Test Lead

Ministry of Social Development; Wellington; On-site; NZD 138,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Social Development in New Zealand seeks a Test Lead to support its Enterprise Data Platform, ensuring quality and readiness of critical data solutions. You will provide expert testing guidance across Strategy and Insights, shaping test strategy and end-to-end quality outcomes.

Working with delivery leads, data engineers, and stakeholders, you will lead testing activities, define test cases from business use cases, and drive automation where appropriate while balancing risk, cost, and

Qualifications

• Extensive testing experience across data platforms and enterprise DW environments.
• Proven ability to lead testing practices in complex data environments.
• Experience developing and maintaining automated test scripts and frameworks.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead testing activities for enterprise data solutions from planning to sign-off.
• Develop Test Strategy and Test Plan aligned to business use cases.
• Define test cases and ensure end-to-end quality across systems.
• Coach and mentor teams to improve testing capability.

Skills

Test leadership

SDLC experience

Automation testing

Defect management

Data testing

Stakeholder communication

Mentoring

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification

Job description

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24Monthsfixed term/Secondment opportunity

If you're an experienced testing professional who enjoys improving quality, mentoring others, and helping deliver trusted data solutions that make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

MSD – services for the future is a multi-year programme to transform how we operate so we can deliver for New Zealanders and focus our resources and investment on the people who need it. The programme will make significant changes to our underlying systems, processes, and introduce redesigned services that put people first.

The Information, Data, and Analytics team is leading an ambitious work programme to uplift our data and information capabilities to support the Transformation initiatives, while also establishing Enterprise level standards for BAU. MSD operates within a highly complex data environment, and our focus is on creating the foundations that allow data to be managed deliberately and consistently over time. This includes developing an enterprise data model, strengthening stewardship and governance, embedding a standardised data quality framework, and establishing master data management practices.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

As the Test Lead, you will play a key role in supporting MSD's Enterprise Data Platform and ensuring the quality, reliability, and readiness of critical data solutions. Working across Strategy and Insights, you will provide expert advice, guidance, and leadership on testing practices to help deliver high-quality data products and services.

You will be responsible for leading the testing activities for enterprise data solutions, including developing the Test Strategy and Test Plan, defining test cases based on business and MDM use cases, and ensuring end-to-end quality outcomes across upstream and downstream systems.

Working closely with Delivery Leads, business stakeholders, data engineers, and solution specialists, you will provide leadership across the testing lifecycle, from test planning and test design through to execution oversight, defect management, and quality assurance sign-off. You will be accountable for ensuring testing activities are aligned to agreed quality standards and that solutions are fit for purpose before release into production.

This role requires a strong Functional Test Lead who combines hands‑on senior testing experience with the technical capability to understand complex data integration and data platform solutions. You will define the testing approach, identify opportunities for automation, and guide the implementation of automated testing where appropriate, while remaining focused on delivering business outcomes and quality assurance across the end‑to‑end solution.

This role combines technical expertise with coaching and mentoring. You will support the growth of testing capability across Strategy and Insights by sharing knowledge, providing practical guidance, and helping teams adopt effective testing practices. You will also stay up to date with emerging testing tools, technologies, and approaches to continuously enhance MSD's testing capability.

As a trusted testing specialist, you will provide assurance on the quality and readiness of solutions, balancing project requirements, timelines, and risks. Your work will help improve confidence in data and technology solutions, support informed decision‑making, and contribute to the successful delivery of MSD's wider strategic goals.

To be successful in this role, you will bring strong testing expertise and a passion for improving quality across data and technology solutions. You will have a relevant tertiary qualification in a related discipline, or significant professional experience, along with a proven ability to lead testing practices in complex data environments.

You will also bring:

• Strong experience across a range of testing methodologies and techniques, with the ability to determine the most appropriate testing approach for different solutions, architectures, and business needs.
• Extensive knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) practices, Risk‑based Agile Testing, Test Driven Development, defect management, release management, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience developing and maintaining automated test scripts, testing frameworks, and test deliverables using automation, scripting, defect management, and change management tools.
• Proven experience working in data warehouse environments, including data migration testing, integration testing, and supporting the delivery of enterprise data solutions.
• Experience leading and promoting best practice testing approaches, coaching and mentoring others, and building testing capability across teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, assess impacts, investigate issues, and make sound recommendations.
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship management skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly and build effective relationships across the organisation.
• Strong attention to detail, a focus on quality, and the ability to balance multiple priorities while delivering work to agreed time, cost, and quality expectations.
• Experience planning, coordinating, and evaluating testing activities, with a strong understanding of risk management and continuous improvement practices.
• A high level of personal accountability, initiative, and professional judgement, with the ability to work independently while contributing to wider team and organisational goals.

We are looking for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, takes pride in delivering quality outcomes, and is passionate about helping teams build reliable, trusted, and high‑performing data solutions.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $138,125.00 - $171,889.00

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is a people‑centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.

We provide social policy advice to government, and assistance including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.

As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.

Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents.

We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. You can find out more about our values here.