Programme Test Manager

**Key Details...

** Job Type: Contract (6 months)
Location: London or Cirencester
Working Style: Hybrid (2-3 days onsite a week)
Day rate: £600-750

Why this role exists...

We’re working with a leading wealth management client to support a major business transformation initiative. We are looking for an experienced Test Programme Manager to join the team and lead the end-to-end testing across this complex transformation.

This role is critical to ensuring quality, accuracy, and confidence in the new initiative and you will be expected to bring gravitas, drive alignment across delivery teams, and solve challenges before they become blockers.

What you'll be doing...

You'll play a central role in ensuring the successful delivery of testing. You'll work closely with the leadership and technology to ensure testing activities are coordinated, planned, and executed effectively.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Owning the end-to-end test delivery strategy across the programme
• Developing and managing test plans, schedules, dependencies, risks, and reporting
• Coordinating multiple testing workstreams across internal teams and external suppliers
• Ensuring data platform and source system changes are thoroughly validated before release
• Establishing and maintaining a one-team culture across diverse delivery partners
• Providing clear governance, status reporting, and stakeholder communication
• Driving defect resolution and removing obstacles that may impact delivery timelines

In your first 3-6 months, success might look like:

• A clear and agreed programme test strategy is established and adopted across all delivery teams
• Testing milestones are progressing to plan with transparent governance and reporting
• Suppliers and internal teams are working collaboratively within a one-team delivery model
• Programme stakeholders have confidence in testing readiness and delivery quality

What you'll need to succeed...

We're looking for someone who brings a mix of leadership, delivery expertise, collaboration, and pragmatism.

You might be a great fit if you have:

• Extensive experience operating as a Senior Test Manager or Test Programme Manager within large-scale transformation programmes
• A background working within the financial services industry
• Experience leading testing across complex data-centric programmes (working with Snowflake would be a bonus)
• Managed end-to-end test delivery, including strategy, planning, scheduling, coordination, governance, and execution
• Proficient in project management tools like Jira and methodologies such as Agile
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders and bring credibility when resolving complex delivery challenges
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify complex technical and delivery topics

This role might not be the right fit if you're looking for:

• A hands-off testing leadership role with limited involvement in day-to-day delivery challenges
• A programme where plans, processes, and approaches are already fully established and require minimal leadership input