DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Division of Information Technology 
1600 W Monroe St Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $92,399.84 

Grade: 26

Closing Date: 4/27/26

The Release Management Specialist is responsible for guiding the complete software delivery life cycle. working with the team from the planning phase to the deployment phase through the development and testing phases.

Planning and Scheduling:

• Plans the release of project deliverables and release life cycles for multiple applications to include:
  
• Creating and maintaining the master release calendar including planning, testing and deployment phases
  
• Partner with project managers to plan and execute deployment activities according to the release schedule
  
• Ensuring each release is planned according deadlines
  
• Maintains migration templates ensuring they are updated when systems or processes change
  

Risk Mitigation:

• Coordinates release schedules and resources required depending upon the third-party applications, defect backlogs, planned releases, and infrastructure updates.
• Identifies risk, manages dependencies, and resolves issues that could impact release quality, scope or schedule so that the scope, schedule, and quality of the release are not affected.
  

Stakeholder Communication and Coordination:

• Bridges communications between developers, QA, DevOps and stakeholders ensuring alignment on release goals to include:
  
• Communicating the project-related tasks, such as plans, timelines, requirements, etc., between different teams
  
• Ensuring the allocation of release engineers to every release
  
• Planning and providing weekly updates on the release activities
  
• Communicating with release managers from different IT departments
  
• Teaming up with relevant development teams responsible for building the automation tools used to develop and deploy the software
  
• Scheduling / attending the CAB meetings to discuss the release schedules with the team and find roadblocks, if any.

Deployment Oversight:

• Schedules release readiness reviews before deployment and milestone reviews after each release
  
• Tracks the progress and finds issues, if any, always working to improve the process of release
  
• Leads the Go-Live activities to deploy the software successfully
  
• Ensures all team members adhere to engineering and compliance standards (CI/CD) during build and release processes

Post-Release Monitoring:

• Collects feedback to improve future deployment cycles
  
• Maintains documentation related to procedures on build and release, various notifications lists, and dependencies.
  
• Makes improvements in the methodologies used for configuration management and development of software that helps to find ways to use in configuration management
  

Agency/Department Compliance & Continuous Improvement:

• Remains current on all laws, regulations, policies, and best practices through regular engagement in activities 
  
• Actively contributes to team and individual effectiveness through the following: -
  
• Attends staff meetings and huddles of work unit or district; and may cascade and track information as indicated
  
• Completes all required training in a timely manner.
  
• Participates in assigned work teams as appropriate.
  
• May complete periodic metrics, projects, huddle boards and reports as requested.
  
• Prepares for and actively participates in 1:1 coaching with supervisor
  
• Maximizes work processes and deliverables through lean principles within the Arizona Management System (AMS); and provides recommendations for process improvement, and engages in continuous improvement efforts as assigned.
  
  

• Continuous Delivery (CD/CI) pipelines
  
• Knowledge of DevOps and Agile methodologies
  
• Knowledge of traditional agile methodologies, including Scrum, Waterfall, or Kanban
  

Working knowledge of Software Development Lifecycle

Skill

• Strong verbal, written, and listening communication skills
  
• Strong organization and time management skills with the ability to make measurable progress on multiple assignment and projects simultaneously and work in high-pressure situations
  
• Strong project coordination skills
  
• Proficient in the use of a PC in a Windows environment; in the use of the Internet; in the use of MS Office Applications such as Outlook, Word and Excel, PowerPoint; and in the use of Google Suite applications such as Gmail, Sheets, Docs, and Drive.
  
• Proficient in the use of CI/CD tools such as Jenkins and Jira; and in version control systems such as Git

Ability

• Ability to clear a comprehensive background and clearance process that includes an Arizona tax compliance verification, and a criminal background check through the FBI via level one fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
  
• Ability to analyze risk and optimize release processes
  
• Ability to work in a confidential manner, ensuring information is shared with internal and external individuals in an appropriate manner
  
• Ability to learn LEAN concepts, principles and tool
  
• Ability to understand and solve problems by applying intermediate analytical skills to include collecting all the relevant information and data needed to address the problem
  
• Willingness and ability to embody ADOR’s core values of Do the Right Thing, Commit to Excellence, and Care About One Another
  

• Any combination that meets the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA); typical ways KSAs are obtained may include but are not limited to: a relevant degree from an accredited college or university such as Bachelor’s Degree (e.g., B.A.), training, coursework, and/or combination of work experience and education relevant to the assignment
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in analysis and software release management
  
• Previous experience using Application Release Automation tools such as ElectricFlow, Puppet Enterprise, Buildmaster, and Visual Studio Release Management
  
  

The final candidate will be required to abide by the the following pre-employment checks:

• Employment Verification and Reference Checks
  
• State and Federal Criminal Background Check, including fingerprinting
  
• Arizona Tax Filing Records Check
  
• If applicable, ASEDRA Authorized Driver Identification Check

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

The State of Arizona provides a world class comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement 
• Stipend Opportunities 
• Infant at Work Program 
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
Top ranked Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) provides 100% employer matched contributions (enrollment eligibility will be effective after 27 weeks of State employment). ASRS provides a lifelong benefit based on years of service earned, or worked, and your ending salary.

Learn more about ASRS at: https://www.azasrs.gov/content/new-and-prospective-members.

If you have any questions, need assistance, or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADOR Talent Team at talentgroup@azdor.gov.


*The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.