Release Manager at StrongMind, Inc. – Chandler, Arizona

About StrongMindStrongMind builds digital learning experiences for K–12 online schools and homeschool families. We’re turning StrongMind Core (SMC) into an online school operating system – a product/platform hybrid that powers students, parents, and teachers across multiple experiences.About the role

We’re hiring a Release Manager to own end-to-end coordination of software releases across our K–12 customer base. You’ll ensure schools, districts, partners, internal support, and educators are aligned on what’s changing, when it’s changing, and how to adopt it—without disrupting instruction.

This role blends release operations, stakeholder coordination, customer enablement, and communication, with hands-on ownership of feature-flagged rollouts and strong execution using Jira.Responsibilities

Release planning and execution

Own the release calendar and coordinate release readiness across Product, Engineering, QA, Support, Customer Success, and PartnershipsRun release rituals (release planning, go/no-go, launch reviews, post-release retrospectives)Use Jira to track release scope, dependencies, risks, and readiness status across teamsCoordinate staged deployments aligned to K–12 schedules (time zones, assessment windows, back-to-school periods)

School, district, and partner coordination

Communicate release timelines, scope, and rollout plans to schools/districts and partnersManage customer-specific rollout needs (readiness, approvals, partner dependencies, implementation constraints)Ensure stakeholders are prepared and know what to expect before changes land

Feature flags and controlled rollouts

Manage feature flag configuration by school/district/client (on/off, phased cohorts, pilots)Maintain an auditable record of feature availability per customer and keep Support/CS aligned on what’s live wherePartner with Engineering Managers to support safe launches, canaries, gradual ramps, and rapid rollback when needed through feature flagging so that you can act independently

Release communications

Write clear, educator-friendly release notes (impact, benefits, who is affected, required actions)Produce launch comms (emails, FAQs, partner notices, release notes) in coordination with Product/CS/SupportMaintain a consistent and discoverable release notes/changelog process

Training and enablement

Create and/or coordinate training materials (short videos, walkthroughs, guides) for teachers and adminsDeliver webinars or live demos as needed and package recordings for on-demand accessEnsure Support and Customer Success readiness (briefings, internal playbooks, known issues, escalation paths)

Quality, risk, and disruption management

Coordinate release readiness checks, including backward compatibility expectations and operational risk reviewMonitor early rollout signals (tickets, incidents, adoption, feedback) and coordinate responseDrive process improvements based on post-release learnings and stakeholder feedback

Success metrics (how performance is measured)

Enablement and communication effectiveness

Release note timeliness: release notes published by (or before) release time for 100% of releasesInternal readiness SLA: Support/CS trained and “ready” by a defined lead time (e.g., 3–5 business days pre-release)Training coverage: % of major releases with companion materials (video + FAQ/guide) and stakeholder comms

Adoption and rollout control

Feature adoption rate: usage of launched features by target segments within X weeks (teachers/admins)Pilot-to-general-availability conversion: % of pilots that progress to broader rollout on scheduleFeature flag accuracy: % of customers with correct flag state vs. plan (auditable, no surprises)

Process maturity

Release cycle time: time from “code complete” to “fully rolled out” (measured and improving where appropriate)Retrospective completion rate: % of meaningful releases with documented post-release learnings and action items closedStakeholder satisfaction: periodic CS/Support and key district stakeholder feedback on release clarity and preparedness

Requirements

4–8+ years of experience in release management, technical program management, product operations, or similar roles in a SaaS environmentStrong cross-functional management and coordination skills; able to run release processes end-to-endKnowledge of release tracking tools like Jira for tracking scope, dependencies, timelines, and release readinessHands-on experience with feature flags and staged rollouts (per customer/cohort), including launch plans and rollback strategiesExcellent written and verbal communication; able to translate technical change into educator-friendly languageComfort working directly with school/district stakeholders and internal customer-facing teamsFamiliarity with SDLC/Agile workflows and release practices in a SaaS environmentEmbody StrongMind’s core values: Kindness, Accountability, Collaboration, Innovation, and Grit

Nice to have

K–12 edtech experience or direct experience working with school districtsTraining/content creation experience (video tutorials, webinars, help center articles)Familiarity with SIS/LMS integrations and common implementation patternsChange management or customer enablement background

Environmental Conditions:

This role operates in a professional office environment with standard equipment such as computers, phones, and printersThe position may be hybrid, with a combination of remote work and in-office expectations depending on departmental needs and leadership approvalProlonged periods of sitting, keyboarding, and screen time are requiredMust be able to work in a moderately quiet environment and manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptionsReliable internet access is required when working remotely

Perks, Benefits & Culture You’ll Love:

Wellness, Your WayFrom an on-site gym and yoga room to flexible work options (select roles), we believe your well-being fuels your brilliance.

Unplug for the HolidaysA fully paid holiday week off at Christmas—because rest isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.

Culture That Celebrates YouChampion spotlights, legendary milestone awards at 10, 15, and 20 years, and community service hours that let you give back with heart.

Open, Honest & HumanQuarterly Town Halls keep our communication transparent—and real.

Vibes & Good TimesThink team cookouts, fun treats, and social events that actually make you want to show up.

Solid Benefits, Real SupportAt StrongMind, we offer a competitive total compensation package, informed by market data and aligned with our size, stage, industry, and location. Medical, dental, vision, Unlimited PTO, and voluntary benefits—we take care of the people who make the magic happen.

Your Voice MattersWe’re constantly evolving, and that includes how we support, celebrate, and invest in our people.

Additional Info:

We welcome all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States. At this time, we are unable to sponsor visas.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide consideration to all applicants regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, marital status, or disability protected by law.

Acknowledgment:

This job description reflects the general scope and responsibilities of the position. Duties may evolve based on organizational needs.