Senior Strategic Test Manager

BOSS ERP Consulting; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm based in Birmingham is seeking a Senior Strategic Test Manager with over 10 years of experience in QA and test leadership. The ideal candidate will shape testing strategies for complex defence programmes, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and managing stakeholder engagement. This contract role is designed for individuals with a solid background in secure testing practices and who can effectively present complex information to senior leadership. Candidates with a focus on defence and quality assurance are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in QA / Test leadership roles within large-scale digital or systems programmes.
• Experience delivering test strategy and assurance for defence or similarly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of secure testing practices and test environment management.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement a comprehensive test strategy for various testing types.
• Review and validate test plans, schedules, and acceptance criteria.
• Engage senior stakeholders for a cohesive testing approach.

Skills

QA / Test leadership

Test strategy and assurance

Secure testing practices

Test governance

Risk management

Engaging senior stakeholders

Job description

Senior Strategic Test Manager - Contract - DV Clearance

We are seeking an experienced DV cleared Senior Strategic Tester who will serve as a critical advisor to the end client, shaping and overseeing all testing strategy, planning, and assurance activities across complex defence programmes. This role ensures that all testing aligns with regulatory, security, and programme delivery requirements while enabling informed decision‑making at senior stakeholder levels.

Key Responsibilities

Testing Strategy & Governance

• Define and implement a comprehensive test strategy covering system, integration, security, performance, and user acceptance testing.
• Establish testing governance frameworks and quality gates aligned to defence sector policies and operational requirements.
• Advise on tooling, environments, automation approaches, and best practices suitable for secure and classified settings.

Programme Assurance & Oversight

• Review and validate test plans, schedules, scope, and acceptance criteria across multiple workstreams.
• Provide independent assurance on testing progress, risks, issues, and readiness for deployment.
• Lead defect triage and support root‑cause analysis for high‑severity or security‑related issues.

Stakeholder Management

• Engage senior stakeholders, solution architects, delivery leads, and operational teams to ensure a cohesive and risk‑controlled testing approach.
• Translate complex testing insights into clear, actionable recommendations for programme leadership.

Risk, Compliance & Security

• Ensure testing activities comply with MOD standards, security classifications, and accreditation processes.
• Identify gaps in test coverage, security vulnerabilities, and system risks, advising on mitigation strategies.

Essential Skills & Experience

• 10+ years in QA / Test leadership roles within large‑scale digital or systems programmes.
• Experience delivering test strategy and assurance for defence, aerospace, national security, or similarly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of secure testing practices, test environment management, and defence‑grade quality management.
• Expertise in test governance, risk management, and multi‑phase programme delivery.
• Proven ability to engage senior stakeholders and present complex assurance findings clearly.

Desirable

• Experience with MOD testing standards, JSP documentation, or defence accreditation processes.
• Background in systems engineering or integration testing of complex platforms.

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