Senior Release Manager

Job Description

NFL Digital Media is looking for a Senior Release Manager to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of software releases across our digital products. This role is essential to ensuring high-quality, timely, and secure deployments that power the fan experience across web, mobile, Fantasy, and other platforms.
You'll work closely with engineering, QA, product, and operations teams to ensure releases are well-orchestrated, risk-managed, and aligned with strategic business goals - from early planning through production deployment and post-release support.

Responsibilities:
• Own and drive the end-to-end release lifecycle for digital products and platforms.
• Maintain a centralized digital release calendar in collaboration with development, QA, and product teams.
• Lead early release planning, identifying dependencies, assessing risks, and aligning on timelines and deliverables.
• Facilitate coordination across teams for all types of releases - from hotfixes to large feature deployments.
• Ensure security compliance, QA signoff, and readiness prior to production deployment.
• Host and drive CAB (Change Advisory Board) discussions for key release decisions and stakeholder alignment.
• Design, implement, and maintain standardized release artifacts including runbooks, RACI matrices, and issue trackers.
• Manage and communicate runbooks, timelines, release notes, and execution plans.
• Coordinate post-release support and facilitate RCA (Root Cause Analysis) for any issues.
• Ensure traceability, audit readiness, and adherence to NFL Digital's release governance standards.
• Improve and scale release management processes through automation, standardization, and feedback loops.
Required Qualifications:
• 7+ years of release management, program management, or DevOps experience, preferably in digital media or consumer-facing products.
• Deep understanding of modern SDLC practices, CI/CD pipelines, and agile methodologies.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-team releases in fast-paced environments.
• Strong organizational and cross-functional communication skills.
• Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Jenkins, GitHub, Confluence, or equivalent.
• Experience in issue management, incident tracking, and root cause analysis.
• Comfortable working with product managers, engineers, QA leads, and technical leadership.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Background in media, streaming, or sports technology environments.
• Experience coordinating mobile app, OTT, and web-based product releases.
• ITIL, Agile, or release-specific certifications.
• Familiarity with certificate management, platform compliance, or large-scale event releases.
Salary / Pay Range
This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries or hourly rates that the NFL believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted job in the location(s) specified. The NFL expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials, or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would the NFL consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.
Salary
$150,000 - $170,000 USD
At the NFL, in-person work at our offices is a top priority because it allows us to collaborate more effectively, build stronger connections, and maintain the culture that drives our success. This role requires onsite presence at an NFL office or stadium location, and remote and/or hybrid working options are not offered.
NO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED.
The NFL is committed to building an inclusive work environment that reflects our incredible fan base. We provide an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all employees and applicants without regard to status as protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-4k9e1v-18-97-14-88-42 in your application.