diff --git a/.github/workflows/update_docs.yml b/.github/workflows/update_docs.yml
index aea7b04224..6a4b4bf917 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update_docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update_docs.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 name: Generate and deploy documentation on GH pages
 
 # update on releases or when triggered manually(must have write access)
-on: [release, workflow_dispatch]
-
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+  workflow_dispatch:
 jobs:
   update_docs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/.github/workflows/version.yml b/.github/workflows/version.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..db37adf2e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/version.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+jobs:
+  add-dev-to-version:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v3 
+    - name: Append version with dev
+      run: sed -i '/20[0-9][0-9]\.[0-9][0-9]/ s/]/-dev]/' configure.ac 
+    - name: Create pull request
+      uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v4 
+      with:
+        base: main                   # creates a new branch off of main
+        branch: add-dev-post-release # name of the created branch
+        branch-suffix: timestamp     # add a timestamp to branch name
+        delete-branch: true          # delete afer merge 
+        title: Append dev to version number post-release
+        body: automated change, adds '-dev' to the version number upon releases
+        reviewers: rem1776
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2a4c15f1e7..b0b8bb309d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ AC_PREREQ([2.69])
 
 # Initialize with name, version, and support email address.
 AC_INIT([GFDL FMS Library],
-  [2022.04.00],
+  [2022.04.00-dev],
   [gfdl.climate.model.info@noaa.gov],
   [FMS],
   [https://www.github.com/NOAA-GFDL/FMS])