Software Release Manager, Design & Development - 12 Month Contract - Remote Canada

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 : A n 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 c urrent v acancy. 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 J ob 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, we design, , and deliver effective recycling programs that drive advance innovation, improve environmental outcomes and create value across the recycling supply chain. Through full-service program delivery, including collection, management, promotion, education, and reporting, we are advancing systems where more materials are recycled and returned to producers for use in new packaging and products. Learn more at circularmaterials.ca. Circular Materials is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a workforce that reflects diversity of thought, skills, experiences, and backgrounds as we work together to accelerate a circular economy for people and the planet. 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: 54% of Circular Materials employees identify as women. 50% of Circular Materials employees identify as visible minorities. 90% of employees believe Circular Materials fosters a strong sense of belonging for employees of all backgrounds. 86% of employees recommend Circular Materials as an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), persons with disabilities, racialized individuals, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Circular Materials is committed to reconciliation and to advancing Indigenous representation and partnerships across our organization and programs. We recognize that we operate on the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous Nations, and are dedicated to respecting Indigenous rights, governance, and contributions in our work and communities. 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.