Senior QA Lead

Senior QA Lead

Full-Time 25600 - 28800 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Serco

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead quality assurance across major programmes and develop high-performing QA teams.
  • Company: Join Serco, a global leader in delivering essential public services.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, company car, private medical insurance, and a 5% bonus scheme.
  • Other info: Embrace a diverse and inclusive culture with excellent career development opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of public services while driving innovation and quality.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in leading QA functions and strong stakeholder management skills.

The predicted salary is between 25600 - 28800 £ per year.

Hybrid – Attached to our Solihull office

Full Time, Permanent

Band 3 / Competitive Salary

Here at Serco, we’re looking for a Senior QA Lead to shape and lead quality assurance across major programmes and customer engagements. This is a strategic role, focused on defining test strategy, building high-performing teams, and working closely with customers to deliver trusted, high-quality outcomes.

You’ll act as the senior point of contact for QA, ensuring testing is aligned to business expectations, contractual commitments, and delivery timelines. Alongside this, you’ll lead and develop QA teams, embed modern testing practices, and drive continuous improvement across the organisation.

As Part Of This You’ll:

  • Define and lead QA strategy across programmes, aligning testing to business goals, customer expectations, and delivery outcomes
  • Act as the senior QA contact for customers and stakeholders, providing clear reporting, assurance, and trusted advice
  • Build, lead, and develop high-performing QA teams, driving capability, consistency, and professional growth
  • Establish and embed effective test approaches across functional, non-functional, and automated testing
  • Ensure quality is built into delivery through strong governance, metrics, and continuous improvement
  • Oversee test execution, defect management, and reporting to ensure transparency and control
  • Support bids and new work, shaping QA approaches and building confidence in delivery capability

What You’ll Need To Do The Role:

  • Proven experience leading QA functions or teams in complex delivery or transformation environments
  • Strong track record defining and implementing test strategies across Agile and non-Agile delivery
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience working directly with customers and senior leaders
  • Experience building and developing QA teams, including coaching and performance management
  • Good understanding of test automation, tools, and modern quality engineering practices
  • Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on oversight of delivery
  • SC clearance (or willingness to obtain it)

What We Offer:

  • Company car
  • 5% on target bonus scheme
  • Private medical insurance
  • Pension – 6%
  • Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
  • A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
  • Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
  • A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
  • A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
  • A safe and supportive culture.

About Serco:

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply:

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.

Senior QA Lead employer: Serco

Serco is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Solihull where innovation meets public service. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, employees benefit from comprehensive career development opportunities, a supportive culture, and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives. The hybrid work structure allows for flexibility, while the chance to contribute to meaningful public services makes Serco a rewarding place to advance your career as a Senior QA Lead.

Serco

Contact Details:

Serco Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior QA Lead

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the QA field and let them know you're on the hunt for a Senior QA Lead role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of modern testing practices and test automation tools. Be ready to discuss how you've led QA teams and defined test strategies in previous roles. Show them you’re the right fit!

Tip Number 3

Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on companies that align with your values and career goals. Check out our website for opportunities at Serco, where you can contribute to meaningful public services while growing your career.

Tip Number 4

Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Mention something specific from your conversation to show your genuine interest in the role and the company.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior QA Lead

QA Strategy Development
Stakeholder Management
Team Leadership
Coaching and Performance Management
Test Automation
Quality Engineering Practices
Agile Methodologies

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leading QA functions. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.

Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you've defined and implemented test strategies. We love seeing quantifiable results, so if you improved a process or led a successful project, shout about it!

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your points are easy to read and get straight to the heart of your experience and skills.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Serco

Know Your QA Strategies

Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of various QA strategies. Be ready to discuss how you would define and lead a QA strategy that aligns with business goals and customer expectations. This shows you understand the role's strategic importance.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples of how you've built and led high-performing QA teams in the past. Highlight your experience in coaching and performance management, as this is crucial for the Senior QA Lead position. Use specific anecdotes to illustrate your leadership style.

Engage with Stakeholders

Demonstrate your excellent stakeholder management skills by preparing to discuss how you've worked directly with customers and senior leaders. Think of instances where you provided clear reporting and assurance, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.

Emphasise Continuous Improvement

Be ready to talk about how you've driven continuous improvement in previous roles. Discuss modern testing practices and how you've embedded effective test approaches across different types of testing. This will show your commitment to quality and innovation.