Test Lead (0870)

Transport for Wales; Pontypridd; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Transport for Wales seeks an experienced QA lead to plan, coordinate and quality-assure across UNO, CRM (D365) and Middleware projects. You will design and maintain an automation framework, ensure robust manual and automated coverage, and lead Test Analysts while promoting testing standards and governance.

You will manage test data, regression packs and align testing with project requirements. Strong leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement are essential to drive transformation.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent professional experience in IT.
• Experience leading test teams in IT/Digital/Systems planning and delivery.
• Experience in software development lifecycles (Waterfall, Agile).
• Experience in writing test artefacts (test cases, defects).
• Experience with testing tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, collaboration across org levels.
• Strong planning and organisation skills.
• Proven analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Experience implementing automation and performance testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the annual testing plan for the UNO programme, ensuring test strategy, scope, and methods align with priorities and long-term digital transformation goals.
• Define and govern programme-wide testing standards, procedures, and automation frameworks across manual, automated, performance, and non-functional testing.
• Provide specialist technical leadership across CRM (D365), middleware, web, mobile, data migration and API testing for complex quality challenges.
• Diagnose and resolve complex testing issues requiring advanced analysis and engineering judgement.
• Influence senior stakeholders on test scope, risk acceptance, release readiness, and defect priorities.
• Manage testing discipline for the UNO programme: set performance expectations, allocate work, develop capability, support recruitment.
• Oversee use of testing resources, environments, tooling, data sets, automation assets, and budget.
• Report testing progress, risks, metrics, and quality to programme leadership.
• Build collaborative relationships with BAs, solution architects, developers, PMs and POs to ensure testability and alignment.
• Drive continuous improvement of TfW's testing capability and governance across Digital Services.

Skills

Test leadership

Test strategy

Automation framework

D365 CRM testing

API testing

Agile & Waterfall

Stakeholder engagement

Documentation & standards

Team management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / IT

Tools

Testing tools

Automation tooling

Job description

Please note: this is a 24 month fixed-term contract

The Role

The successful candidate will lead, plan, and coordinate all quality assurance activities across the UNO, CRM (D365), and Middleware Projects. The role is responsible for establishing clear testing approaches designing and maintaining an effective automation framework and ensuring thorough manual and automated test coverage across all components and integrations. The role includes managing Test Analysts, coordinating the team's day to day activities and promoting consistent testing standards, documentation, and processes across the UNO project, ensuring alignment with the wider test team. They will be responsible for maintaining reliable test data and regression packs, ensuring that automated and manual testing meets the project requirements.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the annual testing plan for the UNO programme, ensuring that test strategy, scope, and methods align with wider organisational priorities and long-term digital transformation objectives.
• Define and govern programme-wide testing standards, procedures, and automation frameworks, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance across manual, automated, performance, and non-functional testing activities.
• Provide specialist technical leadership across CRM (D365), middleware, web, mobile, data migration and API testing, advising senior stakeholders and supporting qualified professionals in resolving complex, multi-system quality challenges.
• Diagnose and resolve complex testing issues that require advanced analysis, engineering judgement, or innovation, ensuring that cross-system defects are addressed effectively where no precedent exists.
• Influence senior project stakeholders, product teams, and supplier partners on critical testing decisions, including test scope, risk acceptance, release readiness, and defect resolution priorities.
• Manage the testing discipline for the UNO programme, setting performance expectations, allocating work, developing capability, and supporting recruitment and succession planning for Test Analysts.
• Oversee and optimise the use of testing resources, including test environments, tooling, data sets, automation assets, and budgetary allocations, providing expert advice on resource investment and utilisation to support programme delivery.
• Timely and accurate reporting of testing progress, risks, metrics, and quality outcomes to programme leadership, enabling informed decision-making and proactive risk management.
• Build robust collaborative relationships with Business Analysts, Solution Architects, Developers, Project Managers, and Product Owners to ensure requirements are testable, technically sound, and aligned with agreed programme outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement of TfW's testing capability by identifying opportunities to enhance tooling, automation throughput, performance testing maturity, and testing governance across the Digital Services directorate.

Who We're Looking For

• A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related IT discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience Leading test teams in IT/Digital/Systems- planning and delivery, including functional and end user testing.
• Experience of working in software development life cycles such as Waterfall, Agile.
• Experience in writing test artefacts such as test case and defects.
• Experience with testing tools.
• A high standard of written and verbal communication, and the ability to collaborate and build effective working relations with people at all levels across the organisation and outside.
• Excellent planning and organisation skills, (e.g. project planning and/or dealing with delays or blockers).
• Proven analytical skills and the ability to demonstrate good attention to detail through work.
• Experience in implementing Automation and performance testing.

Welsh Language Skills

While not essential for this role, Welsh language skills would make a great addition to your application. TfW support anyone who wants to learn Welsh or improve their skills. We offer online learning, classroom courses and funding attendance at local community courses.

Equal Opportunities

We're changing the way the transport industry looks. By celebrating and embracing differences, we're building a workforce that represents Wales. We need talented people from all backgrounds and cultures to bring their perspectives and experiences. Diverse teams make better decisions and drive innovation. Join us in transforming the way Wales travels.

We're a Disability Confident Leader. Let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need in the recruitment process and as part of the role if you are successful.

Who We Are

Transport for Wales is changing the way Wales travels, making sustainable transport the first choice. We're building a multimodal integrated transport network called the T Network, making it easier for people to travel by train, bus, walking, wheeling and cycling.

Application Deadline

This advert will close at 23:59 on the day of the application closing date stated above.

However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive enough applications.