Job Purpose
As part of its 2025 strategy ONR is committed to being a modern and transparent regulator, delivering trusted outcomes and value. We are making substantial investments in new digital technologies and skills to enhance our regulatory processes and management of information.
The IT Test Manager is responsible for ensuring all changes within the scope of the Test Management Office (TMO) of the Information Technology and Delivery Directorate (ITDD), are tested with the appropriate level of governance to firstly protect production systems and to also ensure integrity.
About The Role
The role plays a significant part in contributing towards the strategic aims and objectives of the newly formed ITDD and would also be working closely with several third parties under a hybrid IT support with a managed service provider.
The IT Test Manager will need to deliver to the highest standards of test approach & methodology and be seen as an integral part of the development lifecycle. For any technology change to be successful the appropriate level of quality assurance needs to be undertaken. This role defines and implements the overall test approach; works effectively with the Project Management and Service Management teams including ONRs IT supply chain partners, to determine which types of testing (e.g. non-functional, UAT) are required and aligns the business and IT test phases.
Principal Responsibilities
- Define, implement and further improve the overall test strategy approach and ensure testing standards are adhered to
- To ensure all test phases have appropriate entry / exit criteria and monitors achievement of these. It defines the business solution acceptance criteria and obtains sign-off against these prior to go-live.
- Lead as the primary point of contact for test activities & assurance for all IT change-related Projects and Releases at ONR, covering test management; planning; design; execution; closure; defect management & reporting.
- Accountable for appropriate risk-based test plans.
- Maintain demand/supply for test resource
- Manage the provision of test environments and data.
- Ensure personal knowledge and exposure to testing standards, techniques, tools and methods remains up to date, appropriate and relevant.
- Responsible as a Line Manager (LM) for the IT Testing team, ensuring they fulfil their job requirements and are encouraged to develop their skills when opportunities arise.
- Ensuring consistent and appropriate communications and interpersonal skills with relevant stakeholders for testing-related enquiries and issues, including ONRs IT supply chain.
- Ensure that the capacity and capability of the team match its current and future requirements
- Liaise with wider IT directorate and wider organisation to ensure a consistent approach to procedures, processes and reporting.
Line Management Responsibilities
- As part of this role there will be an expectation to manage staff.
Location / Travel
Due to the nature of this role, it is Bootle Based. Travel will be expected as necessary to other ONR Offices in support of the UK wide scope.
ONR operates hybrid working (working in the office and or at home) as part of our flexible working policy. There is an expectation that everyone will spend time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will work with their teams on what works best to meet individual, team, business and organisational needs to enable collaboration, as well as balancing personal choice and wellbeing.
Work with Us
Our colleagues are from all walks of life with varied personal experiences and career journeys into ONR. We want the best people for our roles. As an inclusive employer we value individuals’ contributions , regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion, or belief. Our values ‘supportive, open-minded, fair and accountable’ are central to this. We invest in our people to build capability, resilience, and promote wellbeing in our great teams, underpinned by our inherent focus on inclusion and excellence.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must hold or can achieve and retain National Security Vetting clearance at SC level.
Person Specification
Inclusion
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We will consider reasonable adjustments to ensure the recruitment process is inclusive and barrier-free. Please contact / or to discuss further.
We will also offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the guaranteed interview scheme.
We recognise we have a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces and have a Veterans guaranteed interview scheme. We offer an interview to Veterans who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the scheme. Please see eligibility criteria below.
- served for at least one year in His Majesty's Armed Forces (as a Regular or Reserve).
- be in transition from, or ceased to be a member of, His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
- not already be employed by ONR.
Essential Qualifications
International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certified Tester Foundation or equivalent
Desirable Qualifications
International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certified Tester Advanced or equivalent
Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation V4 or equivalent
Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Management
Essential Skills/Job Related Expertise
- Significant experience in leading test teams, and managing portfolios of work covering multiple projects / programmes simultaneously delivering to time, cost and quality
- Evidence of implementing clear test strategies and audit and risk control policies across teams, supported with strong process management and control skills
- Proven ability to resolve technical issues delivered into the test environment as well as effective use of escalation when needed
- Demonstrable well-structured approach to test defect management and incident reporting
- Proven ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders with the ability to escalate and articulate critical risks as well as providing status and progress of each test
- Strong customer service awareness focus, with proven ability to make customer-oriented decisions.
- Understanding of project development methodologies and of Information Technology Infrastructure Library service delivery framework
Please make sure that your statement of how you meet these criteria does not exceed 800 words.
For Further Information
For more information about this vacancy please contact Adrian Davies:
Email-
Mobile-
How to apply
Please submit your application through the recruitment portal.
The closing date for receipt of applications is07/05/2025at11:45pm
Your application should include:
- CV to include a full record of your education and professional qualifications and a full employment history.
- A suitability statement (maximum of 800 words) highlighting how you meet the ‘essential skills and experience” required for the role, which will be used at shortlisting in conjunction with your CV.
- Where applicable highlight if you have any experience under ‘desirable skills and experience’ within the application form.
Throughout our shortlisting process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria (and the desirable if applicable).
AI Tools & Platforms
During the application process applicants are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and tools to support them in writing their CVs, suitability statements, essential skills and experience. Please ensure that all information submitted is truthful and verifiable. This includes avoiding plagiarism and accurately attributing the work of others, including artificial intelligence generated content, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.
Important guidance when providing CV’s – please upload text-based CVs with no graphics or pictures to ensure the anonymisation function works correctly.
Please note -if whilst completing your application, you use special characters such as (‘ ; “ - _ * ) within your examples, Hireserve will convert these characters into symbols. We are currently unable to change this.
Whilst these examples will appear on your application, this will not prevent it from being reviewed at the shortlisting stage.
ONR do welcome applicants who require sponsorship through the skilled worker route. Unfortunately, this particular role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and it’s identified at any stage that you require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.
