Head of Test / Test Director – Consulting
Location: London, UK
Work Model: Hybrid (3 days per week on client site; primarily London-based client locations)
Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract
Contract Duration: Minimum 12 months
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Head of Test / Test Director level consultant to lead quality engineering and programme test delivery across multiple client engagements.
This role is suited to a senior leader with strong experience in large-scale testing, quality engineering governance, client delivery leadership, and consulting-style stakeholder management.
The successful candidate will be responsible for owning testing outcomes across one or more client accounts, shaping delivery strategy, managing teams, driving quality outcomes, and ensuring strong commercial and operational performance.
The role will involve working across client environments in sectors such as Retail, Core Banking, Insurance, and Payroll.
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Key Responsibilities
Quality Engineering & Test Delivery Leadership
* Own and lead quality engineering / testing service delivery for one or more client engagements
* Define and implement tailored test strategies and delivery approaches for large, complex, or specialist programmes
* Oversee end-to-end test planning, execution, governance, and reporting
* Ensure testing delivery meets agreed quality, timeline, budget, and risk objectives
Strategy, Governance & Improvement
* Develop fit-for-purpose test approaches, governance structures, and quality controls
* Advise on the effective application of testing tools, methods, and engineering practices
* Review and improve existing test processes, operating models, and delivery practices
* Identify opportunities to enhance quality, efficiency, and delivery maturity across programmes
Stakeholder & Client Management
* Build and maintain strong relationships with key client stakeholders
* Operate confidently across both business and technical stakeholder groups
* Lead mixed teams of internal consultants and client personnel within complex delivery environments
* Provide senior-level communication, reporting, and decision support throughout programme delivery
People Leadership
* Lead, coach, and develop high-performing and diverse teams
* Foster an inclusive team culture where contribution and accountability are recognised
* Support team capability uplift through delivery guidance and quality coaching
Commercial & Delivery Accountability
* Take ownership of client deliverables, budget areas, and billing accountability
* Ensure effective planning and execution across resourcing, delivery priorities, and client expectations
* Contribute to strong commercial discipline within programme and client delivery settings
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Required Skills & Experience
Essential
* Significant experience in programme test delivery leadership
* Experience gained either:
o directly within large transformation programmes, or
o within a professional services / consulting environment
* Proven experience leading complex testing across:
o Functional system testing
o Integration testing
o User acceptance testing (UAT)
o Non-functional testing
o Performance testing
o Test automation
* Strong understanding of test governance, delivery risk, and quality assurance controls
* Experience working with offshore and/or nearshore delivery teams
* Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capability
* Excellent communication, presentation, and business writing skills
* Strong leadership and people management capability
* Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how consulting-led transformation programmes operate
* Experience using test management / delivery tools such as:
o JIRA
o Azure DevOps (ADO)
o X-Ray
* High attention to detail and ability to perform in fast-paced, changing client environments
* Self-driven and comfortable operating with senior accountability
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Desirable Experience
* ISTQB Advanced / Test Manager certification (or equivalent)
* Experience applying GenAI tooling within the SDLC
* Experience designing and implementing test automation frameworks
* ISTQB Certified Agile Tester qualification (or equivalent)
* Experience administering test management tools such as:
o ALM
o Xray for Jira
o Zephyr
* Payroll testing experience
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Preferred Industry / Domain Experience
Experience in one or more of the following domains would be highly valuable:
* Retail
* Core Banking
* Insurance
* Payroll
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Ideal Profile
The ideal candidate will bring a combination of:
* Senior test delivery leadership
* Strong client-facing consulting capability
* Programme-level governance and risk management
* Ability to lead across quality, people, delivery, and commercial accountability