Release Analyst

Job description

IT Release Analyst - Leeds GCB6

first direct is banking's best kept secret. We're a bank that absolutely has its customers at its heart – which is demonstrated through the amazing numbers of awards we win for customer service, not just in the banking sector but across all sectors. We were the UK's first phone bank and now we're fantastic digital business, powered by amazing humans.

And we only want to make that better. We have ambitious plans to make the most of our current market position to really grow the first direct business. To do this we're investing in building a best in class IT team. first direct IT work really closely with other business teams to ensure we create the right solutions for both the business and the customer and to support our strategic plans.

first direct is a member of the HSBC group and is one of the major contributors of profit to the Retail Banking & Wealth Management businesses (that's everyday banking and investments to you and me). Retail banking services over 50 million customers globally and offers a whole range of banking products and services.

HSBC's vision is to ‘Build banking's leading technology company' and first direct wants to lead the way.

Role Description

The IT Release Analyst role is based within first direct (Leeds). The role will form part of the IT Release Management function within fd IT Service Management, reporting directly to the Release Manager.

The IT Service Management team comprises of a 1st line in-hours IT Helpdesk, 24x7 Incident Management, Change Management, Release Management, Problem Management/Service Improvement and Service Sustainability.

The role will encourage and improve integration between the ART (Agile Release Train) and Service Management Team, whilst being a catalyst for change and coordination. The role will however remain independent from the development process to remove any conflict of interest.

This Release Analyst will analyse delivery features to establish potential areas of risk and vulnerability, providing guidance to the delivery scrum teams on how to manage and mitigate these issues early on in the delivery lifecycle.

The role will support the delivery scrum teams through the groups ITSA (Information Technologies Service Acceptance) process ensuring that Non Functional Requirements are defined and met prior to implementation.

The role will be responsible for implementing defined governance, policies and procedures that the Release Manager will define ensuring fd IT delivery teams follow a structured release strategy, aligned with the group change processes for Dev/Ops changes and deployments.

The analyst will ensure delivery scrum teams provide appropriate BAU (Business as Usual) handover into Service Management, considering impacts on each of the teams and ensuring that delivery teams provide and update appropriate documentation for future sustainable support and update of these features.

The Release Analyst will continuously identify ways to improve process and procedures to ensure the release management function can continue to seamlessly support projects delivered via agile and waterfall methodologies.

Your responsibilities will include:

· Working with Scrum Masters to have full understanding of feature deliverables
· Challenging and questioning scrum teams to surface potential risks and vulnerabilities
· Govern releases and implementations to ensure align to release framework and standards
· Keep up to date with changing processes and wider governance
· Have a clear understanding of the processes and procedures, local and global, within the change process including legacy change processes and DevOps model
· Work with the Service Management function to ensure that delivery meets both functional and non functional (ITSA) requirements
· Work closely with the fdITIM team to ensure the support model and monitoring are reviewed as part of releases
· Driving sustainable BAU processes for maintenance, support and future updates
· Look for ways to continuously improve processes and procedures to align with Agile / LEAN ways of working
· Input in to post implementation reviews, identifying learning points and working closely with the Service Improvement Manager
· Work with Release Manager and Business Implementation Manager to ensure communications are timely and of the right level and quality
· Track and follow up on accepted bugs, change requests required by ITSM to ensure that these are completed to resolution

Desired profile

Qualifications :

The ideal candidate for this role will be capable of and be able to demonstrate relevant experience in the following: -

·  Past working experience in a relevant role i.e Change and Implementation, Projects, Business Implementation
· 
Relevant knowledge of first directs products and services across agent, mobile and online banking channels

·  Experience working in relevant environment/s, market/context i.e. working in Digital, IT, Agile, Project environments and multi-channel solutions and / or Business Operational areas
·  Excellent spoken and written communication skills with experience of adapting your style and approach to the audience and message to be delivered
·  Past working experience on relevant systems, i.e. Jira, Confluence, App Dynamics , SPLUNK
·  Experience of using relevant software packages, i.e. Standard Microsoft Packages including, Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Outlook is essential
·  Excellent planning, organisation skills with a proven track record in working under pressure, managing multiple workstreams
·  Strong analytical ability and problem solving skills, with an excellent attention to detail and the ability to see things through to completion. The ability to quickly understand customer and operational considerations
·  Good relationship management skills to satisfy a wide range of internal and external customers with conflicting priorities
·  A good understanding of the development and testing principles, processes and methodologies to enable effective task and risk management
·  High levels of energy, initiative, commitment and enthusiasm
·  An open, flexible and supportive approach to change and innovation, with a passion and enthusiasm for continuous improvement in an environment of a ‘learn quick, fail fast' culture
·  Consistently achieved objectives set for them and taken action to improve their own performance with emphasis on developing new skills and knowledge
·  Availability to work the shift pattern required for this role, i.e. Some (infrequent) out of office hours and on-call support may be required on weekends and nights, to support large launches or urgent changes to first directs digital channels.
·  Knowledge of delivery methodologies i.e. Lean / Kanban, / Agile or similar, SAFE 4.0 / 4.5 Qualification is desirable not essential
·  Experience of working within ITSM framework, ITIL Knowledge or Qualification is desirable not essential
The base location for this role is Stourton, Leeds.

HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are valued, respected and opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working and opportunities to grow within an inclusive and diverse environment.