Project BA/Test Manager

Islington Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave up to 36 days

Flexible working arrangements

London Living Wage

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work

Gym discounts

Local discounts

Job summary

Islington Council is seeking an experienced Business Analyst and Test Manager to lead complex digital and resident transformation projects. You will shape requirements, drive testing strategies and assure quality across agile and waterfall delivery.

You will collaborate with services, project teams, stakeholders and suppliers to reduce delivery risk and maximise benefits. The role focuses on strengthening standards, governance and ways of working within Digital Services, offering an engaging

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering business analysis and managing testing in a large, complex organisation.
• Proven ability to produce clear requirements, process maps, business and functional specs, and high-quality test artefacts.
• Experience establishing or improving test capability, governance and quality-assurance practices.
• Comfortable working across agile and waterfall delivery environments.
• Strong stakeholder-management, facilitation and influencing skills.
• A relevant degree-level qualification or equivalent professional knowledge and experience.
• A relevant BA or test-management qualification such as CBAP, CCBA or ISTQB, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead business analysis and testing across complex digital and resident change projects and programmes.
• Work with stakeholders to understand user and service needs, challenge assumptions and agree priorities.
• Translate needs into clear requirements, process improvements and practical delivery outcomes.
• Develop proportionate test strategies, plans and governance covering system, integration, regression and user-acceptance testing.
• Coordinate testing with project and programme managers, technical teams and suppliers, including defect triage and resolution.
• Monitor quality, risks and progress, providing clear assurance and reporting to support informed decisions.
• Improve business analysis and test-management standards, templates and tools, while coaching colleagues in good practice.

Skills

Business analysis

Testing

Quality assurance

Agile & Waterfall

Stakeholder management

Facilitation

Planning

Education

Degree-level qualification

CBAP/CCBA/ISTQB or equivalent

Job description

About The Role

Are you an experienced Business Analyst and Test Manager who wants to use your expertise to improve the services residents rely on? This is an opportunity to take a leading role in complex digital and resident transformation projects and programmes, turning business needs into practical solutions and making sure change is delivered to a consistently high standard.

As Project BA/Test Manager, you will provide leadership across business analysis, testing and quality assurance. You will work with services, project and programme teams, senior stakeholders and suppliers to understand needs, improve processes, shape clear and testable requirements, and build effective testing approaches. You will also help strengthen standards, governance and ways of working across Digital Services, reducing delivery risk and ensuring digital investment delivers meaningful benefits.

What you will do

• Lead business analysis and testing across complex digital and resident change projects and programmes.
• Work with stakeholders to understand user and service needs, challenge assumptions and agree priorities.
• Translate needs into clear requirements, process improvements and practical delivery outcomes.
• Develop proportionate test strategies, plans and governance covering system, integration, regression and user-acceptance testing.
• Coordinate testing with project and programme managers, technical teams and suppliers, including defect triage and resolution.
• Monitor quality, risks and progress, providing clear assurance and reporting to support informed decisions.
• Improve business analysis and test-management standards, templates and tools, while coaching colleagues in good practice.

What we are looking for

• Extensive experience of delivering business analysis and managing testing in a large, complex organisation.
• A strong track record of producing clear requirements, process maps, business and functional specifications, and high-quality test artefacts.
• Experience of establishing or improving test capability, governance and quality-assurance practices.
• Confidence working across agile and waterfall delivery environments.
• Strong stakeholder-management, facilitation and influencing skills, including the ability to explain complex issues in plain language.
• Excellent planning, problem-solving and organisational skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities.
• A relevant degree-level qualification or equivalent professional knowledge and experience.
• A relevant business analysis or test-management qualification, such as CBAP, CCBA or ISTQB, or an equivalent professional certification.

About the team

You will join the Strategic Change and Transformation team within Digital Services and report to the Digital Delivery Manager. You will work alongside project and programme managers, service teams, technical specialists and suppliers on change that improves how the council works and the experience of residents. The team is collaborative, ambitious, resourceful and empowering, with a shared focus on delivering change well and building strong, consistent delivery practice.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t beclearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the boroughand as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, wehave to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note:

Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.

For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:

Name and job title: Emma Cairns, PMO manager
Email: [e-mail]