The Test Lead will oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of all testing activities to ensure high‑quality delivery of business and technical solutions. This role provides strategic direction for testing, manages test resources, and ensures that test coverage, quality standards, and governance processes are consistently met. 

Test Preparation & Planning

• Define, maintain, and communicate the overall test strategy, ensuring alignment with project objectives and delivery timelines.
• Develop and manage test plans, schedules, and resource allocations across functional, integration, regression, and user acceptance phases.
• Ensure testing activities follow agreed standards, processes, and quality frameworks.
• Collaborate with business and technical SMEs to optimise test coverage and ensure requirements are testable and complete.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of regression test packs and ensure they remain current and effective.

Test Design & Execution

• Review and approve test scenarios, test cases, and test data requirements created by Test Analysts.
• Ensure environments and data are validated and ready for test execution.
• Coordinate and support execution across all test phases, ensuring blockers are removed and risks are managed proactively.
• Monitor progress, track defects, and ensure timely triage, prioritisation, and resolution.
• Provide quality assurance on test evidence, ensuring it is complete, accurate, and audit‑ready.

Leadership, Co-ordination & Stakeholder Management

·       Lead and mentor Test Analysts, providing guidance, coaching, and support to ensure high‑quality output.

·       Act as the primary point of contact for testing across the project, communicating status, risks, and issues to project managers and stakeholders.

·       Facilitate defect review meetings, test readiness checkpoints, and go/no‑go discussions.

·       Work closely with delivery teams to ensure smooth handover between development, testing, and deployment phases.

• Strong experience in test leadership, including planning, coordination, and reporting across multiple test phases.
• Deep understanding of testing methodologies, test design techniques, and quality assurance practices.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret requirements and assess testability.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate.
• Experience using test management tools and defect tracking systems.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and execution.
• Ability to drive continuous improvement in testing processes and tooling
• Methodical and detail-oriented in approach.
• Proactive, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Team player, able to collaborate effectively with both technical and business stakeholders.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and project needs