Release Train Strategist II

Job Title: Release Train Strategist II
Location: Toronto, ON (Hybrid)
Estimated Duration: 12 Months

SUMMARY OF DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Job Description Summary
Facilitates release processes, coordination, and execution. Escalates impediments, manages risk, helps ensure value delivery, and helps drive relentless improvement. Participates in transformation, coaching leaders, teams, and Scrum Masters in the new processes and mindsets required to achieve agility.
Works closely with Solution Train Engineers in coordinating the various releases in a Journey or Platform, as well as broader orchestration of work within the NEW operating model.
Job Description
Customer

• Manages and optimizes the flow of value through releases using various tools such as Scrum and Kanban
• Facilitates PI Readiness through coaching and supporting development of Roadmaps, Features, Releases
• Facilitates System Demos, PI Planning, Pre- and Post-PI Planning meetings
• Co-ordinates successful delivery of the Features to be deployed in the Release by taking into consideration dependencies, order and architecture
• Summarizes & Publishes the Team PI Objectives ensuring everything is rolling up to the Vision, Bold Aspirational Goals (B.A.G) and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)
• Tracks and produces key metrics and dashboards to monitor releases
• Facilitates Synchronization meetings (e.g., Release sync) as required to keep delivery aligned to achieving the business outcomes
• Works cross-functionally to align strategy, methodology and execution with all relevant stakeholders (i.e. Product Owners, , Release Management, Architecture etc.)
• Escalate and Track impediments from teams which are a part of their release scope
• Manages Risks and Dependencies of their release
• Provides input on required resourcing from across the Bank to support the release
• Coaches and promotes collaboration to Leaders, teams, and Scrum to enable high performance
• Partners with Business Owners, Product Managers and Product Owners to help assure strategy, vision and road map alignment and execution
• Improves the flow of value through value streams by working to improve DevOps and Release on Demand Competency
• Drives the Lean Innovation Cycle with Business and Product Management
• Primarily functions as a servant leader fostering Lean-Agile Continuous Delivery DevOps mindsets
• Shareholder
• Applies best practices and knowledge of internal / external business issues to improve products or services in own discipline
• Applies engineering and service philosophy principles to release practices, contributes to the development of engineering and service guidelines and principles by providing feedback to the practice leaders based on platform knowledge, experience and identification of opportunities
• Contributes to the creation of release and/or solution metrics with the goal of demonstrating automation progress and benefits achieved
• Develops and recommends technical strategies and solutions to maintain or expand service levels
• Leads and / or participates in cross-Product Family / Group activities to identify risk / provide guidance for complex situations
• Interacts with governance and control groups, (e.g. regulatory / operational risk, compliance and audit) to provide subject matter expertise and consult on risk issues / items related to releases and solutions
• Keeps abreast of emerging issues, trends, and evolving regulatory requirements and assess potential impacts
• Protects the interests of the organization – identify and manage risks, and escalate non-standard, high risk transactions / activities as necessary
• Maintains a culture of risk management and control, supported by effective processes in alignment with risk appetite

Employee/Team

• Participates fully as a member of the team, support a positive work environment that promote service to the business, quality, innovation and teamwork and ensure timely communication of issues/ points of interest
• Provides thought leadership and/ or industry knowledge and participate in knowledge transfer within the team and business unit
• Keeps current on emerging trends/ developments and grow knowledge of the business, related tools and techniques
• Participates in personal performance management and development activities, including cross training within own team
• Keep others informed and up-to-date about the status / progress of committed work and / or all relevant or useful information related to day-to-day activities
• Contributes to team development of skills and capabilities through development of others, by sharing knowledge and experiences and leveraging best practices.
• Leads, motivates and develops relationships with internal and external business partners / stakeholders to develop productive working relationships.
• Contributes to a fair, positive and equitable environment that supports a diverse workforce
• Provides strong leadership who can facilitate buy-in and commitment while providing focus and clarity
• Acts as a brand ambassador for the bank, both internally and/or externally

Breadth & Depth

• Key Subject matter expert with specialized knowledge in coordinating, leading and coaching multiple agile teams
• Assists with coordinating the ceremonies, backlogs releases of various agile teams to successfully release in a Program Increment a part of the release
• Works with pods within a Product Group / Product Family to drive continuous improvement
• Ensures there is alignment between the Program Increment's business outcomes design and delivery
• Addresses difficult obstacles within their release thinking critically to resolve impediments, be it architectural, leadership or logistics
• Supports an environment where team freely escalates challenges; facilitates change through positive reinforcement of successes
• Experienced Scrum Master/Project Manager/Coach capable of supporting growing number of teams (3-4 agile teams)
• Requires full understanding of the processes, procedures and systems
• Helps resolve complex problems and is able to identify viable and often innovative options
• Begins to influence outside of immediate work and/or Agile team
• Uses best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to improve efficiency of own and other teams
• Generally reports to Practice Area Lead or Practice Lead and contributes directly to assigned Journey or Platform

MUST-HAVE Hard Skills:

• 3+ years of experience as a Release Train Engineer/Strategist
• Post secondary education (university is preferred)
• Proficient in Agile management tools – Confluence, Sharepoint and Jira
• Banking or financial institution experience

SOFT SKILLS:

• Very strong and clear communication (written and verbal)
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to influence
• Self-motivated, well organized, able to work both independently and in a team environment
• Attention to detail and someone who is a self-starter and adaptable

NICE-TO-HAVE

• RTE Safe Agilist certificate, Scrum Master certification (preferred), PMP (asset)
• Prior Asset Management and Wealth experience is highly preferred
• Client banking experience