Automation QA Manager
Up to £65k DOE
London - Hybrid (1 day per week / fortnight)
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Quality Assurance / Engineering Manager to join our client working in the clinical negligence claims sector. The QA Manager will define and lead our client's enterprise-wide quality strategy, driving a culture of continuous improvement and delivery excellence across IT, technology and change initiatives.
This is a strategic leadership role responsible for establishing a robust Quality Management Framework, strengthening governance and independent assurance, and leading the evolution from traditional testing towards modern Quality Engineering practices. The successful candidate will champion quality by design, shift-left testing, automation and continuous testing, ensuring that quality is embedded throughout the delivery lifecycle and that all changes are fit for purpose and aligned with business objectives.
Working collaboratively with business stakeholders, technology leaders, delivery teams and external partners, you will establish consistent quality standards, be involved in quarterly planning, develop scalable testing capabilities, and provide the insight and assurance needed to support risk-based decision-making. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring that quality is not simply a testing activity, but an integral part of how technology and change are designed, delivered, assured and supported.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
We are looking for a strategic and commercially aware quality leader who can combine deep technical expertise with strong governance, stakeholder engagement and people leadership.
- Extensive leadership experience in IT Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering or Testing, including team management, coaching and workforce planning.
- Strong knowledge of quality management frameworks, testing methodologies, enterprise-wide standards and ISO 9001-aligned systems.
- Experienced with Automation testing.
- Proven experience establishing quality governance and providing independent assurance across programmes, projects and service transitions.
- Strong organisational skills and experience with resource planning.
- Strong understanding of Agile, DevOps and modern software delivery, including test automation, continuous testing and CI/CD practices.
- Experience working in regulated environments and managing third-party testing and quality assurance suppliers. Experience managing offshore teams would be beneficial.
- Excellent stakeholder-management and communication skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders and communicate quality risks effectively.
- Strong analytical skills, with experience using KPIs, dashboards and trend analysis to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain an enterprise-wide Quality Engineering and Assurance Strategy, including standards, policies, governance and controls.
- Implement a Quality Management Framework aligned with ISO 9001 and establish consistent methodologies and procedures through a Quality Engineering Centre of Excellence.
- Lead the adoption of modern Quality Engineering practices, including automation, shift-left testing, continuous testing and CI/CD integration.
- Lead scalable testing services covering functional, integration, regression, performance, accessibility, security and business-readiness testing.
- Define project-to-BAU transition requirements, ensuring operational readiness, documentation, knowledge transfer and support acceptance.
- Engage and influence senior stakeholders, business SMEs, system owners and delivery teams to embed quality-led decision-making.
- Manage quality resources, capacity and third-party suppliers, ensuring delivery against service levels and contractual commitments.
- Develop quality KPIs, dashboards and reporting to monitor performance, identify risks and drive continuous improvement.
- Lead audits, compliance reviews and corrective actions, using data and lessons learned to improve quality outcomes.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (with option to purchase 5 more days)
- Private medical insurance
- Seasonal ticket loan scheme
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
- Pension
- Life cover benefits
- Company sick pay after 13 weeks
- Volunteering day
If you are an experienced QA Manager who is eager to join a dynamic team and have the flexibility to shape a role, click 'Apply Now' or send your CV to faye [dot] landells [at] circlerecruitment [dot] com
Keywords: QA / Quality Assurance / Quality Engineering / Testing / Tester / SDLC / IT / London / Hybrid
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