The Change & Release Manager is a critical governance and coordination role responsible for managing the end-to-end lifecycle of all changes to the D365 Power Platform. This individual will act as the essential bridge between the development team and the live production environment, ensuring that all new features and fixes are deployed in a stable, predictable, and low-risk manner.
The primary functions of this role are to own the release management process, coordinate all quality assurance and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and drive user adoption by managing the platform's integrated Knowledge Base (KB). This is a non-technical, process-driven role focused on protecting the stability of the production environment and ensuring a positive experience for all end-users.
Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. serves as a holding company with multiple subsidiaries engaged in several lines of business (Business Services, Health, Infrastructure and Engineering, Mission Optimization, Technology and Transportation) for the federal government and commercial enterprises. A portion of our profits is used to support Chickasaw citizens. We are proud to support the economic development and long-term viability of the Chickasaw Nation and its people. CNI offers premium benefits eligible on the first day of hire to full time employees; (Medical - Dental – Vision), Company Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance, 401(K) Immediate Vesting, Professional Development Assistance, Legal Aid Assistance Program, Family Planning / Fertility Assistance, Personal Time Off, and Observance of Federal Holidays.
As a federal contractor, CNI is a drug-free workplace and adheres to the Federal Controlled Substance Act.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship.
Must have Security+.
Demonstrated experience in a role focused on IT process management, such as Business Analyst, QA Analyst, Systems Analyst, or a similar function.
Hands-on experience working within a Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform environment.
Excellent communication, coordination, and documentation skills.
A highly organized and process-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail.
Preferred:
Direct experience with the D365 Field Service and Project Operations/PSA solution and its associated business processes.
Experience coordinating User Acceptance Testing (UAT) cycles.
Familiarity with ITIL principles, particularly Change and Release Management.
Experience working in a government or other regulated IT environment.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
1. Release & Change Management:
Establish and manage the official release calendar for all platform updates.
Chair the weekly Change Advisory Board (CAB), presenting all proposed changes with their corresponding test results and business sign-off for a formal "Go/No-Go" decision.
Coordinate all deployment activities with the Platform Engineer and communicate release schedules and potential impacts to all stakeholders.
Compile and distribute official release notes following every production deployment.
2. Quality Assurance & UAT Coordination:
Partner with business stakeholders to develop formal User Acceptance Testing (UAT) plans and test scripts for all new platform features.
Schedule, coordinate, and oversee all UAT sessions, providing guidance to business testers and ensuring a structured testing process.
Meticulously document all UAT results, track defects, and secure formal, written sign-off from the business owner before a change can be approved for release.
3. User Enablement & Knowledge Management:
Serve as the primary liaison between the Platform Engineering team and the Tier 2 support partner, ensuring clear communication and alignment.
Take ownership of the content and quality of the platform's integrated Wiki/KB.
Translate technical documentation and release notes into clear, user-friendly "how-to" guides, tutorials, and FAQs.
Analyze support ticket trends in partnership with the Tier 2 team to proactively identify and address common user questions through new or improved KB articles.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Associate’s degree in a related field of study and a minimum of five (5+) years relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education/experience.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
Work is primarily performed in an office environment. Regularly required to sit. Regularly required use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms to handle objects and operate tools, computer, and/or controls. Required to speak and hear. Occasionally required to stand, walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Exposed to general office noise with computers printers and light traffic.
EOE including Disability/Vet
CNI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
Medical
Dental
Vision
401(k)
Family Planning/Fertility Assistance
STD/LTD/Basic Life/AD&D
Legal-Aid Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Training and Development Opportunities
Your application submission will be considered for all potential employment opportunities with Chickasaw Nation Industries (CNI).
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