Digital Test Lead

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading NHS Trust as a Digital Test Lead, where you will be at the forefront of digital transformation by developing and managing comprehensive testing strategies. This pivotal leadership role focuses on enhancing patient care through high-quality digital solutions, overseeing QA processes, and managing testing teams in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role managing software testing.
• Experience in complex, regulated environments, ideally within the NHS.
• Proven ability in developing testing strategies for large-scale programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of digital testing strategies.
• Manage financial resources related to testing tools and technologies.
• Ensure compliance with NHS digital frameworks and governance.

Skills

Leadership

Software Testing

Quality Assurance

Stakeholder Engagement

Automation Testing

Education

Extensive knowledge of software testing best practices

Experience in healthcare IT frameworks

Tools

Automation Testing Tools

Budget Management Software

Job description

Job summary

Digital Test Lead will play a pivotal role in the delivery of highqualitydigital solutions across the Trust. This leadership position focuseson shaping the Trust's digital testing and quality assurance (QA) strategy,overseeing multiple projects, and ensuring the seamless integration ofadvanced testing methodologies within the software development lifecycle(SDLC).

Main duties of the job

The Digital Test Lead will drive continuous improvement, operationalexcellence, and innovation in testing processes to support the Trust's digitaltransformation objectives and enhance patient care.The role involves leading a team of QA engineers and testers, collaboratingwith stakeholders across IT, clinical departments, and third-party vendors,and ensuring that all applications meet the highest standards ofperformance, security, and usability.The post holder will also be responsible for managing financial resources,overseeing budgets related to testing tools and technology, and ensuringcompliance with NHS standards.

About us

About us

Royal Berkshire Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the largest general hospitals in the UK and works in partnership with NHS and social care to provide excellent healthcare services.

The Trust operates on a digital platform that integrates cutting edge technologies, such as medical devices and digital communication tools, into health processes and assists in making faster and more accurate clinical decisions.

Royal Berkshire Hospital has been rated 'Good' in the latest CQC inspection and is committed to delivering high quality care, which is driven through its core values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent.

Details Date posted

05 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

193-7247505COR

Job locations

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Job description Job responsibilities

Testing Strategy & Leadership:Design and Lead a Comprehensive Digital Testing Strategy

Develop, deliver, and manage the testing strategy for the Trusts digital solutions, ensuring integration with technical infrastructure, applications, and data conversion.Align the testing approach with NHS requirements and the Trusts digital transformation initiatives.Develop a detailed testing programme timeline in coordination with key programme leads, ensuring resources, environments, and tools are prepared for timely execution of testing.Oversee both manual and automated testing efforts, ensuring test coverage across applications, infrastructure, and integrated systems. Lead the development and execution of automated testing frameworks using industry-standard tools.Ensure that all necessary resources for testingpeople, environments, tools, and locationsare available and adequately managed. Coordinate test ownership across teams and allocate tasks as per the overall project schedule.Develop and implement risk management protocols within the testing programme to identify, assess, and mitigate risks before they impact the operational environment.

Quality Assurance & Governance:Define and enforce quality assurance standards and protocols across all digital solutions, ensuring compliance with NHS digital frameworks and governance structures.Lead the development of detailed test plans, scripts, and test cases for functional, non-functional, integration, and regression testing. Supervise the review of these documents to ensure compliance with industry standards.Establish and maintain a robust issue management system to track defects, monitor testing outcomes, and manage test data for review and audit purposes.Ensure all issues are escalated and resolved in a timely manner.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:Liaise with IT teams, application owners, clinical leads, and external suppliers to ensure testing is aligned with project objectives.Collaborate with external vendors to ensure thorough testing of third-party solutions including relevant supplier relationship management where applicableDevelop a structured communication strategy to ensure all stakeholders receive timely updates on testing progress.Provide assurance to senior leadership on testing milestones and escalate any issues or delays.Act as the central point of contact for testing activities, presenting complex technical data and testing outcomes to various stakeholders, including senior management and clinical leads.

Job description Job responsibilities

Testing Strategy & Leadership:Design and Lead a Comprehensive Digital Testing Strategy

Develop, deliver, and manage the testing strategy for the Trusts digital solutions, ensuring integration with technical infrastructure, applications, and data conversion.Align the testing approach with NHS requirements and the Trusts digital transformation initiatives.Develop a detailed testing programme timeline in coordination with key programme leads, ensuring resources, environments, and tools are prepared for timely execution of testing.Oversee both manual and automated testing efforts, ensuring test coverage across applications, infrastructure, and integrated systems. Lead the development and execution of automated testing frameworks using industry-standard tools.Ensure that all necessary resources for testingpeople, environments, tools, and locationsare available and adequately managed. Coordinate test ownership across teams and allocate tasks as per the overall project schedule.Develop and implement risk management protocols within the testing programme to identify, assess, and mitigate risks before they impact the operational environment.

Quality Assurance & Governance:Define and enforce quality assurance standards and protocols across all digital solutions, ensuring compliance with NHS digital frameworks and governance structures.Lead the development of detailed test plans, scripts, and test cases for functional, non-functional, integration, and regression testing. Supervise the review of these documents to ensure compliance with industry standards.Establish and maintain a robust issue management system to track defects, monitor testing outcomes, and manage test data for review and audit purposes.Ensure all issues are escalated and resolved in a timely manner.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:Liaise with IT teams, application owners, clinical leads, and external suppliers to ensure testing is aligned with project objectives.Collaborate with external vendors to ensure thorough testing of third-party solutions including relevant supplier relationship management where applicableDevelop a structured communication strategy to ensure all stakeholders receive timely updates on testing progress.Provide assurance to senior leadership on testing milestones and escalate any issues or delays.Act as the central point of contact for testing activities, presenting complex technical data and testing outcomes to various stakeholders, including senior management and clinical leads.

Person Specification Education, Qualifications & Training Essential

• Extensive knowledge of software testing best practices across functional, non-functional, regression, integration, and UAT testing.
• Significant experience in leading digital testing processes in complex, multi-system environments.
• Experience working within NHS or healthcare IT frameworks, with an understanding of patient-centric digital solutions and clinical system integration.
• Proven ability to lead and manage test teams in an agile, multidisciplinary digital delivery environment.

Desirable

• Experience in automation testing tools and techniques
• In depth knowledge of project governance in relation to testing in a digital healthcare environment

Experience Essential

• Minimum of 5 years in a leadership role managing software testing in a complex, regulated environment, ideally within the NHS or healthcare sector.
• Extensive experience in software testing and quality assurance, including both manual and automated testing techniques. Proven track record in developing testing strategies for large-scale, multi-disciplinary programmes.
• Advanced IT skills across all Microsoft Applications.
• Proficient with large sets of data testing.
• In-depth understanding of software development processes, including Agile and DevOps methodologies, and their impact on testing.
• Strong experience in budget management and financial forecasting within a Testing or QA context.
• Experience with cloud-based platforms and integration testing across complex systems.
• Management of others in a high performing team environment
• Experience of working at a senior manager level
• Significant experience of managing and leading a team
• Proven experience of delivering outcomes to prescribed timelines

Desirable

• Testing experience gained in Acute NHS setting.
• Advanced programming skills in languages such as Java, JavaScript, or Python, particularly in the context of writing and maintaining automated tests

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities Essential

• Able to prioritise tasks, work on own initiative and manage own workload.
• Ability to converse logically and confidently with a wide range of levels of staff.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of test automation tools.
• Proven experience in the ability to interact with colleagues at all levels both clinical and non-clinical within healthcare including communicating technical requirements to a non-technical audience
• Be enthusiastic, responsive to new demands, willing to learn new skills and welcome change
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and organise effectively.
• Ability to explain the Test Processes to colleagues within DDaT and the wider Trust service users.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and professional presentation
• Ability to produce and deliver, or receive and process, detailed complex and highly sensitive information.
• Self -motivated and able to take responsibility for decisions
• Has good insight and the ability to respond well to constructive criticism
• Team player
• Logical and pragmatic approach to problem solving
• Proven ability to work under significant pressure with competing priorities
• In collaboration with QA Manager, responsible for preparation of budget costs for new services, initiatives or systems for submission to Board for approval
• Responsible for monitoring progress against planned expenditure to ensure compliance with the forecasted service costs and address any variance with corrective actions.
• Ensure that budgets for any provisional data services are managed in accordance with the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions and postholder responsible for all financial and budgetary management of all these services.

Person Specification Education, Qualifications & Training Essential

• Extensive knowledge of software testing best practices across functional, non-functional, regression, integration, and UAT testing.
• Significant experience in leading digital testing processes in complex, multi-system environments.
• Experience working within NHS or healthcare IT frameworks, with an understanding of patient-centric digital solutions and clinical system integration.
• Proven ability to lead and manage test teams in an agile, multidisciplinary digital delivery environment.

Desirable

• Experience in automation testing tools and techniques
• In depth knowledge of project governance in relation to testing in a digital healthcare environment

Experience Essential

• Minimum of 5 years in a leadership role managing software testing in a complex, regulated environment, ideally within the NHS or healthcare sector.
• Extensive experience in software testing and quality assurance, including both manual and automated testing techniques. Proven track record in developing testing strategies for large-scale, multi-disciplinary programmes.
• Advanced IT skills across all Microsoft Applications.
• Proficient with large sets of data testing.
• In-depth understanding of software development processes, including Agile and DevOps methodologies, and their impact on testing.
• Strong experience in budget management and financial forecasting within a Testing or QA context.
• Experience with cloud-based platforms and integration testing across complex systems.
• Management of others in a high performing team environment
• Experience of working at a senior manager level
• Significant experience of managing and leading a team
• Proven experience of delivering outcomes to prescribed timelines

Desirable

• Testing experience gained in Acute NHS setting.
• Advanced programming skills in languages such as Java, JavaScript, or Python, particularly in the context of writing and maintaining automated tests

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities Essential

• Able to prioritise tasks, work on own initiative and manage own workload.
• Ability to converse logically and confidently with a wide range of levels of staff.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of test automation tools.
• Proven experience in the ability to interact with colleagues at all levels both clinical and non-clinical within healthcare including communicating technical requirements to a non-technical audience
• Be enthusiastic, responsive to new demands, willing to learn new skills and welcome change
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and organise effectively.
• Ability to explain the Test Processes to colleagues within DDaT and the wider Trust service users.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and professional presentation
• Ability to produce and deliver, or receive and process, detailed complex and highly sensitive information.
• Self -motivated and able to take responsibility for decisions
• Has good insight and the ability to respond well to constructive criticism
• Team player
• Logical and pragmatic approach to problem solving
• Proven ability to work under significant pressure with competing priorities
• In collaboration with QA Manager, responsible for preparation of budget costs for new services, initiatives or systems for submission to Board for approval
• Responsible for monitoring progress against planned expenditure to ensure compliance with the forecasted service costs and address any variance with corrective actions.
• Ensure that budgets for any provisional data services are managed in accordance with the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions and postholder responsible for all financial and budgetary management of all these services.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Employer's website

https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Employer's website

https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)