Test Assurance Lead

Test Assurance Lead | Dunstable | Permanent

We have an exciting opportunity for a Test Assurance Lead to join our project team within our Support Centre in Dunstable. Can you drive testing standards? Harness the full potential of 3rd party service providers, while finding new and better ways of delivering a robust testing service? If so, then we would love to hear from you!

What you will be responsible for:

The Whitbread Test Assurance Lead is responsible for the governance, assurance and delivery of testing products, deliverables and services by test service providers, third parties and internal Whitbread teams thereby supporting the deployment of high-quality solutions into the production environment.

The Test Assurance Lead is responsible for the application of the organisational test framework including the underlying structure, processes and measures that enable the delivery of a robust testing service to projects.

The roles specific accountabilities will include:

Application of the Whitbread Test Policy to test governance, assurance and delivery at a project and programme level

Testing service supplier management

Shaping of project test approach

Early estimation of project test effort

Testing knowledge management

Provide a single point of escalation for project managers

What you will be doing:

Ensuring that project testing services are delivered in a consistent, effective and efficient manner with respect to cost, quality and performance.

Agree the testing governance approach for projects with project managers including test deliverables, transition gateways and acceptance criteria guided by adherence to the Whitbread Test Policy.

Engagement with testing services suppliers to agree and manage the delivery of testing services to projects including contractual elements and service delivery and quality measures

Promotion of best practice with respect to testing, assurance and governance within projects, amongst suppliers and across Whitbread IT including ongoing evaluation and revision of the Whitbread Test Policy

Contribute to the vendor selection processes for test service suppliers (tendering, SLAs, warranty, outsourcing etc.).

Establish, maintain, improve and maximise working relationships with key external partners/suppliers that provide testing services.

Ongoing quality and delivery assurance of technical products throughout the project lifecycle measured against the agreed governance approach and acceptance criteria

What we’d like you to have:

At least 5 years of experience of leadership in a test assurance and delivery role

Experience in managing senior stakeholders and 3rd Party Service Providers

Demonstrable experience of performing test assurance activities on a programme of work

Strong understanding of multiple delivery methodologies including waterfall, KANBAN, TDD.

Demonstrable experience of motivating, coaching and managing high-performing test/QA teams

Understanding of the latest developments and approaches to testing & QA including DevOps, CI/CD/CT, cloud technology and virtualisation services

Experience in managing test service providers

Cross industry experience of managing functional and non-functional test delivery and assurance across complex programmes of work

Whitbread is an inclusive employer. We believe that everyone is unique and there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. Under-represented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities & members of the LGBTQ+ community (those who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, trans sexual, non binary or use another term), are strongly encouraged to build a career with us. We are open to part-time and flexible working and, where possible, will try to support this.