Senior Release Manager

Job description

Job Description: Company Description: We Dream. We Do. We Deliver.

At Merkle, a dentsu company, we power the   experience   economy. Whether   we’re   building the next great   app, running CRM at scale for global brands, delivering technology architectures that support millions of   users, or providing world-class data, identity, and insights solutions,   it’s   all in the name of crafting   experiences that set brands apart from the competition. Backed by   dentsu's   legacy of innovation and   creativity originating in Japan,   we’ve   spent over 35 years helping brands build loyalty, drive growth, and   connect meaningfully with their audiences.

We’ve   been named a global “Leader” by top industry analyst firms in categories as wide-ranging as digital   transformation and commerce, experience design,   engineering   and technology integration, digital   marketing, data science,   CRM and   loyalty, and customer data management.

Why choose Merkle?

Innovation at Our Core:   As part of   dentsu’s   global network, Merkle pushes the boundaries of customer   experience, integrating creativity, technology, and data to drive real-world impact. For over 35 years,   we’ve   been innovating to meet the changing needs of our clients.

Global Reach with Local Expertise:   With over   16,000 employees   across 30+ countries, and part of a   70,000   employees ’   network at dentsu, Merkle blends global insights with a deep understanding of local   markets to deliver personalized, effective solutions.

Collaborative Culture:   At Merkle, your ideas and contributions truly matter.   You’ll   join a team that fosters   innovation, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Together, we work on impactful international   projects, making meaningful connections every step of the way.

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities:

- Define release schedules (e.g., monthly, bi-weekly, continuous delivery)

- Coordinate release scope with product owners and engineering teams

- Manage release calendars across multiple teams or products

- Ensure alignment with business priorities and deadlines

- Lead release deployment activities across environments (dev, QA, staging, production)

- Coordinate cross-functional teams (developers, QA, DevOps, security, infrastructure)

- Ensure all release criteria and quality gates are met before deployment

- Supervise go-live activities and manage rollback plans if needed

- Identify, assess, and mitigate release risks

- Lead Change Advisory Board (CAB) processes where applicable

- Ensure proper approvals and compliance with change management policies

- Maintain audit trails and documentation

- Define and optimize release management processes

- Improve CI/CD pipelines and automation strategies

- Introduce best practices (e.g., DevOps, Agile release trains, blue-green deployments)

- Track KPIs such as: Deployment frequency, Change failure, rate Mean time to recovery (MTTR)

- Act as the central point of contact for release status

- Provide release notes and updates to stakeholders

- Communicate risks, delays, and impacts clearly to leadership

- Coordinate with support teams for post-release readiness

- Monitor release performance and stability

- Lead post-release reviews (retrospectives, incident analysis)

- Ensure issues are documented and resolved promptly

- Drive continuous improvement from lessons learned

Technical Skills:

- Strong understanding of: SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle), Agile / Scrum / SAFe, frameworks DevOps practices and CI/CD tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jenkins, GitHub Actions)

- Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)

- Knowledge of infrastructure, environments, and deployment automation

Leadership & Soft Skills:

- Excellent coordination and stakeholder management

- Strong communication (especially under pressure)

- Problem-solving and risk management mindset

- Ability to lead without direct authority (influencing multiple teams)

*Work visa sponsorship is not available.   For local documentation (NIF, NISS), please consult Portuguese authorities.

Additional Information

Benefits and   perks :

25 vacation days

🤝   Enjoy 2   additional   volunteering days to support your passion project

Mental Health: Benefit from 3 extra wellness days on top of your vacation days and a Mental Health   First Aider and Employee   Assisstance   program to support your well-being

Health insurance (also possible for family members)

Cutting Edge Technology & Latest IT tools

Software-house environment

⌛   Agile and Flexible working hours

Hybrid   working:   we combine flexibility with in-person collaboration, with an expectation of 1 day per week/ 4 days per month in the office

✈️   Digital nomad policy

Focus on career development

Full access to Dentsu Academy, our global online learning platform

Beers, foosball, and ping-pong! #workhardplayhard

🥐   Free breakfast every second   Wednesday   of the month

️   Employee discounts

Team & Company events

Referral bonus program

*At dentsu, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is central to our vision: "To be at the forefront of people-centered transformations that shape society."

We cherish the unique talents and perspectives of all individuals, welcoming applicants regardless of gender, gender identity, nationality, religion, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental ability. By embracing diverse perspectives, we create meaningful change and sustainable growth for our people, clients, and society. Our hiring decisions are guided by qualifications and role-specific requirements, ensuring a workplace   free   from discrimination and harassment.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-MERKLE

Location: Lisbon Brand: Merkle Time Type: Full time Contract Type: Permanent