How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Senior Test Manager
Head of Testing (Portfolio) – Fixed Term Contract (11 Months)
Fixed Term Contract
- Duration: 11 months
About the Business
Quilter plc is the UK’s leading wealth manager, supporting hundreds of thousands of customers and hundreds of advisers with expert financial advice, investments, and wealth management. The business oversees £141.9 billion in customer investments (as of 31 March 2026) and operates across two key segments:
-
Affluent
- Quilter Financial Planning
- Quilter Investment Platform
- Quilter Investors (multi-asset investment solutions)
-
High Net Worth
- Quilter Cheviot (discretionary fund management)
- Quilter Cheviot Financial Planning
Quilter is modernising, embracing digital transformation, and driving innovation to enhance customer-centricity. If you thrive in a bold, dynamic environment and want to evolve testing strategies to elevate quality and efficiency, this role is for you.
About the Role
Level: 5 Department: Test Execution Locations: Southampton | London Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 Months)
Key Responsibilities
1. Leading the Test Strategy
- Define, drive, and refine the overarching testing strategy across multiple portfolio initiatives, ensuring alignment with:
- Business objectives
- Regulatory standards
- Risk appetite
- Ensure the strategy spans all critical testing phases (functional and non-functional domains).
2. Vendor Management
- Oversee relationships with third-party vendors, aligning them with portfolio testing goals.
- Enforce compliance with Quilter’s testing standards, governance frameworks, and quality expectations.
- Coordinate multi-vendor test activities for seamless integration and delivery.
- Evaluate vendor performance via KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
- Mitigate risks and escalate issues to programme leadership.
3. Managing Test Planning & Execution
- Lead planning, execution, and reporting across projects and suppliers.
- Ensure regardiness and quality at every testing stage.
4. Stakeholder Collaboration
- Work closely with delivery teams, vendors, and senior stakeholders to align workflows.
- Provide evidence-based insights on:
- Quality status
- Progress
- Risk factors
- Deployment readiness
- Anticipate challenges and proactively manage stakeholder expectations.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
5. Quality Assurance & Test Governance
- Establish and maintain robust test governance frameworks for audit readiness and compliance.
- Champion continuous improvement in:
- Testing practices
- Tooling (including automation)
- Process optimisation.
6. Team Leadership & Mentorship
- Lead and mentor test managers/leads to foster:
- Quality culture
- Innovation
- Improvement initiatives
- Oversee QA, QC professionals, Test Specialists, and related roles, including:
- Role assignment
- Deadline management
- Work coordination
7. Reporting & Influence
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders to align on testing objectives.
- Define and track KPIs to measure:
- Testing effectiveness
- Efficiency
- Business value delivery
- Own and lead testing relationships with Quilter’s suppliers.
- Engage Software Engineering teams to promote understanding of:
- Testing functions
- QA/Quality Frameworks
- Strategy implementation
- Drive thought leadership in testing enhancements while embedding:
- Ethical practices
- Sustainability
- Digital responsibility
About You
Key Qualities & Experience
Essential Qualities
✔ Strong Leadership
- Ability to lead, delegate, and motivate across multiple disciplines (testers, engineers, vendors). ✔ Effective Communication
- Clarity in oral and written interactions with stakeholders. ✔ Analytical & Problem-Solving Mindset
- Experience in troubleshooting technical challenges and driving data-driven solutions. ✔ Attention to Detail
- Rigorous adherence to testing methodologies to ensure high-quality outcomes. ✔ Risk Management Expertise
- Proven track record in identifying/high-risk scenarios and mitigating impact. ✔ Adaptability & Resilience
- Confidence in navigating complex project priorities and evolving demands.
Relevant Experience
🔹 Extensive Testing Background
- Minimum 5+ years’ experience as a Senior Programme Test Manager or Head of Testing with measurable, successful delivery.
- Hands-on experience with:
- Testing methodologies (manual & automated)
- Agile/Waterfall frameworks
- Vendor integration strategies 🔹 Project Management Expertise
- Expertise in scaling testing across large programmes.
- Capability to develop/test strategies and execute multi-vendor engagements. 🔹 Technical Proficiency
- In-depth knowledge of:
- SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle)
- Testing frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Jira, TestRail)
- Automation tools/scripting (Python, Java, etc.) 🔹 Stakeholder Collaboration
- Skilled in influencing cross-functional teams (vendors, clients, internal stakeholders).
- Psychologically safe environment champion for diversity and innovation. 🔹 Continuous Improvement
- Commitment to embedded process optimisation.
- Proven ability to drive performance metrics enhancing:
- Security
- Digital experience quality
- Trust-building
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Inclusion & Diversity
We prioritise inclusivity and equal opportunities, ensuring all colleagues thrive in a supportive environment. We celebrate diverse perspectives and talents because we believe they fuel innovation.
Quilter’s Values
-
Do the right thing
- Integrity drives client service and community support.
-
Always curious
- Continuous learning fuels bold, forward-thinking solutions.
-
Embrace challenge
- High ambition and relentless improvement create brighter futures.
-
Stronger together
- Collaboration, trust, and courage drive growth for every generation.
Core Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Holiday | 26 days (182 hours) |
| Quilter Incentive Scheme | Accessible to all, tied to business performance. |
| Pension Scheme | Non-contributory (boosted via optional personal contributions). |
| Healthcare Cash Plan | Available for Jersey employees only. |
| Flexible Benefits | UK employees can select additional benefits via salary deduction. |
Discretionary elements (e.g., holiday discretion, benefits supplements) subject to business conditions.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills