Director of Release Management

Role Overview

Circana is a leading provider of technology, AI, and data solutions for consumer packaged goods companies, manufacturers, and retailers. Our predictive analytics and Liquid Data® platform help clients measure market share, uncover consumer behavior, and drive growth—powered by six decades of expertise and an expansive, high-quality data set.

At Circana, we are fueled by our passion for continuous learning and growth, we seek and share feedback freely, and we celebrate victories both big and small in an environment that is flexible and accommodating to our work and personal lives. We’re a global company dedicated to fostering inclusivity and belonging. We value and celebrate the unique experiences, cultures, and viewpoints that each individual brings. By embracing a wide range of backgrounds, skills, expertise, and beyond, we create a stronger, more innovative environment for our employees, clients, and communities. With us, you can always bring your full self to work. Join our inclusive, committed team to be a challenger, own outcomes, and stay curious together. Circana is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. Learn more at www.circana.com.

Circana is seeking an experienced and proactive leader to serve as the Director of Release Management. This critical role is responsible for ensuring the seamless deployment and stability of automation initiatives under the comprehensive transformation program focused on micro-automations, core technology upgrades, and operational efficiencies. The Director will oversee release processes, interdepartmental coordination, risk mitigation, and production stability to minimize disruptions and maximize value delivery. This position will play a key role in managing dependencies across Operations, Technology, and the Micro-Automation Hub. The ideal candidate has a strong background in release management, risk oversight, and IT operations, with expertise in high-velocity environments where tools like Power Automate, Python, Airflow, OCR, Intelligent Suite, and Copilot Studio are used. This role is essential for maintaining production integrity as operations evolve toward zero-touch, AI-enabled models.

Job Responsibilities

• Risk and Issue Oversight: Manage portfolio-level risks and issues across the program, including identification, assessment, prioritization, and implementation of mitigation strategies to safeguard timelines, budgets, and outcomes.
• Production Stability Ownership: Own production stability by monitoring system performance, managing disruptions, and leading incident response efforts to minimize downtime and ensure reliable operations in a zero-touch environment.
• Release Coordination: Oversee the release management process for micro-automations and core tech upgrades, including planning, testing, deployment, and post-release validation to support high-velocity implementations.
• Dependency Management: Coordinate dependencies between large-scale core tech projects and rapid micro-automation developments, integrating with the Micro-Automation Hub's Build and Maintain Teams for smooth handoffs.
• Disruption Mitigation and Recovery: Develop and execute protocols for handling production disruptions, including root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system resilience.
• Team Leadership: Build and lead a team of developers and automation experts to support deployment and maintenance efforts.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Management, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: 8+ years in release management, IT operations, or risk management roles, with at least 4 years in a leadership capacity. Experience in agile transformation projects, preferably in data-driven or automation-heavy industries like market research or technology services. Proven track record in managing production stability and disruptions in high-stakes environments.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with automation tools and levers such as RPA (e.g., OCR), ETL (e.g., Airflow, Python), ML (e.g., Intelligent Suite), and LLMs (e.g., Copilot Studio). Proficiency in project management tools, risk assessment frameworks, and incident management systems.
• Leadership and Soft Skills: Strong facilitation and communication skills for leading interlock calls and stakeholder engagements. Analytical mindset with expertise in risk mitigation and problem-solving. Ability to thrive in fast-paced, complex settings while maintaining focus on stability and efficiency.
• Other Requirements: Experience with portfolio-level governance and dependency mapping. Willingness to travel as needed (up to 15%).

Circana Behaviors

Beyond technical skills, experience, and role-specific attributes, these shared behaviors are fundamental to our culture and success. We seek individuals who consistently demonstrate and champion these behaviors in their daily work:

• Stay Curious: Being hungry to learn and grow, always asking the big questions.
• Seek Clarity: Embracing complexity to create clarity and inspire action.
• Own the Outcome: Being accountable for decisions and taking ownership of our choices.
• Center on the Client: Relentlessly adding value for our customers.
• Be a Challenger: Never complacent, always striving for continuous improvement.
• Champion Inclusivity: Fostering trust in relationships engaging with empathy, respect, and integrity.
• Commit to each other: Contributing to making Circana a great place to work for everyone.

Location: This position can be located in the following area(s): Remote (United States)

The salary for this role is up to $167,000. This job is also eligible for bonus pay. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

An offer of employment may be conditional upon successful completion of a background check. This role is subject to AI-assisted screening. Circana uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess resumes for alignment with job requirements.

Key skills/competency

• Release Management
• Automation Strategy
• Production Stability
• Risk Mitigation
• IT Operations
• Team Leadership
• Agile Transformation
• Micro-automations
• Dependency Management
• Incident Response