UAT Manager

Marks and Spencer plc (UK); Kegworth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% colleague discount on M&S products

Competitive holiday allowance

Discretionary bonus schemes

Strong pension and life assurance

Tailored induction and training

Job summary

Marks & Spencer plc is seeking an experienced UAT Manager to drive the end-to-end testing for warehouse transformation projects at our Castle Donington distribution centre. You will lead cross-functional teams across operations, technology, engineering and vendors to ensure new systems and automation are validated and ready from day one.

The role requires hands-on testing expertise, strong stakeholder management and the ability to translate operational requirements into effective testing

Qualifications

• Experience leading User Acceptance Testing in warehouse/distribution environments.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams across business, IT, engineering and vendors.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end UAT process with strategies, plans and acceptance criteria.
• Coordinate operational readiness including environments, data, resources and user engagement.
• Manage UAT execution: test cases, defects, issue resolution and progress reporting.
• Build partnerships with operational SMEs and stakeholders; communicate readiness and risks to leaders.
• Drive governance, quality and continuous improvement; secure UAT sign-off and go-live readiness.
• Deep understanding of warehouse operations and fast-paced distribution centres.
• Demonstrate problem-solving to identify root causes and deliver sustainable improvements.
• Strong project coordination and organisational skills; manage testing activities with discipline.
• Knowledge of Blue Yonder Dispatcher to translate requirements into tests.
• Confident communicator with strong written, verbal and presentation skills.

Skills

UAT leadership

Stakeholder management

Test planning

Test execution

Defect management

Tools

Blue Yonder Dispatcher

Job description

This role will be at the heart of successful warehouse transformation projects, ensuring new systems, automation solutions and business processes are fully tested and ready for operation before implementation. Working across operations, technology, engineering and external partners, the UAT Manager will lead all aspects of User Acceptance Testing, validating that warehouse management systems, warehouse control systems, automation controls and integrated processes perform seamlessly in a live environment. This is an opportunity to shape large-scale supply chain and automation initiatives, helping new capabilities deliver the reliability, efficiency and operational performance needed to keep the business moving. This opportunity would suit someone who combines hands-on testing expertise with excellent stakeholder management skills and can confidently lead cross-functional teams through complex change. A proactive problem solver with a keen eye for detail, they will be comfortable working across operational, technical and vendor environments to ensure new solutions are delivered successfully and ready to perform from day one. NB: This role will be based at our Distribution Centre in Castle Donington; however, some travel to our other distribution centres may be required as the need arises.

• Lead the end-to-end User Acceptance Testing (UAT) process, developing test strategies, plans, and acceptance criteria to ensure successful project delivery
• Coordinate operational readiness, including test environments, data, resources, and user engagement, ensuring comprehensive coverage of warehouse processes and automation solutions
• Manage UAT execution, overseeing test case creation, defect management, issue resolution, and progress reporting across business, IT, engineering, and vendor teams
• Build strong partnerships with operational SMEs, end users, and stakeholders, providing leadership to business testers and communicating readiness, risks, and outcomes to senior leaders
• Drive governance, quality, and continuous improvement by securing UAT sign-off, supporting go-live readiness, creating operational procedures, and capturing lessons learned for future implementations
• Deep understanding of warehouse operations, with experience of working within a fast-paced distribution centre environment and strong knowledge of operational processes and challenges
• Proven problem-solving capability, with a passion for identifying root causes and delivering sustainable solutions that improve performance and efficiency
• Strong project coordination and organisational skills, able to manage testing activities with a structured, disciplined approach and attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of Blue Yonder Dispatcher and the ability to translate operational requirements into effective testing scenarios and business outcomes
• Confident communicator with excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, capable of influencing stakeholders and presenting findings to senior leaders.

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We're inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing.

Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding

• 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for someone in the household, available once probation is complete
• Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more
• Discretionary bonus schemes linked to individual and business performance
• Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future
• Tailored induction and training to support development from day one
• Exclusive perks and savings through the M&S Choices portal
• Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave
• 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services
• One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters

Everyone's welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We're reinventing, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by colleagues, customers and suppliers. We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. If any support or reasonable adjustments would help during any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know when completing the application so steps can be put in place to support the process.