Circana · 16 hours ago
Director of Release Management (Automation Strategy & Planning)
United States
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
8+ years expCircana is a leading provider of technology, AI, and data solutions for consumer packaged goods companies. The Director of Release Management will oversee the deployment and stability of automation initiatives, ensuring seamless operations and managing interdepartmental coordination and risk mitigation.
Market Research
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
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Management, or a related field
8+ years in release management, IT operations, or risk management roles
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
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
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
Experience with portfolio-level governance and dependency mapping
Willingness to travel as needed (up to 15%)
Preferred
Master's degree
Benefits
Paid time off
Medical/dental/vision insurance
401(k)
Company
Circana
Circana consults on the complexities of customer behavior.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Circana has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (53)
2024 (37)
2023 (32)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.2BKey Investors
Vestar Capital Partners
2024-04-23Private Equity· $1.2B
Leadership Team
Stuart Aitken
President and CEO of Circana
Holly Knightly
Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
GlobeNewswire
2026-01-07
2025-12-10
Company data provided by crunchbase