of focus and priority, ensuring that processes are well-documented and reflective of best practice, and agreeing templates and frameworks for process variations.
• Plan and organise Go / NO-GO meetings and help achieve decisions.
• Manage portfolio delivery pipeline.
• Organise and contribute to CAB (Change Board)
• Review resource and skill availability to ensure effective delivery.
• Co-ordinate with different project managers, delivery teams and help resolve queries, blockers.