Test Manager

PoloWorks are currently recruiting this role on behalf of our parent company Marco Group. Working as part of the Marco IT Team, the Test Manager will lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of the Group-wide testing and quality assurance framework across Marco Capital. This role combines test strategy, governance, delivery oversight, stakeholder engagement and supplier coordination, ensuring technology change is delivered safely, consistently and to an appropriate quality standard. The Test Manager will define and govern testing standards, methodologies, environments, reporting and quality assurance processes across IT projects and business change initiatives. The role will work closely with project managers, business stakeholders, IT teams, Information Security, suppliers and third-party partners to ensure effective test planning, execution, risk management and delivery assurance. This is a hands-on position, covering the full testing lifecycle from strategy definition through to test creation, execution and delivery oversight. Key Responsibilities Test Strategy & Framework Development Develop and maintain a Group-wide testing strategy aligned to Marco's technology, operational resilience and regulatory requirements. Define testing policies, standards, methodologies, templates and governance processes. Establish risk-based testing approaches aligned to project complexity and business criticality. Define quality gates, entry and exit criteria, and release readiness requirements. Develop testing KPIs, metrics, dashboards and reporting standards. Promote a consistent and repeatable testing approach across all Marco entities. Test Planning & Management Define testing approaches and scope for projects, infrastructure changes and operational initiatives. Create and govern test plans, schedules, resource requirements and milestones. Ensure adequate coverage across SIT, UAT, Regression, Infrastructure, Security and Disaster Recovery testing. Coordinate testing activities across concurrent projects and releases. Manage testing risks, dependencies, assumptions and constraints. Ensure appropriate test documentation and evidence is maintained throughout the testing lifecycle. Test Execution & Delivery Oversight Design and execute tests where required. Coordinate testing activities across project teams, business users, suppliers and third-party partners. Monitor progress against plans and escalate issues when necessary. Ensure defects are tracked, prioritised and resolved through agreed governance processes. Support business teams during UAT and implementation readiness reviews. Manage test environments, system availability and test data requirements. Ensure releases are supported by appropriate testing evidence and approvals. Quality Assurance & Reporting Implement quality assurance processes to ensure solutions meet business, technical, security and regulatory requirements. Monitor quality metrics across projects and operational change activities. Produce reporting for project boards, steering committees, executive stakeholders and IT leadership. Provide management information on test progress, defect trends, coverage and release readiness. Drive continuous improvement initiatives and embed lessons learned across future deliveries. Security, Compliance & Operational Resilience Work with Information Security teams to ensure appropriate security testing is incorporated into change initiatives. Support regulatory, GDPR, operational resilience and governance requirements. Participate in cyber security exercises, disaster recovery testing and business continuity validation. Maintain traceability between requirements, risks, controls, defects and delivery outcomes. Ensure critical risks identified during testing are communicated and managed appropriately. Supplier & Stakeholder Management Coordinate testing activities delivered by external suppliers, software vendors and implementation partners. Review supplier testing deliverables and quality assurance artefacts. Engage business stakeholders to define acceptance criteria and testing expectations. Facilitate testing workshops, defect review meetings and release readiness assessments. Act as the primary point of contact for testing governance, quality assurance and release assurance activities. Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Essential Extensive Test Management, Quality Assurance or Technology Delivery experience within regulated financial services, ideally London Market insurance. Proven experience implementing enterprise-wide testing frameworks and governance standards. Strong knowledge of Waterfall, Agile and Hybrid delivery methodologies. Experience creating and managing test strategies, plans, execution activities and quality assurance processes. Experience leading User Acceptance Testing, System Integration Testing, Regression Testing and Release Assurance. Experience overseeing testing across Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS, infrastructure, networking and business-critical applications. Strong understanding of defect management, root cause analysis and testing metrics. Experience managing third-party suppliers and technology partners. Excellent stakeholder management, communication and reporting skills. Desirable ISTQB Test Manager, Test Analyst or equivalent certification. Experience within Lloyd's of London or the wider London Market insurance sector. Experience with Microsoft technologies including Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint Online, Power Platform and Teams. Exposure to infrastructure, cyber security, data migration and cloud transformation testing. Knowledge of ITIL, Operational Resilience, Change Management and Project Governance frameworks.