Testing Manager
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Flexible working
- Posted
- 18/09/2026
- Closes
- 04/10/2026
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Role summary
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Test Manager to lead testing across a portfolio of digital systems and transformation programmes. This role involves managing the entire testing lifecycle, from planning and execution to defect management and reporting, ensuring solutions meet functional requirements before deployment. The successful candidate will lead the Testing Team, promote best practices, and work with project teams, suppliers, and stakeholders. This is an opportunity to shape the Testing & Release function within a newly formed large NHS trust, supporting major digital transformation and delivering high-quality digital services.
Essential criteria
- Highly developed specialist knowledge in testing knowledge, through degree qualification, or significant experience of working at similar level.
- ISTQB Foundation/ ISTQB Advanced Qualification or equivalent experience.
- Leadership of Testing within a large and complex IT environment.
- Experience of producing test artefacts to support testing for a large integrated suite of systems.
- Experience managing defects and working with suppliers to take them through to resolution.
- Knowledge and understanding of testing best practice across different levels of testing.
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical systems such as EPR systems and/or Theatre systems.
- Knowledge of SDLCs such as SCRUM and SAFe.
- Knowledge and understanding of how testing works with the various teams involved in a large project such as Analysis, Business Intelligence and Data Warehouses, Development/Config, Data Migration, Training and Project Management.
Desirable criteria
- Experience in using tools such as Azure DevOps or similar for the management of testing and defects would be desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of how systems integrate and familiarity with HL7 would be advantageous
- Communication Skills
- Have excellent communication skills, sufficient to impart highly complex information to a wide range of audiences.
- Excellent communications skills, with the ability to understand and interpret customer requirements and deliver the correct level of information dependent upon the audience.
- Analytical Skills
- Be able to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of solution options
- Excellent communications skills, with the ability to understand and interpret customer requirements and deliver the correct level of information dependent upon the audience
- Planning Skills
- Ability to translate local and national requirements into an information plan.
- Ability to plan allocation of resources against changing priorities and emerging pressures.
- Management Skills
- Significant expertise in staff management, coaching, team building and change management.
- Experienced manager with substantial experience at a senior level.
- A leader and motivator with a successful history of building, developing and motivating teams to perform at the highest level.
- Training, Knowledge and Experience
- Highly developed specialist knowledge in testing knowledge, through degree qualification, or significant experience of working at similar level.
- ISTQB Foundation/ ISTQB Advanced Qualification or equivalent experience.
- Leadership of Testing within a large and complex IT environment.
- Experience of producing test artefacts to support testing for a large integrated suite of systems.
- Experience managing defects and working with suppliers to take them through to resolution.
- Knowledge and understanding of testing best practice across different levels of testing.
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical systems such as EPR systems and/or Theatre systems.
- Knowledge of SDLCs such as SCRUM and SAFe.
- Knowledge and understanding of how testing works with the various teams involved in a large project such as Analysis, Business Intelligence and Data Warehouses, Development/Config, Data Migration, Training and Project Management.
- Experience in using tools such as Azure DevOps or similar for the management of testing and defects would be desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of how systems integrate and familiarity with HL7 would be advantageous
- Communication Skills
- Have excellent communication skills, sufficient to impart highly complex information to a wide range of audiences.
- Excellent communications skills, with the ability to understand and interpret customer requirements and deliver the correct level of information dependent upon the audience.
- Analytical Skills
- Be able to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of solution options
- Excellent communications skills, with the ability to understand and interpret customer requirements and deliver the correct level of information dependent upon the audience
- Planning Skills
- Ability to translate local and national requirements into an information plan.
- Ability to plan allocation of resources against changing priorities and emerging pressures.
- Management Skills
- Significant expertise in staff management, coaching, team building and change management.
- Experienced manager with substantial experience at a senior level.
- A leader and motivator with a successful history of building, developing and motivating teams to perform at the highest level.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 16d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Testing Manager
The closing date is 04 October 2026
Job summary
Are you an experienced Software Test Lead or Manager with a passion for quality, assurance and digital transformation?
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Test Manager to lead testing across a portfolio of digital systems and transformation programmes.
Reporting to the Test & Release Senior Manager, you will lead the Testing Team and oversee the planning, coordination and delivery of testing across multiple projects. You will manage all aspects of the testing lifecycle, including planning, execution, defect management and reporting, ensuring solutions meet functional requirements before deployment into operational and clinical environments.
Working with project teams, suppliers and stakeholders, you will coordinate testing across SIT, ST and UAT while promoting best practice.
We are looking for an experienced testing leader with strong knowledge of testing methodologies, Agile delivery and software development lifecycles. You will have a proven track record of leading testing activities in complex environments and influencing stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes.
As part of the newly formed Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, this role offers an opportunity to help shape and develop the Testing & Release function. You will support major digital transformation program
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