Head of Quality Assurance and Test
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 26th April 2026
📍 Location: Southampton (This role is suitable for hybrid working)
💷 Salary: £57,515 - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
🕘️ Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
🏆️ Available Positions: 1
As the Head of Quality Assurance and Testing you will lead the creation of the Quality Assurance (QA) and Test function encompassing test planning, execution, and assurance across multiple stakeholders. You’ll play a pivotal part in shaping the MCA’s testing community, mentoring colleagues, promoting best practices, and driving continuous improvement. Robust Testing and Quality Assurance are essential to delivering secure, reliable, and user-focused digital solutions, which underpin critical operational systems, directly supporting the MCA’s mission to save lives at sea.
Top Responsibilities
* Championing structured testing and its benefits to senior stakeholders and delivery partners to influence decision-making and drive adoption.
* Defining and managing the scope, priorities, and governance of the Test Function, establishing processes and standards in an environment with limited historical data or internal capability.
* Be the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all testing practices, providing authoritative guidance and ensuring alignment with best-in-class methodologies.
* Implementing the MCA’s QAT strategy across programmes and projects, aligned to Digital, Data, & Technology (DDAT) standards and risk-based approaches.
* Managing test environments, data, tools, and automation frameworks to support efficient and repeatable testing.
* Overseeing defect management processes, ensuring timely triage, resolution, and reporting of issues.
* Collaborating with stakeholders and managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and ensuring external partners meet quality standards.
* Build and lead a community of practice for testing within the MCA, mentoring junior testers and promoting best practice.
Benefits
* Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
* 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
* 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
* Access to the staff discount portal.
* Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
* Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
* 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
* Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
About You
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
* Significant experience in leading testing in complex digital delivery environments, ideally within government or regulated sectors.
* Proven ability to define and implement test strategies across multiple delivery teams and suppliers.
* Recognised SME in testing practices, with a proven track record of building and enhancing test functions and driving strategic quality initiatives to influence best practices and deliver robust testing frameworks
* Experience with test automation tools, frameworks, and continuous integration pipelines.
* Demonstrable experience in managing test environments, data, and tooling.
* Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
Additional Information
You will hold ISTQB Advanced Test Manager, OR BCS Intermediate/Advanced Test Management, OR Agile Testing (e.g. ICAgile, SAFe), OR ITIL Foundation, OR have equivalent experience.
How to Apply
👉 Read the full description and apply at CS Jobs using the link provided.
This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 26th April 2026