deputy programme release manager.

Banking sector

The Release Manager will play a critical role in enabling end-to-end coordination of integrated software deliveries across 25 interdependent value chains (similar to projects) within a major transformation programme at Julius Baer.

This individual will deputize the Programme Release Manager and ensures that all relevant processes related to Release Management such as Release Planning, Dependency Management, Deployment Management, Release Note Creation, Quality Gate Adherence and Communication are correctly performed.
This senior role also includes leading a team of 10-15 Cluster Release Managers and Release Coordinators for the different projects.

Operating in a highly matrixed environment, the Programme Release Manager will act as a central orchestrator between different stakeholders on different levels (senior management, project leads, technical teams, testing groups, application leads, infrastructure providers, and business stakeholders to deliver coordinated, traceable, and quality-assured releases.

Additionally, this role also requires the willingness to work extra hours and weekends overwatching specific activities such as Data Refresh or Dress Rehearsal Activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 10-15 Cluster Release Managers and Release Coordinators and deputize the Programme Release Manager.
• Define and adjust Release Management processes to the needs of the programme (e.g. Release notes process for 25 simultaneously delivering projects).
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive release plan aligned with delivery timelines, dependencies, risk profiles, and environment availability. 
• Coordinate all aspects of release management execution across multiple projects and suppliers, ensuring alignment with enterprise change management principles, and exercising veto authority over deliveries to the environments.
• Chair regular release coordination / steering meetings with stakeholders to track progress, resolve blockers, and manage risks. 
• Ensure full traceability from requirements → design → development → test cases → defects → deployments, leveraging tools such as JIRA, Confluence, or similar ALM platforms.
• Oversee the dependencies and risks related to releases being deployed to the environments.
• Oversee staging and promotion of code and configuration changes into environments collaborating closely with Environment Management. 
• Monitor release health via KPIs such as defect leakage, regression pass rate, rollback frequency, and deployment success rates.
• Prepare executive-level reporting on release status, risks, and key milestones for senior leadership visibility.
• Support readiness assessments prior to each test cycle and contribute to lessons learned after each release.

Professional Experience

• Worked in a similar role before (Programme Release Manager).
• Experience in adjusting processes to programmes need.
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in IT project delivery within complex banking or financial services organisations with 500 – 1000 applications over several booking centres.
• Proven track record as a Senior Release Manager, in large-scale transformation programmes.
• Direct experience managing multi-project release trains across SIT and UAT cycles in regulated environments.
• Familiarity with system landscape architectures commonly found in wealth management or private banking infrastructures.
• Banking experience and a profound understanding of Private banking products.

Technical Understanding

• Strong grasp of SDLC methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, SAFe, hybrid models).
• Understanding of release management tools and technologies (e.g., JIRA).

Soft Skills & Personal Attributes

• Pragmatic & solution driven mindset.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement abilities across technical and non-technical audiences on different levels (up to Senior Management).
• High emotional intelligence and diplomacy when navigating conflicting priorities in a matrix organisation.
• Results-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail and structured problem-solving capability.
• Ability to operate autonomously under pressure, meeting tight deadlines without compromising quality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; German or other languages beneficial.
• High willingness to contribute to the programmes success and to work on weekends.

Education

• University degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field.

What We Offer:

• Contract Duration: 12-month contract
• Base Salary: €120,000 – €130,000
• Bonus Structure: Milestone bonuses paid at 6 months and 12 months
• Travel Benefit: Employer-paid one-way travel from Romania to Zurich
• Location & Setup: Zurich City (Hybrid: 3 days on-site, 2 days remote)
• Schedule: Standard hours (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM) with project-based flexibility
• Extras: Dedicated relocation support + full mandatory Swiss social benefits package

madalina.bobocel@randstad.ro