Software Release Manager, Design and Development - 12 Month Contract

OVERVIEW

Reporting to Director, Design and Implementation, the Software Release Manager, Design and Development is responsible to oversee and manage the packaging and delivery of software releases to production environments.

The Release Manager possesses decision-making authority over release gates, assuring quality standards are consistently met at each stage gate and coordinating releases and teams at the portfolio, program, and team levels. The Release Manager will also oversee the adherence to deployment windows and release processes by software delivery teams, facilitate the appropriate communication channels among software delivery roles and with stakeholders, and continuously improve release management practices.

This is a contract position, salaried paid and requires residency in Canada.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage software releases for design and implementation (bug fixes, enhancements, and maintenance releases), including the WeRecycle Portal annual maintenance release.


• Define and manage the release calendar; coordinate across development, QA, operations, and business teams to meet delivery timelines and business continuity needs.


• Develop and maintain release documentation (runbooks, implementation/deployment plans, and back-out plans).


• Oversee deployment execution to production, ensuring releases are correctly packaged, controls are met, and downtime is minimized.


• Oversee deployment of monthly patches and security notes, coordinating testing, approvals, scheduling, and stakeholder communications.


• Conduct release readiness, milestone, and business go/no-go reviews.


• Partner with the Change Advisory Board (CAB) and delivery teams to ensure changes are reviewed, approved, and executed in accordance with release processes and deployment windows.


• Identify release dependencies and risks; develop and track mitigation plans and escalate issues as required.


• Coordinate cross-functional teams to remove roadblocks and keep implementations on track.


• Support prioritization of production issues (Sev 1/Sev 2) and planned work with QA/testing teams; provide regular status updates to stakeholders.


• Own release communications to stakeholders before, during, and after deployments.


• Support change management activities including training and user adoption strategies.


• Review post-incident reviews (PIRs) for SDD incidents monthly; ensure root-cause analyses (RCAs) are documented and action items are tracked.


• Participate in portfolio and demand activities, including intake prioritization, PMO-led requirements sessions, and initiatives such as ERP data retention and archival.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive technical experience, with at least 3+ years dedicated strictly to Software Release Management in a complex corporate or enterprise environment.


• Experience in software release management or a related role.


• Familiarity with ITIL practices and change management processes.


• Proven track record of managing release pipelines with direct accountability for high-volume enterprise production environments.

Knowledge/Competencies/Skills

• Release Management Tools- JIRA / Confluence


• Scrum Master certification/experience (asset)


• Basic knowledge of SAP and MS Dynamics365 structure and release strategy


• Problem-solving mindset


• Highly self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail


• Proven analytical and creative problem-solving abilities


• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment


• Strong customer service orientation


• Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment


• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities

WORKING CONDITIONS

• All CM employees work 40 hours per week, remotely from a home office environment.

PAY TRANSPARENCY 

Expected Compensation: 

• An annual base salary in the range of $95,000 to $115,000

The salary range listed complies with the Ontario Employment Standards Act and reflects a potential base salary range for this role.  The actual salary offered will be determined within the range, and will depend on factors, such as the candidate’s unique qualifications, relevant experience, work location and expected contributions.   

Job Vacancy Reason 

This position is a current vacancy.  

Artificial Intelligence 

• AI is not used during our hiring processes.  

Applicant and Interviewee Communication 

• We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those under consideration will be contacted. 

• Applicants who have been interviewed will be informed whether a hiring decision has been made within 45 days of their final interview. 

Record Retention  

• Job posting records and associated application forms will be retained for at least three years.  

ABOUT CIRCULAR MATERIALS 

Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit producer responsibility organization (PRO) that supports producers in meeting their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations across Canada. Created by producers for producers, Circular Materials develops, implements, and supports effective and efficient recycling programs to advance innovation, deliver improved environmental outcomes and drive value across the recycling supply chain. Our full-service offerings include collection, management, promotion and education, and reporting.  

Together, we are advancing the circular economy where materials are collected, recycled, and can be returned to producers for use as recycled content in new products and packaging. As we develop enhanced recycling systems across Canada, we work to ensure more materials are looped into the circular economy, benefiting both people and the environment.  

Learn more at circularmaterials.ca.  

Circular Materials is an equal opportunity employer, seeking team members with a diversity of thought, skills, experiences, culture, and ethnicity to help us achieve our purpose of accelerating a circular economy for people and the planet. As a national organization operating across Canada, our goal is to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the many provinces and territories where we do business.  

Our inclusive hiring practices aim to foster a culture where all employees feel a strong sense of belonging. We are proud of our recent diversity survey results which showed that:  

• 51% of Circular Materials employees identify as women. 

• 53% of Circular Materials employees identify as visible minorities. 

• 97% of employees believe Circular Materials fosters a strong sense of belonging for employees of all backgrounds.  

• 95% of employees recommend Circular Materials as an inclusive workplace.   

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), persons with disabilities, racialized individuals, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.  As part of our commitment to reconciliation, Circular Materials is working to advance Indigenous representation and partnerships within our organization and across our programs.  We acknowledge that Circular Materials operates on the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous Nations, and we recognize the importance of respecting Indigenous rights, governance, and contributions in the workplace and beyond. 

Circular Materials supports reasonable requests for accommodation in accordance with all applicable provincial accessibility standards. Requests for accommodation will be provided by Circular Materials through the recruitment and/or assessment processes, upon contacting [email protected]. This email is only used for accommodation requests.