Head of Release & Environment Management,

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets.

Role Summary: You will establish and lead the Release and Environment Management capability across SMBC EMEA, setting the strategy, operating model and governance for safe, consistent and efficient technology delivery. Working across technology and control functions, you will strengthen release readiness, non-production environment management and automation while maintaining operational resilience and auditability.

Essentials of the role:

• Own the strategy, governance and capability roadmap for Release and Environment Management across the in-scope EMEA technology estate.
• Lead cross-functional oversight of release readiness, deployment risk and environment lifecycle controls, challenging and escalating material concerns.
• Build and develop the function, driving standardisation, automation and measurable improvements in release quality and delivery performance.

Candidate requirements:

• Significant senior leadership experience establishing, leading or transforming enterprise Release Management, Environment Management or technology-delivery governance in a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of release and environment controls, Agile and DevOps delivery, operational resilience, technology risk and audit requirements.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, influence senior stakeholders and implement operating models that improve delivery performance and control effectiveness.

Compensation: The anticipated salary range for this role is £108,000 - £162,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.

Business Area: Production Management & Service Delivery sits within EMEA Technology and establishes the service management practices, operational governance and resilience capabilities that support the safe, reliable and efficient delivery of technology services across SMBC EMEA. Working across engineering, infrastructure, cyber security and production support, the function helps technology teams deliver change while maintaining service stability and effective controls.

Position Description: As Head of Release & Environment Management / Director, you will establish, lead and continually improve the Release and Environment Management capability across SMBC EMEA. Reporting to the Head of Production Management & Service Delivery, you will own the functional strategy, target operating model and multi-year roadmap, enabling technology change to be delivered safely, consistently and efficiently. You will lead the team responsible for release governance and non-production environment management, setting clear standards, accountability and performance measures. Working across Product, Engineering, Architecture, Cyber Security, Quality Assurance, Infrastructure and Production Support, you will oversee release readiness, deployment dependencies and environment risks. You will provide objective challenge, elevate material concerns and recommend release deferral where mandatory criteria or agreed risk tolerances are not met, within established decision authorities. A key priority will be to drive standardisation and automation while preserving operational resilience, security, segregation of duties and auditability. You will represent the function in senior governance forums, influence investment priorities and provide clear visibility of release quality, environment performance, control effectiveness and improvement progress.

What we offer: For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-being and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members' perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested. We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.