Test Manager | Networks (SC Cleared) in Birmingham

Active SC clearance is required for this role from day one. Candidates must already hold current SC clearance. Due to the nature of the work, the business cannot sponsor new applications for this position.

The Role In a Nutshell

Own the testing of high-profile, high-value and highly complex network solutions delivered into large enterprise and public-sector customers. You'll act as the project-wide escalation point for everything test-related, from bid-stage estimates through System Integration Testing, Release Testing and Acceptance Into Service, on solutions where a defect doesn't just affect one product, it ripples across business-critical infrastructure.

The Business

One of the UK's most established communications and technology businesses, serving large enterprise and public-sector customers with mission-critical networks, voice and managed services. With significant annual investment in research and development and a substantial UK engineering workforce, this business has the scale, the technology and the customer base to take on the country's most complex programmes. The business invests genuinely in career development, world-class training, and the kind of work that accelerates a technical career.

The Role

You'll own end-to-end Test Strategy and Test Plans for complex multi-vendor solutions spanning network, voice, security and managed services. The work covers the full delivery lifecycle, from bid stage through AIS and into in-life support, meaning you're feeding test estimates into Shipley bid responses one day and owning defect triage and go/no-go evidence the next.

You'll be the single point of escalation for all testing matters on your projects, liaising with project managers, programme managers, solution architects, vendors and customer stakeholders. You'll work closely with the Test & Validation Manager, escalating issues as required and shaping the testing approach against customer requirements.

The role carries genuine technical authority. You're accountable for the creation and quality of every test plan, report and script your team produces, and for the fitness-for-purpose of the overall testing strategy. You'll also assess, impact, coordinate and allocate work to Test Practitioners, defining the depth of testing required, data sources and key deliverables in conjunction with technical staff.

Skills & Experience

• Expert-level understanding of Test and Validation processes and procedures
• Demonstrable Test Management experience on complex, high-value project deliveries
• Strong Test Planning capability covering full lifecycle integration testing
• System Integration Testing and Release Testing on enterprise-scale solutions
• Active SC clearance held at point of application
• Experience supporting bid responses using Shipley methodology

The following would be an advantage:

• Background in telecoms, networks or managed services
• Experience delivering into UK Government, MoD or wider public-sector customers
• Familiarity with AIS (Acceptance Into Service) and operational handover processes
• Willing to undertake additional UK security clearances as project requirements dictate
• ISTQB or equivalent test qualifications

Your Responsibilities

• Own Test Strategy, Plans and Reports across the full project lifecycle from bid to in-life
• Lead and coordinate a team of Test Practitioners across multiple concurrent deliveries
• Act as project-wide escalation point for all test-related matters
• Author the testing sections of bid responses using Shipley methodology
• Drive integration test execution through SIT, Release Testing and AIS gates
• Liaise with project managers, programme managers and customer stakeholders to inform testing approach
• Define the depth of testing required, data sources and key deliverables alongside technical staff
• Govern test script integrity, requirements traceability and defect triage
• Escalate to the Test & Validation Manager as required

Other skills required:

• Decision Making - Confident judgement on go/no-go calls, test scope trade-offs and resource prioritisation under live programme pressure
• Stakeholder Management - Strong communication with project managers, customers and senior internal stakeholders to gather insight and shape testing approach
• Technical Authority - Ability to defend test plans and quality decisions clearly to both technical specialists and commercial leadership
• Commercial Awareness - Understands the bid-to-delivery lifecycle and how testing estimates and risk feed into Winning New Business responses
• Leadership - Allocates and coordinates work across Test Practitioners, building accountability and quality discipline within the team

Benefits

• Salary up to £70,000
• 10% on-target bonus
• Company Pension scheme (5% minimum employee contribution, 10% company contribution)
• On-call allowance
• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays), increasing with service
• Huge range of flexible benefits including cycle to work, healthcare and season ticket loan
• World-class training and development opportunities
• Option to join company Share Saving schemes