Test & Release Lead

The Test & Release Lead will be responsible for designing and executing the end-to-end testing strategy and release management approach for complex technology deliveries.

This role will ensure that testing activities are structured coordinated and aligned across the full delivery lifecycle leveraging the existing testing and release frameworks to support high-quality software releases.

The Test & Release Lead will act as the senior test authority during test execution ensuring effective planning coordination risk management and reporting across all test phases.

In addition the role will coordinate and oversee the release management process ensuring releases are properly prepared validated approved and deployed in a controlled and transparent manner.

Key Responsibilities

Test Strategy & Alignment
Design and maintain the end-to-end testing strategy for the program or project scope.
Ensure testing activities align with the existing testing framework and quality standards.
Define the testing approach for all phases including:
Unit testing
Integration testing
System testing
End-to-end testing
Performance and non-functional testing
User acceptance testing
Ensure traceability between requirements test cases and defects.
Define the testing scope environments and test data needs for the program.



Test Planning & Execution Leadership
Act as Senior Test Lead during test execution phases.
Coordinate and supervise test managers test analysts and QA teams.
Ensure test execution follows the agreed strategy and timelines.
Monitor test progress coverage quality metrics and defect trends.
Provide clear reporting to project leadership and stakeholders.
Manage test risks issues and mitigation actions.



Release Strategy & Coordination
Define and coordinate the release strategy for the program in alignment with the organizations release management framework.
Plan and coordinate release schedules across development testing and production environments.
Ensure all releases follow the established governance and approval processes.
Coordinate release readiness reviews including:
Testing completion
Defect thresholds
Operational readiness
Documentation validation
Ensure controlled deployment into production and non-production environments.



Cross-Team Coordination
Work closely with:
Development teams
Product owners
Project managers
Infrastructure and DevOps teams
Operations and support teams
Ensure alignment between delivery plans testing timelines and release windows.
Facilitate communication across teams to resolve blockers affecting testing or releases.



Quality & Continuous Improvement
Monitor quality metrics and KPIs related to testing and releases.
Identify opportunities to improve test coverage automation and release efficiency.
Contribute to continuous improvement of testing and release practices within the existing organizational framework.



Required Skills & Experience

Experience
Proven experience as a Test Lead QA Lead or Test Manager in large technology delivery programs.
Strong experience defining end-to-end testing strategies.
Experience coordinating complex releases across multiple environments and teams.
Experience managing large-scale test execution phases.

Technical & Methodology Knowledge
Strong understanding of:
Software testing methodologies
QA practices and standards
Defect management processes
Test lifecycle management
Familiarity with test management tools (e.g. Jira Xray Zephyr TestRail etc.).
Understanding of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps release processes.
Knowledge of test automation practices is an advantage.



Key Competencies
Strong leadership and coordination skills
Excellent stakeholder communication
Ability to manage complex cross-team dependencies
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Structured and process-driven mindset

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