This is a temporary position.
Role SummaryThe Release & Activation Manager will be responsible for end‑to‑end planning, coordination, and execution of phased releases for a multi‑year Loyalty Transformation Program. This initiative includes re‑platforming legacy systems, integrating Salesforce and cloud‑based microservices, and coordinating multiple dependent programs.
This is not a “big bang” implementation — the role requires a practitioner experienced in multi‑phase activations, progressive cutovers, and environment coordination across complex enterprise landscapes. The manager will work closely with Product, Engineering, DevSecOps, QA, and Business Readiness teams to ensure each release event is executed safely, predictably, and with minimal disruption.
- Develop and maintain the end‑to‑end release and activation schedule, including all cutover, migration, and readiness activities.
- Partner with program and technology leads to plan phased activations across systems such as Salesforce, Channels, and downstream systems.
- Coordinate with enterprise environment management teams to schedule test and staging environments, ensuring data synchronization, interface validation, and deployment windows are clearly defined.
- Work with DevSecOps and Infrastructure teams to align CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, Harness) with release milestones.
- Ensure release package integrity by validating build deployments, configuration management, and version control across environments (DEV, INT, UAT, PERF, STAGE, PROD).
- Plan and execute activation rehearsals, rollback simulations, and contingency plans.
- Define and enforce go/no‑go governance, cutover checklists, and sign‑off protocols.
- Track and report release readiness status, risk assessments, and issue resolutions through appropriate governance tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, program dashboards).
- Partner with other in‑flight transformation programs to align dependencies, avoid environment contention, and coordinate shared integration testing.
- Collaborate with QA Leads on test entry/exit criteria, regression timelines, and data refresh schedules.
- Facilitate strong communication across cross‑functional stakeholders — including Program Management, Architecture, Business Readiness, and Operations.
- Strong understanding of cloud deployment lifecycles and environment governance.
- Familiarity with Salesforce release management, sandbox management, and metadata deployment practices.
- Working knowledge of APIs, microservices, event streaming, and messaging integrations (e.g., Kafka/Confluent).
- Experience managing data migration waves, including sequencing, validation, and back‑out procedures.
- Understanding of CI/CD tooling, release automation, and artifact management.
- Exposure to infrastructure‑as‑code (IaC) tools considered an asset.
- Competent in interpreting deployment logs and collaborating with DevSecOps to troubleshoot deployment or configuration failures.
- 8+ years of experience in release, environment, or cutover management within large‑scale transformation programs.
- Proven success managing multi‑wave activations across enterprise ecosystems.
- Experience operating in a hybrid delivery model.
- Adept at coordinating multiple vendors and technical teams.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and executive reporting skills.
- Vendor partnership experience in outsourced or distributed delivery environments.
- Weekly cadence of release readiness meetings and cross‑program synchronization forums.
- Expected availability during critical cutover weekends or overnight activation windows.
- Predictable, low‑risk release events with zero major incidents.
- Synchronized testing and environment usage across interdependent programs.
- Improved release traceability and reporting across workstreams.
- Positive feedback from program leadership on organization, communication, and coordination quality.
At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.
Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel company, with more brands, more hotels and more opportunities for associates to grow and succeed. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you.
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