At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead testing for high-profile IT projects and ensure quality outcomes.
- Company: Join the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a key player in public transport reform.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 28 days leave, free travel, and a competitive pension.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with strong support for professional development and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on transforming public transport while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading testing activities on complex IT projects is essential.
- Testing Manager
- £46,889 per annum - Grade 8
- Leeds / Hybrid Full time / Fixed term to October 2028
- Closing date – 9 August at 23:55
We currently have a vacancy for a Testing Manager to join our Technology Workstream Team as part of the Bus Reform Programme.
The Testing Manager will be responsible for defining, planning, coordinating and delivering all testing activities across medium to high-profile IT projects within the Bus Reform programme.
The role will ensure that solutions are thoroughly tested, risks are identified and managed, and business outcomes are achieved through effective collaboration with internal stakeholders, project teams and external suppliers.
The Bus Reform Programme is a key priority for the Mayor and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
We have committed to bring West Yorkshire’s buses back under public control by using franchising powers created by the Bus Services Act 2017.
This decision was made by the Mayor in March 2024.
Franchising will see the Combined Authority take control of fare box revenue for most bus services in the region and become responsible for setting fares and tickets, as well as for managing the delivery of this service to customers.
- Our Offer
- Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
- Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
- Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
- Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Investing in you –Take advantage of supported professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
- Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
- Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
- Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
- Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.
The Role
Reporting into the Technology Workstream Programme Lead, your key responsibilities will include:
- Lead the end-to-end testing delivery for high-profile IT projects within a wider business transformation programme, ensuring solutions are fit for purpose, meet business requirements and are ready for deployment.
- Develop and execute testing strategies, plans and schedules across all test phases, including system integration, end-to-end and user acceptance testing (UAT), working closely with stakeholders, technical teams and third-party suppliers to ensure successful delivery.
- Drive quality assurance, testing governance and continuous improvement, promoting best-practice standards and building strong collaborative partnerships to achieve programme objectives and deliver successful outcomes.
Please review the Role Profile on our website for more information about the responsibilities.
About You
- You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:
- Proven experience leading testing activities on large, complex IT projects or transformation programmes involving multiple systems and suppliers, demonstrating critical thinking and strong leadership to guide stakeholders through all stages of testing and drive successful delivery of business outcomes and ICT projects.
- Strong knowledge of systems integration testing, user acceptance testing and quality assurance with a focus on delivering high quality business outcomes across complex, multi-supplier environments.
- Previous experience operating as a lead tester or senior test analyst on large, multi-system applications, supporting teams through complex testing delivery phases with high interdependencies.
- Previous experience in developing and executing test strategies and plans ensuring testing activities are delivered effectively and to agreed standards.
- Excellent relationship management skills with a track record of working collaboratively and influencing stakeholders, internal teams and key external suppliers, whilst maintaining positive working relationships
- Knowledge of test governance, defect management tools, and risk-based testing approaches with the ability to identify, manage and mitigate delivery risks.
- To Apply
If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile.
Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.
Further Information
The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity.
We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes.
We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent.
To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.
Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met
Testing Manager in Leeds employer: West Yorkshire Combined Authority
West Yorkshire Combined Authority is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead transformative initiatives in sustainable transport within the vibrant city of Leeds. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and professional growth, empowering employees to make a meaningful impact on the community while enjoying competitive benefits and a commitment to work-life balance.
Contact Details:
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Testing Manager in Leeds
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We think you need these skills to ace Testing Manager in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
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How to prepare for a job interview at West Yorkshire Combined Authority
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If West Yorkshire Combined Authority uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
