Software Test Team Lead

SPG Resourcing; Manchester; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

SPG Resourcing is seeking an experienced Automation Test Lead to provide strategic direction, technical leadership and governance across the testing function in a regulated environment. You will shape testing strategy, embed quality throughout the delivery lifecycle, lead a team of testers, and collaborate with project teams and external partners to deliver high‑quality change portfolios.

This role also offers exposure to pension administration platforms and public sector projects with a focus

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a QA, Test Lead, Test Manager or senior testing coordination role.
• Proven experience mentoring and developing testing professionals, including performance management.
• Experience in resource planning, capacity management and allocating testing resources across multiple projects.
• Experience leading teams through technology, process or organisational change.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate findings into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the overall test strategy, methodologies, deliverables and standards.
• Champion shift-left testing and embed quality principles early in the delivery lifecycle.
• Define and monitor KPIs, defect density and test coverage for release readiness.
• Develop long-term test automation strategy and roadmap.
• Lead, mentor and develop a testing team and collaborate with project teams and external partners.
• Produce daily/weekly test reports, manage defect triage and drive continuous improvement.
• Support automation frameworks and maintain test environments and data.

Skills

DevOps knowledge

SQL data validation

API testing

Test automation

Team leadership

Education

ISTQB Advanced Level (Test Manager)

Tools

Azure DevOps

Job description

Salary: Up to £70,000 + Benefits

Company Overview

Our organisation is a specialist third-party administrator providing complex, high-quality administration services to clients across the public sector. We support organisations operating in highly regulated environments where accuracy, service quality and continuous improvement are essential.

With a strong focus on customer outcomes, innovation and operational excellence, we are committed to creating an environment where people can develop their expertise, collaborate effectively and make a meaningful contribution to the services we deliver.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Automation Test Lead to provide strategic direction, technical leadership and governance across our testing function.

As a senior member of the Change Team, you will be responsible for shaping and safeguarding the overall quality of testing, acting as the strategic lead for testing standards, methodologies, automation and continuous improvement. You will combine strategic thinking with hands‑on technical expertise, ensuring testing is embedded throughout the delivery lifecycle rather than treated as a final-stage activity.

You will lead, coach and develop a team of testing professionals while working closely with project teams, technology specialists and external partners. Your contribution will be instrumental in improving testing efficiency, strengthening quality assurance and supporting the successful delivery of a significant change portfolio.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established Test Manager, Test Lead or QA professional looking to influence testing strategy at an organisational level while remaining technically engaged.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the overall test strategy, defining appropriate methodologies, deliverables, tools and standards across the change portfolio.
• Champion a shift‑left approach, embedding testing and quality principles early within the development and delivery lifecycle.
• Define and monitor testing KPIs, including defect density, test coverage and pass/fail rates, to provide clear visibility of release readiness.
• Maintain accountability for testing standards and governance across the organisation.
• Develop and implement a long‑term test automation strategy and roadmap.
• Ensure testing capacity and delivery velocity effectively support the wider change roadmap.
• Align testing governance with the organisation's broader change and delivery governance framework.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of testing professionals, creating a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and innovation.
• Plan team capacity and allocate resources across projects according to technical capability, business priorities, development objectives and availability.
• Identify opportunities for skills development, training, professional qualifications and career progression.
• Support succession planning and the development of high‑performing teams.
• Facilitate regular team meetings to identify impediments, share knowledge and maintain delivery momentum.
• Oversee peer reviews of test cases and deliverables to ensure technical quality and consistency.

Technical Leadership & Hands‑On Testing

• Create and agree detailed test plans, estimates, scenarios and approaches for project test deliverables.
• Identify testing risks at an early stage and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Provide hands‑on technical expertise when required, particularly during complex or business‑critical testing activities.
• Define and validate test environment and test data requirements, ensuring environments are correctly configured and ready for execution.
• Implement structured defect management processes and lead regular defect triage with project stakeholders.
• Conduct root cause analysis of recurring defects in collaboration with technology teams and external partners.
• Produce clear and accurate daily and weekly test reports covering progress, test outcomes, risks, defects and outstanding actions.
• Support the development and maintenance of automated testing frameworks to improve efficiency, consistency and test coverage.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with project delivery teams, technology teams, business stakeholders and external partners.
• Promote shared ownership of quality across project teams and encourage early engagement with testing.
• Ensure test plans, deliverables and quality objectives remain aligned with wider project plans and business priorities.
• Provide clear communication on complex testing issues, risks and recommended resolutions to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Act as a champion for effective testing practices and continuous quality improvement across the organisation.

Qualifications & Skills

Required

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a QA, Test Lead, Test Manager or senior testing coordination role.
• At least 5 years' experience managing, mentoring and developing testing professionals, including performance management responsibilities.
• Proven experience in resource planning, capacity management and allocating testing resources across multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Experience leading teams through technology, process or organisational change.
• Knowledge of succession planning, skills development and building high‑performing teams.
• Strong technical knowledge of DevOps, SQL for data validation and API testing.
• Experience building, implementing or maintaining test automation frameworks.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret code and complex data and turn findings into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex testing issues and resolutions to non‑technical audiences.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills, with a focus on efficient delivery and prioritisation.
• A proactive, self‑motivated approach, with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a wider team.
• Relevant testing certification, such as ISTQB Advanced Level (Test Manager) or ISTQB Foundation Level / Agile Tester Extension.

Preferred

• Experience within pension administration, financial services, the public sector or another highly regulated environment.
• Experience working with specialist pension administration platforms or comparable complex business systems.
• Strong experience using Azure DevOps for test management, defect tracking and CI/CD pipeline integration.
• Experience of website, digital or customer‑facing application testing.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace which values and benefits from the diversity of the workforce we hire. We offer reasonable accommodation at every stage of the application and interview process.