Test Manager
A high-visibility regulated programme needs a senior test leader to orchestrate end-to-end quality across internal and external teams. The role turns quality strategy into operational control, clear risk reporting and confident go or no-go decisions.
CONTEXT
Our client, a major player in its sector, is running a flagship programme where quality cannot be an afterthought. The programme brings together multiple internal teams, external partners and business-critical systems, and every release decision carries visibility and consequence. Testing is therefore not a back-office activity but a leadership discipline: it must be planned, coordinated, measured and explained in language that senior decision-makers can trust. The Senior Program Test Lead will step into a fast-moving environment, translate quality strategy into operational plans and create the end-to-end confidence needed before the organisation commits to a major milestone.
ACTIVITIES
- Orchestrate all testing activities across the programme and its workstreams.
- Translate quality strategy into operational test plans, schedules, entry and exit criteria and measurable quality gates.
- Coordinate internal teams, external suppliers and delivery partners so that testing responsibilities are clear and dependencies are managed.
- Manage quality risks, defects and issues, ensuring that critical problems are escalated with evidence and recommendations.
- Ensure end-to-end quality across integrated systems, business processes and user journeys.
- Provide factual, concise reporting for Go/No-Go decisions and senior programme governance.
- Continuously improve test practices, traceability and collaboration between development, business and quality teams.
EXPECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
The programme should gain a trusted view of quality rather than a collection of optimistic status updates. Senior stakeholders should be able to make Go/No-Go decisions with clear evidence, known risks and realistic mitigation options. End-to-end testing should become more coordinated, defects should be prioritised with business impact in mind, and the programme should leave behind stronger quality practices that continue beyond the mission.
ENVIRONMENT
A high-pressure programme environment combining agile delivery, structured governance and multiple delivery partners. Test management practices include E2E testing, risk-based testing, defect management, quality gates, traceability and decision reporting. Tools may include Jira, Azure DevOps, test management platforms, reporting dashboards and collaborative planning tools. The culture expects rigour, clear communication, factual reporting and the confidence to challenge weak quality assumptions.