At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and govern IT Release Management in a dynamic, multi-supplier environment.
- Company: Join SSE, a leader in energy transition and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible benefits, including healthcare discounts and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on energy infrastructure while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in release management and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 71869 - 85880 £ per year.
Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations: Reading, Havant or Glasgow.
Salary: £71,869 - £85,880 and a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.
Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available.
The Role: The Senior Release Manager is a retained ITSM role within a hybrid SIAM model, accountable for governing and assuring Release Management. As the retained authority for IT Release Governance, the role ensures release decisions are consistent, transparent and proportionate, balancing business impact, service stability, cyber and resilience considerations, regulatory obligations, supplier accountability and organisational risk appetite. The role oversees the release calendar, ensuring release sequencing, deployment windows, freeze periods and cross-provider dependencies are visible, controlled and aligned to business priorities and risk appetite. Delivery teams and the service integrator remain responsible for operational release planning, scheduling, coordination and execution. This role provides governance, assurance, challenge and escalation where release controls, evidence or outcomes fall below expectations.
You Will:
- Act as the retained authority for compliance with Release Management governance and assurance standards.
- Support commercial decisions by providing evidence based insight on supplier performance, release risk, value and contractual compliance.
- Maintain the enterprise release calendar as the authoritative source, providing retained oversight of release risk, business impact, service criticality, regulatory obligations, supplier accountability and organisational risk appetite.
- Build trusted relationships with senior technology leaders, IT teams and business stakeholders who contribute to release management and decision making.
- Drive consistent ITSM controls, release governance, assurance and continuous improvement across the supplier ecosystem, while ensuring delivery accountability remains with delivery teams and partners.
- Oversee release activity across internal IT and suppliers, challenging integration gaps that could affect service stability or customer outcomes.
- Represent Enterprise IT Release at governance boards, supplier forums and service risk reviews, providing expert guidance on release governance, assurance evidence, supplier accountability, release risk and service readiness.
You have:
- Deep understanding of Service Integration and Enterprise IT Release Management governance in complex multi-supplier, outsourced and SIAM environments.
- Proven experience governing release performance, integration controls, supplier accountability, readiness evidence, risk exposure and continuous improvement across enterprise technology services.
- Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to translate complex service, supplier and release risks into clear options, impacts and recommendations.
- Sound senior judgement, confidence and resilience when operating in complex, ambiguous and changing environments.
- Experience assessing release readiness, dependency management, business impact, cyber and resilience requirements, implementation evidence and rollback plans.
About SSE: SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030. Our IT division powers growth across all SSE business areas by making sure we have the systems, software and security needed to take the lead in a low carbon world. They provide expertise, advice and day-to-day support in emerging technologies, data and analytics, cyber security and more.
Flexible Benefits To Fit Your Life: Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.
Work with an equal opportunity employer: SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact David.Brickell@sse.com / 01738 275 846 to discuss how we can support you. We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.
Senior Release Manager in Reading employer: SSE plc
At SSE, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture where safety and teamwork are paramount. Our employees benefit from a comprehensive range of perks, including full PPE, tools, and a company vehicle, alongside opportunities for professional growth through training and development. With a commitment to inclusivity and employee wellbeing, we ensure that our team members feel valued and empowered in their roles across the Southern region.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Release Manager in Reading
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what SSE plc values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges SSE plc might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
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Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at SSE plc!
✨Direct Apply to SSE plc
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Release Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at SSE plc.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at SSE plc. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at SSE plc
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
