Job Title: Downstream Business Release Manager

Location: Houston, TX – Downtown (Hybrid, 4 days on-site)

Employment Type: Contract (W2 through ZipStaff — No C2C or 1099)

About the Opportunity:

ZipStaff is seeking a Downstream Business Release Manager to lead planning, governance, coordination, and execution of business releases within a large-scale digital transformation program for a global technology services organization supporting a major energy / oil & gas Downstream operation in Houston.

You will be the primary liaison among business stakeholders, operations, project teams, and technology organizations. The role owns release scope, priorities, schedules, and deployment alignment so releases land with strong adoption and minimal operational disruption.

What You'll Do:

Lead release planning and roadmap management for Downstream business releases.
Own business scope and prioritization across release cycles.
Drive stakeholder alignment and release governance.
Manage risks, issues, and cross-workstream dependencies.
Support operational readiness and deployment activities.
Coordinate across Downstream business organizations.
Facilitate decision-making when scope, schedule, or risk tradeoffs arise.
Drive successful business adoption and realization of expected benefits.
Apply strong project governance and scope / change management throughout the release lifecycle.

Required Qualifications:

8+ years of release management, program delivery, or business-release leadership on large-scale transformation programs.
Proven experience in project governance and scope & change management.
Demonstrated ability to align release scope, priorities, and schedules with business objectives.
Experience managing risks, dependencies, and cross-functional coordination.
Strong stakeholder-management skills across business, operations, and technology.
Experience supporting operational readiness and deployment with a focus on adoption and value realization.
Ability to work hybrid in downtown Houston (4 days on-site).
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

Preferred Qualifications:

Oil & Gas / Downstream industry experience.
SAP program or SAP release experience.
Technical hands-on background that helps translate delivery issues for business stakeholders.
Prior Houston energy-operator transformation experience.

About ZipStaff:

ZipStaff partners with leading organizations to connect skilled program and delivery professionals with high-impact contract opportunities. We focus on quality matches and long-term success.

To apply, please submit your resume highlighting your release governance, scope/change management, and any Downstream or oil & gas transformation experience.

ZipStaff Inc.

Downstream Business Release Manager

About the Job