Test Manager in City of Westminster

As a Test Manager, you will lead and manage the quality and performance of tooling and capabilities across Tier 1 and Tier 2. This will include defining the quality and performance strategy; managing it to completion, within agreed timescales and budgets, and to a level of quality that meets or exceeds the client's expectations. You will use an advanced level appreciation of the architecture and key components of IT solutions (including GUI, operating systems, databases, computer hardware & input devices, networks & security, applications and services) to inform the testing strategy, approach and plans and guide the Quality and Performance team based on this understanding. You will foster relationships with other parts of the Agency to ensure products are delivered in line with aligned with the appropriate design standards and governance.

This role aligns to Test Manager in the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Test Strategy, Improvement and Optimisation: Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the quality and performance testing approach. Define required test phases, produce accurate estimates for testing activities and ensure the end-to-end test process is efficient, consistent and aligned with delivery needs.
• Risk, Issues and Assurance: Identify, document and manage all significant testing risks and issues, ensuring effective mitigations are put in place. Escalate concerns to the Senior Delivery Manager where necessary to prevent delays or impacts on delivery.
• Test Governance and Artefact Management: Produce and maintain high-quality test artefacts, including the quality and performance test strategy, plans and associated documentation. Actively seek opportunities to refine and optimise testing documentation and governance.
• Test Data, Automation and Tooling: Oversee the creation and management of test data, and drive the development, maintenance and effective use of automation frameworks and scripts. Ensure testing tools and techniques reflect industry best practice and support efficient, repeatable and high-quality test execution.
• Management of Functional and Non-Functional Testing: Lead and coordinate all functional and non-functional testing activities, assigning work, providing constructive feedback and ensuring the effective collection and reporting of testing metrics and insights.
• Leadership, Coaching and Capability Development: Provide leadership, coaching and professional development for staff, supporting talent management, succession planning and effective supplier management. Foster a culture of high performance and ensure teams use modern, industry-standard testing methods and tools.
• Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement: Promote and advocate testing capabilities across the Agency and wider government partners, building strong relationships and ensuring testing is fully integrated into delivery processes and decision-making.
• Test Design, Execution and Quality Assurance: Demonstrable experience in creating, planning and managing tests across all test phases, including User Acceptance Testing. Able to lead test engineers in designing and executing high-quality functional and non-functional tests, ensuring test coverage, traceability and alignment with requirements.
• Test Analysis and Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills with the ability to absorb large volumes of complex or conflicting information, identify patterns, evaluate root causes and determine effective solutions. Experience leading investigative work to identify improvements in testing processes, products or delivery approaches.
• Defect Management and Continuous Improvement: Proven ability to drive effective defect reporting, triage and resolution, ensuring accurate information is captured and communicated. Able to lead and coach teams in improving test management processes, developing recommendations and implementing enhancements to quality and performance practices.
• Test Strategy and Planning: Experience in developing and maintaining test strategies, plans and quality approaches, ensuring they are aligned with organisational priorities and delivery timelines. Able to guide teams in optimising quality and performance testing methods and selecting appropriate techniques and tools.
• Technical Understanding of Test Environments: Knowledge and understanding of data solutions and testing in cloud or on-premise environments, including environment setup and data exploitation tooling. Familiarity with test engineering practices, standards and modern tooling to support effective and repeatable test execution.
• Requirements Engineering and Validation: Experience working with product, business and technical teams to gather, clarify and validate requirements, including non-functional requirements. Able to translate requirements into structured test conditions and ensure deliverables are validated appropriately.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Effective communication skills with the ability to engage confidently with technical and non-technical stakeholders. Able to explain complex risks clearly, gather business and non-functional needs, and elevate issues to senior leaders where necessary. Thinks creatively, asks insightful questions and communicates findings clearly to wider teams.
• Leadership and Team Management: Demonstrable experience managing a test team, setting test strategy and providing coaching, feedback and professional development. Able to foster a high-performing culture and ensure teams adopt industry best practice in testing and quality assurance.

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

About the Employer: Corporate / Direct Employer. Government Digital and Data is a community of experts leading digital transformation in government, creating more efficient services that have a meaningful impact on people's lives. Government Digital and Data professionals benefit from cross-government events and learning. From webinars from the world's leading innovators to digital upskilling sessions. They enhance our professionals' skills and capabilities, which ultimately enables them to be a part of the world-leading advancements in digital transformation and government innovation.