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Senior Test Manager
Senior Programme Test Manager – Fixed Term Contract (11 Months)
Fixed Term Contract Duration
- Duration: 11 Months
About the Business
Quilter plc is the UK’s leading provider of financial advice, investments, and wealth management, committed to delivering exceptional value for clients and advisers.
With assets under management totalling £141.9 billion (as of 31 March 2026), Quilter operates across two key business 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
The company is embracing digital transformation, modernising operations and becoming more customer-centric. If you enjoy bold, progressive work—challenging the status quo and driving innovation—Quilter is the place to grow your career.
About the Role
Level: 5 Department: Test Execution Location: Southampton or London Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (11 Months)
As the Senior Programme Test Manager, you will lead Quilter’s testing Strategy and Execution across multiple portfolio initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory standards, and risk appetite.
Key Responsibilities
1. Leading the Test Strategy
- Define, drive, and enhance the overarching test strategy across functionally and non-functionally critical domains.
- Ensure the strategy covers all required test phases while maintaining compliance with regulatory and risk governance.
2. Vendor Management
- Manage relationships with third-party vendors, aligning their testing activities with Quilter’s objectives.
- Ensure vendor compliance with Quilter’s testing standards, governance frameworks, and quality expectations.
- Coordinate multi-vendor test activities for seamless integration and delivery.
- Evaluate vendor performance using defined KPIs and collaborate on continuous improvement.
- Mitigate risks and escalate escalation to programme leadership.
3. Managing Test Planning & Execution
- Oversee test planning, execution, and reporting across multiple projects and suppliers.
- Ensure testing readiness and quality at every stage.
- Work with stakeholders to align quality, progress, risk, and deployment readiness.
- Provide evidence-based insights (e.g., delivery risk, dependencies) to senior leadership.
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4. Collaborating with Stakeholders
- Partner with delivery teams, vendors, and senior leadership for seamless execution.
- Align scope, timelines, and quality outcomes with Quilter’s risk appetite.
- Proactively manage expectations, challenging unrealistic commitments where necessary.
5. Ensuring Quality Assurance & Governance
- Establish and uphold robust test governance frameworks, ensuring audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
- Champion continuous improvement in testing practices, tooling, and automation.
- Embed ethical testing practices and support Quilter’s sustainability and digital responsibility goals.
6. Resources & Team Management
- Mentor test managers, leads, and specialists to foster a culture of quality and innovation.
- Assign roles, set deadlines, and oversee quality assurance and testing teams.
7. Reporting & Communication
- Communicate effectively with all stakeholders regarding test objectives and outcomes.
- Define and track KPIs to measure testing effectiveness, efficiency, and business impact.
- Own, lead, and manage the test relationship between Quilter and Quilter’s suppliers.
- Work with software engineering disciplines to promote Testing & Quality Assurance frameworks.
8. Thought Leadership & Enhancements
- Be a strategic thought leader for evolving testing capabilities, processes, and governance.
- Drive innovation and automation to enhance testing efficiency.
About You: Required Skills & Experience
Key Qualities
- Strong leadership skills to manage and inspire matrixed teams across multiple programmes/suppliers.
- Ability to delegates effectively and make data-driven decisions.
- Exceptional communication skills (written & verbal) for stakeholder alignment.
- Analytical & problem-solving mindset with a track record of troubleshooting complex issues.
- Attention to detail to ensure flawless test execution.
- Proven risk management experience, especially in high-stakes projects.
- Adaptability to adjust to changing priorities and environments.
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Core Requirements
- 10+ years in testing leadership, preferably as a Senior Programme Test Manager or Head of Test.
- Hands-on experience in defining and executing strategic test initiatives across multiple portfolio projects.
- Deep knowledge of software development life cycles (SDLC) and emerging testing frameworks.
- Familiarity with testing automation tools and scripting (e.g., Selenium, Jenkins, TestNG).
- Strong stakeholder management skills—arming diverse teams (clients, internal, external).
- Commitment to continuous process improvement and best practices.
- Regulatory compliance awareness (especially relevant to a financial services environment).
Bonus Experience
- Experience with financial services or regulatory testing (highly desirable).
- Expertise in multi-vendor collaboration and vendor risk mitigation.
Why Join Quilter?
Core Values
Quilter operates on a foundation of integrity, curiosity, resilience, and collaboration.
- Strong Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges and drive innovative solutions.
- Customer-Centric Mission: Guiding customers toward brighter financial futures.
- Inclusive Culture: Celebrating einzigkeit while fostering psychological safety.
- Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Tailored benefits to support your lifestyle.
Benefits
- 182 hours of leave (equivalent to 26 days).
- Quilter Incentive Scheme (performance-based bonuses for employees).
- Non-contributory company pension (with voluntary payroll deductions for extra contributions).
- Healthcare cash plan (for Jersey-based employees).
- Benefit allowance in lieu of certain benefits.
- Flexible benefits package for UK employees.
Inclusion & Diversity
Quilter values meaningful differences and is committed to creating equal opportunities for all. Applicants will be judged solely on skills, qualifications, and potential.
No matter who you are, we welcome your application and will make reasonable adjustments to support your needs.
“We are not just a company—we are a trusted partner in customers’ lives, building trust for generations.” Learn more or apply today.
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