Test Manager

Government Recruitment Service; Southampton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Southampton is seeking a Test Manager to create and lead the testing capability for its digital and technology programmes. The ideal candidate will have experience in test planning, execution, and assurance, guiding junior testers while ensuring quality standards. This position offers a generous pension contribution, flexible working options, and substantial annual leave.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave, increasing with service

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in building testing capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead teams in a digital environment.
• Strong understanding of QA and testing best practices.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a community of practice for testing.
• Implement the MCA’s QAT strategy.
• Design and execute various test plans.
• Manage test environments and tools.

Skills

Test planning and execution

Knowledge of DDAT standards

Mentoring and community building

Collaboration with stakeholders

Job description

Overview

Do you have the ambition and drive to create a new service offering for Quality Assurance and Testing, aligned to DDAT standards and risk-based approaches with training and support?

Can you help establish and shape the future of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) test community?

Have you taken responsibility for test planning, execution, and assurance across multiple delivery teams and suppliers ensuring that testing is embedded early and effectively throughout the delivery lifecycle?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Test Manager will create, embed and lead the MCA’s testing capability across a portfolio of digital and technology programmes. This includes defining and implementing the Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) strategy, ensuring that all digital services and systems meet the highest standards of quality, security, and user satisfaction.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a community or practice for testing within the MCA, mentoring junior testers and promoting best practices
• Own and implement the MCA’s QAT strategy across programmes and projects, aligned to DDAT standards and risk-based approaches
• Lead the design and execution of test plans, including functional, non-functional, integration, regression, and user acceptance testing
• Improve User Acceptance Testing processes, including training internal staff, implementing best practices, and ensuring thorough testing before deployment
• Manage test environments, data, tools, and automation frameworks to support efficient and repeatable testing
• Collaborate with delivery managers, business analysts, developers, and suppliers to ensure test coverage aligns with user needs and technical requirements
• Contribute to procurement and supplier evaluation processes, ensuring testing capability is a key consideration
• Commit to continuous improvement, including staying updated with industry trends, adopting new technologies, and refining testing processes

About the role information

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. The role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.