Test Lead- Bristol or Stevenage

FDM Group Ltd.; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology consultancy is seeking an experienced Test Lead for a hybrid role in Bristol, overseeing testing across multiple suppliers. The successful candidate will create and manage test plans, engage stakeholders, and ensure high standards in testing quality. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in large programmes and strong communication skills. This position offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment and coordinate with various teams to deliver successful outcomes.

Benefits

Career coaching

Assignments with global companies

Annual leave

Work-place pension

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Test Lead, Test Manager, or similar senior testing role on large programmes.
• Strong ability to coordinate multi-supplier or multi-vendor test activities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, including client-facing experience.
• Solid understanding of test planning, strategy creation, defect management, and test governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation, review, and maintenance of key test documentation.
• Design and manage comprehensive test schedules.
• Act as the primary liaison between test assurance and delivery partners.
• Oversee User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Drive continuous improvement and promote best practices across testing.

Skills

Test Lead experience

Stakeholder management

Defect management

UAT, SIT, NFT expertise

Communication skills

Coordination of multi-supplier activities

Education

Eligible for SC clearance

Tools

Test automation frameworks

Job description

About The Role

FDM is a global business and technology consultancy seeking a Test Lead to work for our global consultancy client. This is initially a 6 month contract with the potential to extend and will be a hybrid role based in Bristol or Stevenage.

Our client is seeking an experienced Test Lead to join a client-facing programme and coordinate testing activity across multiple suppliers. The successful candidate will work directly with the customer to ensure all test artefacts are well-structured, communicated effectively, and fit for purpose. This role requires strong stakeholder engagement, cross-supplier coordination, and the ability to drive a consistent and high-quality testing approach across all workstreams.

Responsibilities:

Test Strategy, Planning & Documentation

• Lead the creation, review, and maintenance of key test documentation including Test Strategy, Test Plans, Defect Management Plans, and TSI.
• Design and manage comprehensive test schedules, ensuring alignment with programme timelines and deliverables.
• Define and manage the overall test approach with stakeholders, suppliers, and delivery partners.
• Plan and oversee Non-Functional Testing (NFT) and System Integration Testing (SIT).

Stakeholder Management & Coordination

• Act as the primary liaison between the authority’s test assurance team and delivery partners, ensuring clear and consistent communication.
• Work with partners to ensure timely and successful delivery against milestones.
• Engage with the authority to secure approvals for different workstreams as required.
• Coordinate testing activities across teams, including managing test environments, release requirements, and communications around changes.
• Work closely with the Solution Director and Programme Manager on testing needs for both digital and non-digital workstreams.

Test Execution & Oversight

• Oversee User Acceptance Testing (UAT), including identification and engagement of UAT testers.
• Lead defect management, triage, prioritisation, and reporting across suppliers and internal teams.
• Work with Product Owners (POs) and Scrum Masters (SMs) on test-related user stories, Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), and ongoing reporting.
• Oversee and support test automation within the digital workstream.

Leadership & Quality Assurance

• Guide, mentor, and support the test team to ensure high standards of testing quality and delivery.
• Ensure consistent delivery of testing, quality assurance, and compliance across all programme workstreams.
• Drive continuous improvement and promote best practices across the testing function.

About You

• Proven experience as a Test Lead, Test Manager, or similar senior testing role on large programmes.
• Strong ability to coordinate multi-supplier or multi-vendor test activities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, including client-facing experience.
• Solid understanding of test planning, strategy creation, defect management, and test governance.
• Experience with UAT, SIT, NFT, and end-to-end testing in complex programmes.
• Ability to work across digital and non-digital workstreams.
• Eligible for or already holding SC clearance.

Desirable

• Experience in public-sector, defence, or regulated-industry programmes.
• Background in Agile environments and familiarity with POs/SMs workflows.
• Exposure to test automation frameworks.

About Us

We are a business and technology consultancy and one of the UK's leading employers, recruiting the brightest talent to become the innovators of tomorrow. We have centres across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, and a global workforce of over 3,500 Consultants. FDM has shown exponential growth throughout the years, firmly establishing itself as an award-winning employer and is listed on the FTSE4Good Index.

Diversity and Inclusion

FDM Group is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, provincial or local laws.

Why join us

• Career coaching, mentoring and access to upskilling throughout your entire FDM career
• Assignments with global companies and opportunities to work abroad
• Opportunity to re-skill and up-skill into new areas, develop non-linear career paths and build a skillset within your field
• Annual leave and work-place pension