Programme Test Assurance Manager/Consultant
Location: Basingstoke - Full-time onsite
Clearance: Active DV Clearance required
Contract: 18-month contract
IR35 Status: Outside IR35
Rate: £600 to £700 per day
We're supporting a major defence programme seeking an experienced Programme Test Assurance Manager to lead assurance and acceptance activities across a highly complex, multi-workstream delivery environment.
This is not a traditional test management role. The focus is on programme-level capability assurance, acceptance governance, integration readiness, and delivery confidence across infrastructure, systems, and software domains operating at significant scale.
You'll work across multiple Agile delivery teams, suppliers, and technical disciplines to ensure the programme delivers operational capability that is assured, accepted, and deployment-ready.
Key Responsibilities
Lead programme-wide test assurance and capability acceptance activities across complex delivery streams
Provide independent assurance across infrastructure, systems integration, software, and operational capability delivery
Coordinate assurance activities across multiple Agile / SAFe teams and suppliers
Manage dependencies, risks, integration points, and acceptance criteria across the programme landscape
Ensure governance, readiness, and evidence frameworks support formal capability acceptance
Drive alignment between engineering, delivery, test, security, and operational stakeholders
Oversee assurance reporting, quality metrics, and programme-level delivery confidence
Support release and operational readiness activities within secure and highly regulated environments
Champion best practice assurance approaches within Agile and scaled delivery models
Required Experience
Proven experience operating as a Programme Test Manager, Test Assurance Manager, or Capability Assurance Lead within large-scale defence or secure government programmes
Strong experience working within Agile and SAFe delivery environments
Demonstrable experience managing assurance across:
Infrastructure
Systems integration
Software delivery
Multi-supplier ecosystems
Experience operating within highly complex programmes involving multiple teams and interdependencies
Strong understanding of capability assurance and acceptance, beyond traditional testing execution
Experience engaging with senior stakeholders across engineering, delivery, and operational functions
Excellent governance, risk management, and reporting capability
Essential
Active DV Clearance
Willingness to work full-time onsite in Basingstoke
Defence, MOD, or secure government programme experience
Desirable
Experience within large-scale transformation or mission-critical environments
Knowledge of operational acceptance and service transition frameworks
Previous experience within complex systems integration programmes