Senior Software Test Manager
Working Pattern: Mon-Fri 37.5 hours per week
Salary: up to £80,000 per annum
The Senior Software Test Manager leads Biffa's enterprise-wide quality strategy and ensures the delivery of high-quality software products. This is a senior leadership role that goes beyond managing day-to-day testing - it involves defining the vision for quality assurance, influencing technology decisions, and driving continuous improvement across the organization.
The role oversees multiple testing teams, sets standards for automation and performance testing, and works closely with senior stakeholders to align quality initiatives with business objectives. Reporting into the Software & Architecture Director, the role is responsible for the test resource strategy - identifying & sourcing testers for internal roles and through external partners; improving the test capability maturity level; and providing confidence to internal customers of quality systems delivery.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
•Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the organisation's test strategy, ensuring alignment with product and technology roadmaps.
•Governance & Standards: Establish enterprise-wide testing frameworks, methodologies, and compliance standards.
•Innovation: Drive adoption of advanced testing practices, including test automation, performance engineering, and shift-left testing.
•Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and manage high-performing test teams across multiple projects and geographies - both internal and partner resources.
•Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with senior leadership, architects, and product owners to influence delivery decisions.
•Risk & Quality Metrics: Define KPIs for quality, monitor trends, and present actionable insights to executive leadership.
•Budget & Resource Management: Manage test budgets, tools, and vendor relationships effectively.
Essential Criteria:
•Experience: ideally 10+ years in software testing, with at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial role.
•Testing Expertise: Strong knowledge of functional, regression, performance, and security testing.
•Automation Tools: Experience in tools such as Playwright and knowledge of integrating testing in CI/CD pipelines.
•Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, and DevOps practices.
•Soft Skills: Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
•Experience with cloud-based testing environments (Azure).
•Knowledge of API testing and Dynamics 365 desirable.
•ISTQB or similar certification.
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At Biffa, we love working with waste. Whether we're turning it into sustainable power, finding new ways to recycle it or simply keeping it off the streets, we believe every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of millions. It's a view that's shared by our 11,000+ people around the country, who trust us to provide them with a career that's always rewarding, often challenging, but never dull.
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