Enterprise Release Manager

Here at Scout Motors, we're carrying forward the heritage of one of the most iconic American vehicles in history. A vehicle dating back to 1960. One that forged the path for future generations of rugged SUVs and will do so once again.

But Scout is more than just a brand, it’s a legacy steeped in a culture of exploration, caretaking, and hard work.

The Scout brand is all about respect. Respect for the environment by developing electric vehicles with the capability to get you to any location. Respect for the past and the future by taking an iconic American brand that hasn’t been around for a while, electrifying it, digitizing it, and loading it with American innovation. Respect for communities by creating a company that stands for its people and its customers. And respect for both work and play, with vehicles that are equally at home at a camp site, a job site, or on a Tuesday commute.

At Scout Motors, we empower our talented, inclusive, and entrepreneurial teams to innovate. What makes a Scout employee? Someone who is a visionary and a leader, who seeks new paths and shares lessons learned. A knowledgeable doer who collaborates across the company to build better. A go-getter with unrivaled passion.

Join us at Scout Motors and be part of shaping the future of transportation. If you're ready to drive change and make history, apply now!

What you’ll do

The Enterprise Release Manager will report to the Head of Operations, working closely with internal teams and external vendors to improve release management. As the framework matures, additional support will be provided. Become part of an iconic brand that is set to revolutionize the electric pick-up truck & rugged SUV marketplace by achieving the following:

• Build and own the release management functions and frameworks
• Ensure structured release governance for both software and IT systems
• Automate release workflows to streamline and optimize deployments
• Ensure operational readiness and compliance before every release

• Establish & Lead the Enterprise Release Management Function (First 30-60 Days)
  • Develop a scalable, repeatable, and compliant release management framework for both system and software releases.
  • Define version control, change management, and release tracking processes.
  • Standardize release readiness criteria for applications, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise systems.
  • Own the Operations Change Advisory Board (CAB) process, ensuring informed go/no-go decisions.
• Automate & Optimize Release Workflows (First 60-90 Days)
  • Implement automated release workflows in Jira, Freshservice, or equivalent tools.
  • Create real-time dashboards for release tracking, approvals, and reporting.
  • Integrate release processes with ITSM Workflows (Incident, Problem, and Change Management).
  • Document SOPs and playbooks to ensure consistent execution and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure Operational Readiness & Compliance for Every Release
  • Define minimum operational readiness release standards for security, compliance, and performance validation.
  • Implement structured pre-release testing, validation, and cutover planning.
  • Act as the final authority for go/no-go approvals, ensuring every release meets business and operational readiness standards.
  • Conduct post-implementation reviews and implement lessons learned for future improvements.
  • Monitor release success metrics, tracking performance, incident rates, and stability.
• Cross-Functional & Vendor Coordination
  • Coordinate and collaborate with Project/Delivery Teams, DevOps, QA, Application Support, Infrastructure & Support, Platform Engineering, Security, and others to ensure that all responsibilities for a release are met prior to go-live.
  • Align release cycles with IT, Platform Engineering, Application Support, and Security teams.
  • Partner closely with Contractors, Development, QA, and Engineering teams to ensure seamless execution.
  • Work with QA Leads and Security team to establish a bug triage process, prioritize critical fixes, and coordinate resolution efforts.
  • Collaborate with Development, QA, and Application and Operations teams to identify and mitigate release-related risks.
  • Oversee internal and external release documentation, including release notes, known issues, and knowledge base updates.
  • Ensure vendors adhere to Scout Motors' release governance standards.
  • Coordinate with business stakeholders to align releases with product roadmaps.

Location & Travel Expectations:

• This role will be based out of the Scout Motors location in Novi, Michigan.
• The responsibilities of this role require 3-4 days in office with in-person meetings and events regularly. 
• Applicants should expect that the role will require the ability to convene with Scout colleagues in person and travel to participate in events on behalf of the company from time to time.
• Travel: Domestic travel to South Carolina, Virginia, and California will be required.

What you’ll bring 

We expect all Scout employees to have integrity, curiosity, resourcefulness, and strive to exhibit a positive attitude, as well as a growth mindset. You’ll be comfortable with change and flexible in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. You’ll take a collaborative approach to achieve ambitious goals. 

While this is not a people management role, it requires strong leadership in coordinating releases across teams, solving challenges, and ensuring seamless execution. The ideal candidate is a proactive self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, balancing multiple priorities without losing focus. At Scout Motors, rapid change isn’t a blocker—it’s an opportunity. You should be comfortable owning and driving change across the organization, embracing ambiguity, flexibility, and continuous evolution as we scale.

Here's what else you'll bring: 

Technical Expertise & Industry Knowledge

• 5-8 years of hands-on experience in enterprise release management, system development lifecycle and software development lifecycle.
• Experience using issue tracking and release management tools like Freshservice, Confluence, Jira, Git.
• Proven expertise of release management principles, frameworks, methodologies and best practices (Agile, Scrum, ITIL, SAFe).
• Strong ability to communicate technical processes to business and technology leaders.
• Hands-on experience working in a multi-vendor environment and enterprise and SaaS platforms (ERP, CRM, middleware, etc.)
• Deep expertise in operational readiness for both IT system and software releases across SaaS, On-Prem, and hybrid cloud environments.
• Proven ability to design and automate release workflows in Jira, Freshservice, or equivalent tools to enhance efficiency and governance, including dashboards and metrics.
• Proficiency in ITIL, ITSM/ITOM, and Change Management best practices, aligning releases with incident and problem management workflows.
• Experience tracking and managing software versions, dependencies, and environment configurations to prevent conflicts and deployment failures

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related technical field (required).
• Master’s degree is considered a plus.
• Preferred Certifications:
  • ITIL v4 Foundation or Expert (Highly Preferred).
  • SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) or Agile SAFe Certifications.
  • PMP or PRINCE2 Certification, Certified Scrum Master
  • Jira Administrator or Atlassian Expert Certification (Highly Preferred).
  • Freshservice Product Expert Certification for Admins

What you'll gain

The benefits of joining Scout include the chance to build products and a company from the ground up.  This is a chance to create something new and lasting – with an iconic brand at its foundation.  In addition, Scout provides competitive compensation and benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. Program specifics are detailed in company policies and employee benefit guides, select highlights:

• Competitive insurance including:
  • Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
• 401(k) program with:
  • An employer match and immediate vesting
• Generous Paid Time Off including:
  • 20 days planned PTO, as accrued
  • 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 14 company or floating holidays, annually
  • Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders
  • Paid leave for circumstances related to bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave

Pay Transparency

This is a full-time, exempt position eligible to receive a base salary and to participate in an annual performance bonus program. Final salary offered will be determined based on factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills and experience. The annual performance bonus program is preset and not candidate dependent.

Initial base salary range = $120,000.00 - $140,000.00

Internal leveling code: IC9

Notice to applicants:

• Residing in San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 
• Residing in Los Angeles: Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. 
• Residing in New York City: This role is not eligible for remote work in New York City.

Equal Opportunity

Scout is committed to employing a diverse workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, or any other characteristics protected by law. Scout is committed to compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact ScoutAccommodations@scoutmotors.com.