Test Manager in DIGITAL ASSURANCE & PRODUCTIVITY DIVISION

Test Manager in DIGITAL ASSURANCE & PRODUCTIVITY DIVISION

Job Description

Location: Leeds or London

We are looking for a highly skilled Test Manager to lead testing strategy, resource management, and delivery across a diverse portfolio of projects. You will play a key role in defining and implementing test strategies, ensuring alignment with business objectives, and managing all aspects of the testing process.

Key Responsibilities:

• Test Strategy & Planning: Develop and implement test strategies for all work packages, ensuring they meet business goals and testing standards. Working with the Environment, Release, Test Data and Automation Managers to ensure that there are clear and concise requirements in line with policies set out for testing environments and test data management.
• Resource Management: Plan and deploy testing resources across projects and programmes, forecasting future needs and balancing demand with availability. Resolving testing staff needs of their projects/programme. Working with other Test Managers in securing and deploying staff in line with the needs of the whole programme/portfolio.
• Business Engagement: Act as a testing authority, advising and educating partners on user acceptance testing (UAT) & testing practices and ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Test Delivery: Oversee the preparation, execution, and reporting of testing phases, confirming progress is on track through consistent metrics and ensuring risks are mitigated.
• Team Development: Support staff development and career progression through setting key objectives & targets for DAP team members on an individual basis as part of the appraisal process.
• Process Improvement: Continuously seek ways to enhance testing efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring compliance with industry standards and governance frameworks.

Required Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Extensive experience in software testing across the full project life-cycle (Agile, Waterfall).
• Strong background in test strategy development, test planning, and managing test teams (internal and external).
• Proficient with test management (e.g. Jira / Xray) and defect management tools and test automation (e.g., Selenium, QTP).
• Experience in risk analysis, exploratory testing, and test data management.
• Experience of automated software testing tools such as QTP, Rational Functional Tester, Selenium, Silk Test or Microsoft tools.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills; capable of engaging with senior stakeholders and leading cross-functional teams.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of databases & technologies (e.g. SQL, XML, .NET, Java), and banking systems.

Qualifications:

• Essential: ISTQB Foundation Level (or equivalent).
• Desirable: ISTQB Advanced Level, ITIL, and PRINCE2 certifications.

If you are a thorough, strategic thinker with a passion for testing and process improvement, we would love to hear from you!

Our Approach to Inclusion

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.

At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it's by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we'll continue to make the best decisions for the public.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.

For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.

Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the 'Candidate Personal Information' under the 'Disability Confident Scheme' section of the application.

Salary and Benefits Information

We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.

We offer a salary as follows:

Leeds circa £46,720 - £53,910

London circa £51,870 - £59,850

In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:

• A non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/95th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/50th) or decrease (to 1/120th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• A 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 26 days' annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and/or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.

The Application Process

Important: Please ensure that you complete the 'work history' section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It's therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.

The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages.

Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.

About Us

We are the UK's central bank - and we are a bank like no other; known by our peers for our world-leading thinking on policy and strategy.

Our mission is to promote the good of the people of the UK by maintaining monetary and financial stability. We seek to keep prices stable and people's money safe. We know our work matters to people, to families, up and down the UK. We are driven by curiosity and the desire to do important, challenging work.

It takes a great team to run the Bank of England. We rely on each other to play our part. We benefit from a collaborative culture and long-established flexible ways of working, supporting our colleagues balance their work and personal lives. We strive to be a place where people feel they belong and have equal access to opportunities, because different perspectives helps us make the best decisions for the public.

There's much to gain from working with us - from career defining work at the heart of the UK economy, being part of a fantastic team, and a rewarding compensation package.

Join us and find a bank like no other. Together, we can make a difference.

The Bank of England will use and protect the information you provide when you apply for a role with us, in line with our obligations under data protection law. This is so we can assess your suitability for the role and administer your application. If you're successful we'll use it to offer you a position and onboard you to join the Bank.

If you would like more details about how your information will be used and your information rights, please visit our recruitment privacy notice.