Test Manager

Title: Test Manager – Remote Contract (Outside IR35)

Location: Remote (UK-based) – Monthly Travel

Contract Type: Contract (Outside IR35)

Industry: Utilities

About the Company:

Our client is a leading utility provider committed to delivering reliable and sustainable services. They are currently seeking an experienced Test Manager to join their team on a remote contract basis, ensuring high-quality delivery of IT systems, with a focus on Maximo EAM solutions.

Role Purpose:

The Test Manager will take ownership of the full testing lifecycle, ensuring that all IT systems, enhancements, and integrations are delivered to a high standard. You will lead testing strategies, manage test teams, and work closely with stakeholders to ensure defects are identified, tracked, and resolved efficiently.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and implement the test strategy and approach across projects, with a focus on Maximo and other utilities-related systems.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of test analysts, coordinating workloads and prioritising testing activities.
• Develop, review, and maintain test plans, test scripts, and test cases to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• Manage UAT, system integration, regression, and performance testing activities.
• Collaborate closely with project managers, business analysts, developers, and stakeholders to ensure testing aligns with business requirements.
• Monitor, report, and escalate testing risks, issues, and defects.
• Implement and enforce best practice testing methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches).
• Ensure test environments and data are properly managed and compliant with governance and security standards.
• Promote continuous improvement of test processes and automation where appropriate.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience as a Test Manager or Lead in IT projects, ideally within the utilities sector.
• Strong hands-on experience with IBM Maximo EAM or similar asset management systems.
• Demonstrable experience in managing end-to-end testing activities across complex IT landscapes.
• Strong knowledge of testing methodologies, tools, and frameworks (e.g., HP ALM, Jira, Selenium).
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience managing remote teams and contractors effectively.
• Ability to work independently and deliver results within tight deadlines.

Desirable:

• Experience with agile delivery environments.
• Knowledge of other enterprise IT systems integration in utilities (SCADA, GIS, ERP).
• Experience in test automation and continuous integration frameworks.

Contract Details:

• Remote (UK-based)
• Fixed-term contract, outside IR35
• Competitive day rate