Release Train Manager - Enterprise Applications

Position Overview

The Release Train Manager (RTM) is a servant leader and coach that is responsible for driving end to end delivery of value in an Agile Release Train (ART) or Value Stream in a Lean-Agile enterprise. This resource facilitates clear communication to management and to the team(s) by helping to educate the team in following Agile Processes. This role is responsible for facilitating the planning and delivery efforts of the teams within the Enterprise Applications & Solutions ART.

The RTM is open, approachable, collaborative, and enjoys working with passionate people. They are proactive in solving problems to help their ART teams succeed. They will drive the Agile framework that results in high quality product delivery and continuous improvements in a fast-paced environment by helping to remove impediments and fostering an environment for high-performing team dynamics. They are responsible for coordinating, planning, leading, organizing, and motivating agile scrum teams to achieve a high level of performance and quality in delivering agile projects that provide exceptional business value to users.

The RTM is responsible for leading a team of Scrum Masters and may also serve as Scrum Master of one or more scrum teams when needed. The RTM is responsible for managing and providing consolidated summaries on several concurrent high visibility projects using Agile methods in a fast-paced environment that may cross multiple business divisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, hire, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of Scrum Masters to support the Enterprise Applications & Solutions ART.

• Leading ART PI Planning, program execution, scrum, and ART synch events

• Coaching Scrum Teams in relentless improvement

• Creating transparency using metrics to drive positive change

• Facilitating resolution of dependencies, impediments, and risks amongst the scrum teams

• Building high-performing teams – Focus on ever-improving team dynamics and performance

• Enabling organizational effectiveness – Work with other stakeholders to help the team contribute towards improving the overall development Value Stream

• Exhibits Lean-Agile leadership – Exhibits the behaviors of a Lean-Agile Leader with a Lean-Agile Mindset. Helps the team embrace SAFe Core Values, adopt, and apply SAFe Principles, and implement SAFe practices.

• Facilitates the team’s progress toward team goals – Trained as a team facilitator and is continuously engaged in challenging the old norms of development to improve performance in the areas of quality, predictability, flow, and velocity. Assisting the product owner(s) in maintaining and prioritization of the product backlog. Helps the team focus on daily and Sprint Goals in the context of the current Program Increment (PI) Objectives.

• Leads team efforts in relentless improvement – Helps the team improve and take responsibility for their actions; facilitates the team retrospective. Teaches problem-solving techniques and helps the team become better problem-solvers for themselves.

• Eliminates impediments – Many blocking issues will be beyond the team’s authority or may require support from other teams. The RTM supports the team in addressing and eliminating these issues to improve the likelihood of achieving the objectives of the Sprint and PI.

• Builds a high-performing team – Focuses on ever-improving team dynamics and performance. Helps the team manage interpersonal conflicts, challenges, and opportunities for growth. Escalates people problems to management where necessary, but only after internal team processes have failed to resolve the issue; helps individuals and teams through personnel changes.

• Responsibilities on the train – The RTM leads the train and helps coordinate inter-team cooperation and helps the team operate well on the train.

• Coordinates with other teams – The RTM supports the team’s efforts to continuously improve communications and relationships with other teams. They frequently represent the team in the Scrum of Scrums (SoS), helping the team remain aware of opportunities to engage and improve program effectiveness.

• Supports estimating – Guides the team in establishing normalized estimates and helps the team understand how to estimate Features and Capabilities.

• Other duties as required.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

• Must have 5+ years of experience as a Senior Scrum Master or Release Train Engineer.

• Minimum 5+ years supporting IT technical projects, such as software development and delivery.

• Agile Tools experience (i.e. Jira, Confluence, TFS, DevOps, etc.).

• Thorough knowledge of Scrum framework and application of core Agile values and principles in managing Product Development and Delivery, SAFe Agile preferred.

• Experience in successfully delivering medium/large size projects with minimal direction.

• SAFe RTE and CSM certifications are strongly preferred.

• 3+ years of experience with Jira and/or Jira Align is strongly preferred.

• 3+ years of experience as a people manager is preferred.

Leadership Requirements

• Servant leader with a growth mindset.

• Strong operator mentality with a “get it done” attitude, capable of balancing high-level strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively influence and collaborate with diverse internal stakeholders.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• Demonstrated success delivering results, measuring performance, and ensuring accountability.

• A team player with strong partnership and collaborative style.

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including meeting facilitation and presentation.

• Agile mindset: A mindset that sees learning opportunities from issues and failures and a belief that our skills and ability evolve and improve with effort over time.

• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritize workloads

• Excellent planning and organizational skills

• Excellent and professional verbal and written communication skills. Ability to interact and communicate with all resource levels.

• Can work remotely; travel requirements to (primarily) domestic destinations 5 – 10%

Location and Workplace Flexibility

We have offices in Atlanta GA, Boston MA, Morristown NJ, Plano TX, St. Louis MO, St. Petersburg FL, and Hyderabad, India. We foster a hybrid and remote friendly culture, and all our employee's work locations are based on the needs of the position and determined by the Leadership team. In-office work and activities, if applicable, vary based on the work and team objectives in accordance with Company policies.

Base Salary Range

$115,000.00 - $153,000.00

At Zelis we are committed to providing fair and equitable compensation packages. The base salary range allows us to make an offer that considers multiple individualized factors, including experience, education, qualifications, as well as job-related and industry-related knowledge and skills, etc. Base pay is just one part of our Total Rewards package, which may also include discretionary bonus plans, commissions, or other incentives depending on the role.

Zelis’ full-time associates are eligible for a highly competitive benefits package as well, which demonstrates our commitment to our employees’ health, well-being, and financial protection. The US-based benefits include a 401k plan with employer match, flexible paid time off, holidays, parental leaves, life and disability insurance, and health benefits including medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.