Release Manager

Job Summary Our client, a leading financial services provider, is seeking an experienced Release Manager to support strategic cybersecurity and infrastructure initiatives within a highly regulated financial services environment. This individual will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and governing release activities across multiple workstreams to ensure secure, compliant, and predictable deployments. The ideal candidate brings strong experience managing enterprise releases, change control processes, risk mitigation, and cross-functional coordination across technology, security, and infrastructure teams. This position is W-2 only. We do not work with third-party firms or C2C arrangements for this role. Contract DetailsDuration: Contract through January 2027 with potential extension opportunitiesLocation: Chicago, ILWork Model: Hybrid Core ResponsibilitiesDevelop, maintain, and execute integrated release plans across multiple cybersecurity and infrastructure initiativesCoordinate release activities through planning, build, testing, validation, deployment, and post-release support phasesManage release calendars, dependencies, and scheduling conflicts across concurrent projectsPartner with Change Management teams to ensure releases meet governance, audit, and compliance standardsIdentify, assess, and mitigate release risks, including environment readiness, dependency management, and rollback planningPrepare and maintain release documentation, deployment plans, release notes, and back-out proceduresServe as the central coordination point between security, infrastructure, application, and project teamsFacilitate stakeholder communications before, during, and after production releasesSupport governance reviews and communicate release readiness, risks, and go/no-go decisions Required Skills & Experience (Must-Haves)Experience managing enterprise technology releases in complex environmentsStrong understanding of release management, change management, governance, and risk controlsExperience coordinating releases across multiple teams, vendors, and stakeholdersAbility to manage multiple concurrent releases while maintaining visibility and controlStrong communication and stakeholder management skillsExperience supporting infrastructure, cybersecurity, or regulatory remediation initiativesExperience with release and change management tools such as: ServiceNowAzure DevOps (ADO)JiraSimilar enterprise release management platforms Preferred Skills & Experience (Nice-to-Haves)Financial services or other highly regulated industry experienceExperience supporting cybersecurity, network, firewall, identity, or cloud security initiativesFamiliarity with CI/CD concepts and enterprise deployment processesExperience working with audit, compliance, and change control requirementsAdvanced organizational and project coordination skills Key Competencies & BehaviorsStrong attention to detail and risk awarenessExcellent organizational and prioritization skillsAbility to influence and coordinate across technical and non-technical teamsProactive problem solver with strong decision-making capabilitiesComfortable working in fast-paced, highly regulated environmentsCollaborative mindset with a focus on execution and delivery Work EnvironmentLocation: Chicago, ILWork Model: HybridWork Schedule: 3 days onsite per week (Monday-Thursday preferred) | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST Compensation & BenefitsPay Range: The approximate pay range for this position is between $45.00 and $65.00. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and location. We comply with local wage minimums.Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance PlansEmployee-Owned Profit Sharing (ESOP)401K offered About KellyMitchell At KellyMitchell, our culture is world class. We’re movers and shakers! We don’t mind a bit of friendly competition, and we reward hard work with unlimited potential for growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company known for innovative solutions and unsurpassed customer service. We're passionate about helping companies solve their biggest IT staffing & project solutions challenges. As an employee-owned, women-led organization serving Fortune 500 companies nationwide, we deliver expert service at a moment's notice. Marketing Disclosure By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from KellyMitchell and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at https://www.careers.kellymitchell.com/privacy-policy. [143438]