Mission freelance Release & Integration Lead

Our International defence client is looking for a Release & Integration Lead to be based fully onsite in The Hague, The Netherlands. This would be an initial 12 month contract and an active SC/DV/NS/CTS clearance would be required.

Responsibilities:
· Lead daily stand-up meetings with integration and release teams to review progress, surface risks, and adjust plans.
· Provide updates to project stakeholders, including NATO representatives, ensuring alignment with project goals and requirements.
· Develop and maintain detailed integration and release schedules, specifying dependencies, milestones, and quality checkpoints.
· Ensure smooth integration across teams (development, QA, Test, PMO, etc.) by managing dependencies and aligning activities.
· Coordinate with QA to verify quality standards, testing readiness, and resolution of defects before release.
· Identify, log, and resolve integration and release issues, escalating as needed.
· Track and manage risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans to prevent delays or quality failures.
· Capture and communicate lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.
· Provide reports to PMO and stakeholders on integration progress, risks, and issues.
· Ensure stakeholders are informed of schedule updates, dependencies, and impacts.
· Collaborate with customer stakeholders to validate requirements and confirm readiness for release.
· Ensure integration and release processes are documented, standardized, and continuously improved.
· Support audits, compliance checks, and security assessments as required.
· Recommend new tools or process improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

Required Experience, Skills, and Education:
* Bachelor's degree in a related field of study and experience working on large-scale, complex IT projects, with at least 5 - 8 years in a release management or integration role.
· Proven experience leading teams and managing large-scale integration and release activities.
* Proficiency in managing the end-to-end release process, including planning, coordination, deployment, and post-release support.
· Strong knowledge of systems integration, including integration planning, interface management, and troubleshooting.
· Experience with CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI).
* Strong project management skills, including experience with project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Microsoft Project).
· Understanding of software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, etc.).
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
· Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
· Demonstrated leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
· Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
· Ability to adapt to changing project requirements and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.


Due to the nature and urgency of this post, candidates holding or who have held high level security clearance in the past are most welcome to apply. Please note successful applicants will be required to be security cleared prior to appointment which can take up to a minimum 10 weeks. LA International is a HMG approved ICT Recruitment and Project Solutions Consultancy, operating globally from the largest single site in the UK as an IT Consultancy or as an Employment Business & Agency depending upon the precise nature of the work, for security cleared jobs or non-clearance vacancies, LA International welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people with diverse experience and backgrounds.

Award Winning LA International, winner of the Recruiter Awards for Excellence, Best IT Recruitment Company, Best Public Sector Recruitment Company and overall Gold Award winner, has now secured the most prestigious business award that any business can receive, The Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, for the second consecutive period.