IT Project Manager - Release Management & Roadmaps

Job Title: IT Project Manager - Release Management & Roadmaps


Locations: Chandler, AZ or Charlotte, NC (Hybrid - 3 days onsite)
Duration: 18-24 Month Contract (potential to extend/convert)
Work Environment: Enterprise environment supporting 7-8 concurrent initiatives
Rate: Competitive


Overview


We are seeking an experienced IT Project Manager with a strong background in release management, roadmap planning, and enterprise delivery to support a high-visibility portfolio of initiatives.


This role is focused on driving structured release execution , managing release cycles and roadmaps , and ensuring alignment across engineering, product, and business teams.


The ideal candidate brings a blend of delivery leadership, technical understanding, and strong communication skills , with the ability to present complex release plans and program updates to executive stakeholders.


Key Responsibilities

• Lead release planning, release maps, and roadmap execution across multiple enterprise initiatives
• Manage 7-8 concurrent projects , ensuring alignment on timelines, deliverables, and dependencies
• Coordinate across engineering, product, and business teams to drive end-to-end delivery
• Track and manage risks, issues, and dependencies across programs
• Maintain release schedules, governance, and delivery plans
• Develop and maintain roadmaps, release artifacts, and program documentation
• Provide weekly executive updates , translating complex delivery details into clear, actionable insights
• Support Agile/Scrum ceremonies and program-level planning
• Drive accountability and ensure adherence to enterprise governance, risk, and compliance standards
• Partner with stakeholders to translate business requirements into execution plans

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in IT Project Management, Program Management, Release Management, or Software Engineering
• Strong experience with release management, release planning, and roadmap development
• Experience managing multiple concurrent initiatives in complex enterprise environments
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience presenting to senior leadership/executives
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams, dependencies, and delivery timelines
• Experience with application development environments (Java, Python, or similar)
• Ability to understand and support technical solutions and architecture discussions

Technical & Domain Requirements (Must-Have / Strongly Preferred)

• Experience with enterprise application development (Java, Python, or similar technologies)
• Familiarity with modern UI frameworks (React, Angular, or similar)
• Experience supporting or working alongside full stack development teams
• Exposure to AI/ML or AI-driven initiatives , including:
  • Agentic architectures
  • Multi-agent orchestration patterns
  • AI/ML lifecycle or deployment concepts
• Understanding of data processing concepts such as parsing, indexing, and data workflows
• Experience working in globally distributed teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Consulting background ( Big 4 or similar: Deloitte, Accenture, EY, KPMG )
• Experience managing enterprise release cycles and program roadmaps at scale
• Experience with AI-powered solutions, automation, or advanced analytics initiatives
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Experience in regulated industries (financial services preferred)
• Ability to provide non-sensitive work samples (release maps, roadmaps, delivery artifacts)

Key Traits for Success

• Strong program delivery and organizational skills
• Ability to simplify complex initiatives into structured plans and roadmaps
• Excellent executive communication and presentation skills
• Proactive, self-starter with ownership mindset
• Ability to operate effectively across technical and business teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities