Release Manager

AXA•Hartford, CT

About The Position

As the Application Manager (AM) this role will oversee application(s) within Global Technology (GT) that require analysis, development, production support & maintenance activities. This role requires responsibility operationally and administratively for other team members (BA, PMs, Developers, etc.). This role may work in different methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc.). What you’ll be doing What will your essential responsibilities include? Understanding of the applications and products under their portfolio, including function, business and key operational process and ensuring teams deliver value to the business with the appropriate stakeholders regardless of methodology (Waterfall, Agile, etc.). Ensures the software development lifecycle (SDLC) is followed consistently & effectively through CI/CD, tooling, and collaboration with stakeholders. A keen ability to execute and deliver results, including delivering technical projects on time and on budget through planning, execution, and delivery. Approach tasks proactively and anticipate needs of the business & team members. Think quickly and have the flexibility to (re-) prioritize multiple work streams/ projects/ tasks without sacrificing quality. Act with a sense of urgency. Work closely with senior team members and stakeholders to gather and clarify basic business requirements and ensure they are accurately documented and understood. Ensure that requirements are communicated clearly to the development team and accurately reflected in the final product. Work with the Business Analysts to ensure that requirements/user stories are well-defined, prioritized, and understood by the development team. Ensure collaborative refinement sessions are scheduled with the team and stakeholders. Responsible for gathering estimates for applications and products that this role is responsible for and partnering with appropriate team members to support the estimation process. Work with the appropriate team members within GT to ensure security is integrated into the development process and are compliant with AXA XL’s security policies. Responsible for ensuring security compliance, security controls are implemented and maintained, security assessments & audits, risk management, AXA XL’s governance forums, and anything else security related. Ensure that the team complies with relevant audit requirements and standards including remediation activities, documentation of processes and procedures. Contribute to ongoing process improvements by sharing observations and assisting in implementing best practices, especially around Agile/Scrum methodologies and automation initiatives. Responsible for developing, mentoring and providing HR oversight for assigned team members. Support vendor coordination activities, including tracking deliverables, assisting with contract documentation, and ensuring vendor activities align with project timelines. Help manage workload and resource allocation within the team, ensuring tasks are assigned and completed efficiently. You will report to Release Train Engineer - Middle Markets.

Requirements

Technical Expertise: Expertise in software development required.
Strong Leadership: Lead, motivate, and drive the team to foster a collaborative environment and empower team members to take ownership of their work while providing guidance, mentorship, and performance management.
Strong Communicator: Excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, presentation and influencing skills are essential.
Stakeholder Management: Ensure regular communication with stakeholders (including communicating project status), manage stakeholder expectations, ensure stakeholder needs are being met and resolve conflicts alongside appropriate GT team members.
Planning and Execution: Expert level experience in planning, executing and delivering complex, large-scale initiatives or operation area on time and within budget. Ability to develop and manage project budgets and optimize resource utilization required. Must be highly detailed oriented, well organized, able to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment and serve as a point of escalation for issues.
Agile Methodologies: Strong experience understanding Agile methodologies required.
People Management: Strong experience developing, mentoring and providing HR oversight for assigned team members.
Vendor Management: Strong working experience with vendor management including contractor negotiations, outcome-based contracts, and effectively managing vendors & contractors.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading large, complex projects.
Technical expertise in DevSec Ops practices preferred.
Understanding of delivery and maintenance of applications in the cloud
Proficient with MS Office Suite.

Responsibilities

Understanding of the applications and products under their portfolio, including function, business and key operational process and ensuring teams deliver value to the business with the appropriate stakeholders regardless of methodology (Waterfall, Agile, etc.).
Ensures the software development lifecycle (SDLC) is followed consistently & effectively through CI/CD, tooling, and collaboration with stakeholders.
A keen ability to execute and deliver results, including delivering technical projects on time and on budget through planning, execution, and delivery.
Approach tasks proactively and anticipate needs of the business & team members.
Think quickly and have the flexibility to (re-) prioritize multiple work streams/ projects/ tasks without sacrificing quality. Act with a sense of urgency.
Work closely with senior team members and stakeholders to gather and clarify basic business requirements and ensure they are accurately documented and understood.
Ensure that requirements are communicated clearly to the development team and accurately reflected in the final product.
Work with the Business Analysts to ensure that requirements/user stories are well-defined, prioritized, and understood by the development team. Ensure collaborative refinement sessions are scheduled with the team and stakeholders.
Responsible for gathering estimates for applications and products that this role is responsible for and partnering with appropriate team members to support the estimation process.
Work with the appropriate team members within GT to ensure security is integrated into the development process and are compliant with AXA XL’s security policies. Responsible for ensuring security compliance, security controls are implemented and maintained, security assessments & audits, risk management, AXA XL’s governance forums, and anything else security related.
Ensure that the team complies with relevant audit requirements and standards including remediation activities, documentation of processes and procedures.
Contribute to ongoing process improvements by sharing observations and assisting in implementing best practices, especially around Agile/Scrum methodologies and automation initiatives.
Responsible for developing, mentoring and providing HR oversight for assigned team members.
Support vendor coordination activities, including tracking deliverables, assisting with contract documentation, and ensuring vendor activities align with project timelines.
Help manage workload and resource allocation within the team, ensuring tasks are assigned and completed efficiently.

Benefits

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.
Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits
Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter
AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.
We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.
At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.
AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.