Test Lead

University of Derby; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Derby is seeking an experienced Test Lead to provide strategic leadership and assurance for testing across a major transformation programme. You will define a proportionate test strategy, govern testing across multi‑partner environments, and drive evidence-based go/no-go decisions.

You will coordinate end‑to‑end testing across multiple workstreams, establish quality standards, and foster a sustainable testing capability with automation, regression testing and data migration focus.

Qualifications

• Essential: Substantial experience as Senior Test Lead or Test Manager on complex, large-scale programmes.
• Essential: Defining and delivering programme-level test strategies, plans, governance and release-readiness criteria.
• Essential: Experience in end-to-end testing including SIT, UAT, regression and data migration.
• Essential: Experience with risk-based testing, automation strategies and defect lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Lead testing across a major transformation programme with multiple workstreams and suppliers.
• Define and implement risk-based test strategy and governance.
• Coordinate end-to-end testing including SIT, UAT, regression and data migration.
• Develop and mature a reusable quality-engineering approach and automation capabilities.

Skills

Test strategy

Governance

SIT/UAT

Automation

CI/CD

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Supplier management

Education

Degree or equivalent

Professional testing qualification

Tools

CI/CD tools

Automation frameworks

Job description

Digital Solutions and Services designs, delivers and supports the digital capabilities that underpin learning, teaching, research and the University’s professional services. Working in partnership with colleagues across the University, we develop and manage secure, reliable and accessible applications, data and integrations, ensuring that technology investment delivers measurable value and continually improves the experience of our students and staff.

About the Role

As Test Lead, you will provide strategic leadership and assurance for testing across a major University transformation programme and its associated digital, data, integration and service‑change releases. You will define and implement a proportionate, risk‑based test strategy that ensures solutions are safe, accessible, reliable and ready to support our students and staff.

You will lead the planning, coordination and assurance of end‑to‑end testing across multiple workstreams, delivery partners and suppliers. This will include functional, system integration, user acceptance, regression, data migration, accessibility, performance, security and operational‑readiness testing. You will establish clear quality standards and governance, oversee defect management, test environments and data, and provide senior stakeholders with evidence‑based recommendations on quality, release readiness and go/no‑go decisions.

A key objective will be to build a sustainable and continually improving testing capability for the University. You will introduce reusable processes and standards, develop a proportionate approach to test automation and regression testing, and coach colleagues to embed shared ownership of quality throughout the delivery lifecycle.

In the short term, you will establish the programme test strategy, governance, integrated test plan and quality measures. Over the medium term, you will coordinate testing across key programme releases, strengthen supplier assurance and develop effective automation and regression capabilities. Longer term, you will help embed a consistent, mature and reusable quality‑engineering approach across Digital Solutions and Services.

You will lead and coordinate testing activity undertaken by internal colleagues, business users, delivery partners and suppliers. At present there is no formal line management responsibility, however this may change in the future. There is no routine shift or on‑call requirement; however, flexibility will be needed to support planned releases, cutovers and intensive testing periods outside normal working hours where required. You will also be required to work flexibly across University locations and remotely according to programme and testing needs.

This fixed term contract offers the opportunity to develop specialist experience in complex, enterprise‑scale transformation within Higher Education, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Azure‑integrated services, data migration, automation, accessibility and end‑to‑end student lifecycle processes.

Due to the time‑sensitive nature of the project, there will be a short turn around been the closing date and interview. Interviews will be held on Friday 13th November 2026.

About You

You will be an experienced Test Lead or Test Manager with a strong track record of leading testing across complex, large‑scale digital transformation programmes involving multiple systems, integrations, suppliers and stakeholders. You will combine strategic leadership with a practical, hands‑on approach and be confident establishing test strategies, integrated plans, quality standards and evidence‑based release decisions.

You will have substantial experience of end‑to‑end testing, including system integration, user acceptance, regression, data migration and relevant non‑functional testing. You will also understand test automation, defect management, requirements traceability, test environments and data, and the use of quality measures to provide clear assurance on delivery progress and risk.

An effective communicator and collaborative leader, you will be able to coordinate multidisciplinary teams, business users, delivery partners and suppliers. You will use sound judgement, constructive challenge and clear evidence to influence senior stakeholders and build shared ownership of quality across the delivery lifecycle.

Experience of Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, CRM, portals, Azure‑integrated services or Higher Education would be advantageous, as would advanced testing or Agile qualifications. Most importantly, you will bring the credibility, judgement and collaborative leadership needed to establish a sustainable culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Nick Hinckley, Associate Director of Digital Solution & Services via [e-mail]

This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025).

Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.

For more information, visit our website.

Essential CriteriaQualificationsDegree or equivalent relevant professional experienceRecognised software testing qualification, or equivalent demonstrable professional expertiseExperienceSubstantial experience as a Senior Test Lead or Test Manager on complex, large-scale digital transformation programmes involving multiple systems, integrations, suppliers and stakeholdersProven experience of defining and delivering programme-level test strategies, integrated test plans, governance, quality gates and release‑readiness criteriaDemonstrable experience of leading end-to-end testing, including System Integration Testing (SIT), User Acceptance Testing (UAT), regression, data migration and relevant non-functional testingExperience of developing and implementing risk-based test automation strategies, frameworks and maintainable automated test suitesExtensive experience of managing the full defect lifecycle, including triage, prioritisation, root‑cause analysis, resolution, retesting and residual‑risk acceptanceExperience of establishing clear traceability between requirements, acceptance criteria, test coverage, results, defects and release decisionsProven experience of planning and assuring test environments, tools and representative test data, including data migration reconciliation and validationExperience of leading multidisciplinary test resources and assuring testing delivered by business users, technical teams, partners and suppliersStrong experience of embedding risk-based testing within Agile, iterative or DevOps delivery using test‑management and defect‑tracking toolsA strong track record of using test metrics and risk analysis to advise senior stakeholders on quality, release readiness and go/no‑go decisionsSkills, knowledge & abilitiesExpert knowledge of test strategy, governance, techniques and the software delivery lifecycleStrong command of risk-based testing, quality gates and proportionate test coverageStrong knowledge of SIT, UAT, regression and end-to‑end business-process testingAbility to assure APIs, integrations, interfaces, data flows and cloud-based solutionsAbility to translate business outcomes and risks into traceable test coverage and acceptance criteriaStrong understanding of automation-first testing, CI/CD integration and sustainable regressionSound knowledge of accessibility, performance, security, resilience and operational-readiness testingExcellent analytical judgement, defect analysis and evidence-based assessment of release riskStrong planning, leadership and supplier-management skills across concurrent workstreams and constrained resourcesAbility to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and embed shared ownership of qualityBusiness requirementsAbility to work flexibly across University locations and remotely according to programme and testing needsWillingness to support planned releases, cutovers and periods of intensive testing outside normal working hours where requiredAbility to work across multiple delivery teams and service areas, balancing programme priorities and operational constraintsWillingness to provide support at University events from time to time e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends)Desirable CriteriaQualificationsAdvanced testing certification, Agile testing qualification or relevant professional accreditationExperienceExperience of testing Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, CRM, portals or Azure-integrated solutionsExperience within Higher Education or another complex, regulated and data-sensitive environmentExperience of implementing automation frameworks, continuous testing or CI/CD quality gatesExperience of accessibility, performance, security or resilience testingExperience of assuring service transition, cutover, early-life support or supplier-led testingSkills, knowledge and abilitiesKnowledge of automation tools and techniques for Microsoft cloud platformsKnowledge of API, integration and data-validation testingUnderstanding of UK Higher Education student-lifecycle processesUnderstanding of service transition, release management and production assuranceCommercial awareness when challenging supplier test approaches, evidence and outcomes