Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Release Manager to join our Product Frontend group at SmartNews. Our mission is to build scalable systems and innovative features that drive new user experiences and habits.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with product managers and engineers from different regions to ensure a timely, efficient and high-quality delivery of product updates across all regions. Your role consists in running the release process, managing timelines and mitigating risks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Run the release operations across products, including submission to mobile platforms, dealing with rejections, challenges and scheduling.
• Develop a scalable release management process that increases efficiency and quality of product development across products and regions.
• Optimize and manage timelines for internal and external releases, ensuring criteria for release readiness are met (quality, compliance, etc.).
• Identify potential risks in the release process and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Maintain clear and effective communication with stakeholders about release schedules, progress and issues.

Requirements:

Minimum Requirements:

• Experience in managing complex app release cycles and multiple projects simultaneously.
• Hands-on expertise in mobile app release operations (both Android/iOS), including knowledge about Google Play and App Store dashboards, tools and policies.
• Technical knowledge about mobile development and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with release management tools (Jira, GitHub).
• Excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate across teams and roles (across regions and multilingual is a plus).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with keen attention to detail and ability to anticipate and mitigate risks.
• Business-level communication in English.

Nice to Have Experiences/Skills:

• Past experience as a mobile engineer (Android, iOS, mobile cross-platform preferred).
• Experience working across countries.
• Background in continuous process improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency in automation tools and some scripting languages (e.g., Python, Shell scripting).
• Business-level communication in Japanese.

Working Conditions:

• Office Location: Tokyo.

Salary: $120,000 - $180,000 per year.