Quality Assurance Manager

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION; London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job description

The FA are excited to be searching for a Quality Assurance Manager to join our Digital Technology division.

As the Quality Assurance Manager at the FA, you will be responsible for leading the entire QA practice comprising of QA Leads, Automation Engineers, Security, Accessibility, Performance and Integration test engineers, both UK-based and offshore / FA staff and third-party suppliers - ensuring the delivery of high-quality software across all our digital products. This role goes beyond managing individual projects-it's about setting a vision for quality assurance, evolving our automated testing framework, and embedding quality throughout the software development lifecycle.

You will be an influential leader who creates and drives the strategy, process, and performance of our QA practice. Your goal is to build a world-class QA function that consistently exceeds expectations, supports continuous delivery, and maintains the highest standards of software quality.

What will you be doing?

Leadership & Strategy:

• Define and execute a comprehensive QA strategy that aligns with our product development goals and business objectives, focusing on automation, scalability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the practice of QA Leads, QA analysts and automation engineers, promoting a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high performance.
• Drive initiatives to enhance meaningful test automation, increasing coverage, reliability, and speed of testing.
• Champion quality across the organisation, influencing our teams to adopt best practices in testing and quality assurance.

Process & Governance:

• Establish and enforce QA standards, policies, and governance throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), ensuring consistent and efficient processes.
• Oversee the development, execution, and maintenance of automated test scripts for functional, integration, performance, and regression testing, across our web and mobile platforms.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product, Engineering, Architecture, Design and Release, to ensure QA is integrated early and continuously in the delivery process.

Project & Release Management:

• Take ownership of the quality of all releases, coordinating with release management & coordination to ensure smooth, timely, and high-quality software deployments.
• Create plans and schedules to ensure QAs are allocated across the various squads and projects, and to meet project timelines and product quality objectives.
• Implement robust tracking and reporting mechanisms, providing clear insights into quality metrics, testing progress, and areas for improvement.
• Support the delivery teams ensuring the appropriate QA resources are in place, optimising for efficiency and impact.

Continuous Improvement:

• Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance testing efficiency, automation coverage, and overall software quality.
• Evaluate and implement new tools, technologies, and frameworks that can elevate the QA function and better align it with the business needs.
• Develop and deliver training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of the QA team. Ensure they stay current with the latest industry trends and best practices, while tailoring our approach to meet the specific needs of our business, recognising that what works best for us may differ from standard practices elsewhere.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Proven experience leading a QA function, especially in an outsourced/offshore software development model, with a strong background in automation.
• Knowledge of test automation frameworks and experience in scaling automation across a complex software suite.
• Demonstrated success in defining and executing QA strategies that have significantly improved product quality and delivery speed.
• Demonstrated success in successfully embedding automation in QA BAU, and regression, to avoid duplication of effort.
• Strong expertise in software testing methodologies, including functional, integration, performance, and regression testing.
• Experience working with web-based applications and related technologies.
• Proven track record of process improvement and driving a quality-first culture in a fast-paced Agile environment.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with experience in hiring, mentoring, and developing high-performing QA teams.
• Experience of working with suppliers in an offshore development model.
• Strong communication skills and experience in stakeholder management, capable of delivering clear updates on quality, risks, and project status.
• Ability to think strategically and execute tactically, balancing big-picture goals with day-to-day execution.

Beneficial to have:

• Experience in testing on mobile platforms.
• Experience with databases (Microsoft SQL Server preferred)
• Experience working in a sport-related environment.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract.)
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.