Test Lead

Test Lead required to join a high-profile international charity.

The organisation is entering an important phase of growth and transformation, with technology playing an increasingly central role in how it scales services, supports users and delivers trusted, high-quality digital operations.

This is a hands-on Test Lead role, ideal for someone who can bring structure, quality and practical testing discipline into a growing technology environment. A newly created role responsible for establishing and maturing testing capability across the organisation, so this is an opportunity to shape the testing approach, improve quality standards and help embed better ways of working across technology, product and service teams.

You will work closely with engineering, product, service operations and internal business users to define and improve how testing is planned, managed and delivered. This will include test strategy, test planning, user acceptance testing, defect management, quality assurance, automation considerations, supplier coordination and the development of clear testing processes.

The role would suit someone who has worked as a Test Lead, Test Manager or Senior Tester and is comfortable operating in a growing, changing organisation where processes, tools and ways of working are still being developed.

• Lead and improve the organisation’s approach to software testing and quality assurance.
• Develop practical test strategies, test plans and test processes for digital and technology services.
• Establish clear approaches to functional testing, regression testing, user acceptance testing and defect management.
• Work closely with engineering, product and service teams to ensure quality is built into delivery from the outset.
• Support internal users and business teams through UAT planning, preparation and execution.
• Identify opportunities to introduce or improve test automation, tooling and reporting.
• Help select and embed appropriate testing tools, frameworks and ways of working.
• Coordinate testing activity across internal teams, suppliers and third-party delivery partners.
• Improve visibility of testing progress, quality risks, defects and release readiness.
• Champion practical, proportionate quality standards across a growing technology function.
• Build strong relationships with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Experience as a Test Lead, QA Lead, Test Manager, Senior Tester or similar role.
• Strong understanding of software testing principles, test planning and defect management.
• Experience creating test strategies, test plans, test cases and test reporting.
• Good understanding of functional, regression, integration and user acceptance testing.
• Experience working with engineering, product, delivery and business teams.
• Ability to bring structure to testing in an environment where processes are still maturing.
• Practical experience of UAT and working closely with internal users or business stakeholders.
• Experience with test management, defect tracking or delivery tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, TestRail or similar.
• Understanding of automation testing and where automation can add value.
• Ability to assess testing tools and recommend pragmatic improvements.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain quality risks clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• A practical, improvement-focused approach with strong attention to service quality and user outcomes.
• An interest in climate, sustainability, standards, data or mission-led work would be an advantage.

This is not a pure hands-off management role. The successful candidate will need to be comfortable shaping the testing strategy while also getting involved in the practical detail needed to improve quality and delivery confidence.

Home based remote working with expensed ad-hoc travel to the London HQ.

• 8% employer pension contribution from day one.
• 30 days annual leave.
• 4x life assurance.
• £500 wellbeing allowance.
• £500 home office equipment allowance.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Training budget available for everyone.