At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead testing for complex network solutions and ensure quality across the project lifecycle.
- Company: Join a leading UK communications and technology business with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, pension scheme, flexible benefits, and world-class training.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for career growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-profile projects while advancing your technical career.
- Qualifications: Expertise in test management and active SC clearance required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 € per year.
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
Test Manager | Networks (SC Cleared) in Warrington employer: Jarvis King
Join one of the UK's leading communications and technology firms in Manchester, where you will play a pivotal role as a Test Manager for complex network solutions. With a strong commitment to employee development, world-class training, and a hybrid working model, this company offers an excellent work culture that values innovation and collaboration. Enjoy competitive benefits including a generous pension scheme, bonus opportunities, and a supportive environment that fosters career growth and technical expertise.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Test Manager | Networks (SC Cleared) in Warrington
✨Tip Number 1
Network with industry professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. Join relevant groups and participate in discussions to get noticed. We can leverage our connections to find out about unadvertised roles!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to test management and system integration. We should also be ready to discuss our experience with the Shipley methodology and how it applies to bid responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your SC clearance status upfront. Since it's a requirement, we need to highlight it in conversations and during interviews to stand out from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website for the best chance of landing the job. It shows initiative and gives us a direct line to the hiring team, making it easier to follow up on our application.
We think you need these skills to ace Test Manager | Networks (SC Cleared) in Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in test management, especially with complex network solutions. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Show Off Your SC Clearance:Since active SC clearance is a must from day one, make it prominent in your application. We need to know you’re ready to hit the ground running, so mention it early on to grab our attention!
Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills:As a Test Manager, you’ll be leading a team of Test Practitioners. Use your application to illustrate your leadership experience and how you've successfully coordinated teams in past projects. We love seeing examples of effective stakeholder management too!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jarvis King
✨Know Your Test Strategies
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of test strategies and plans. Be ready to discuss how you've owned the testing process in previous roles, especially in complex projects. Highlight your experience with System Integration Testing and Release Testing, as these are crucial for the role.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with project managers, customers, and senior stakeholders. This role requires strong stakeholder management, so be ready to explain how you've shaped testing approaches based on stakeholder insights in the past.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Shipley Methodology
Since you'll be authoring testing sections of bid responses using Shipley methodology, it’s essential to understand this process inside out. Bring examples of how you've contributed to bid responses before, particularly in relation to testing estimates and risk assessments.
✨Demonstrate Your Technical Authority
Be prepared to defend your test plans and quality decisions. Think of scenarios where you've had to make go/no-go calls under pressure and how you communicated those decisions. Showing confidence in your technical authority will impress the interviewers.
