UAT Testing Lead Contractor

Description The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is seeking a hands-on, collaborative UAT Test Lead to support the FAME Technology Modernization Program. This contract role will lead business user acceptance testing for a major modernization effort, working closely with FAME staff, subject matter experts, and vendor implementation teams to ensure new systems and processes are fully tested, operationally ready, and aligned with FAME’s business needs. This opportunity is well suited for an experienced UAT professional who can translate business processes and requirements into clear, practical test scenarios and scripts; guide subject matter expert testers; manage test execution and defect follow-up; and help FAME make objective, evidence-based acceptance decisions as the program moves through implementation. Work Schedule & Location Immediate start: 12-18 month contract Up to 40 hours/week Hybrid: minimum of 3-4 days/month in Augusta office, ability to otherwise work a remote schedule Position Summary The UAT Test Lead will own business user acceptance testing for the modernization program. This role closes a critical gap between vendor functional testing—which confirms that the platform is built to specification—and FAME’s need to validate that the system works end-to-end for business operations, end users, customers, compliance requirements, and production readiness. The successful contractor will translate FAME’s future-state processes into business test scenarios, author step-by-step UAT scripts, prepare SME testers, manage execution and defect follow-up, and drive the program toward acceptance sign-off. This is a hands-on role working on FAME’s side of the program in partnership with vendor implementation teams, FAME subject matter experts, operational leads, the Product Owner, and the Project Manager. The UAT Test Lead will remain accountable for UAT design, test coverage, execution discipline, defect verification, and the sign-off package that supports an evidence-based acceptance decision. Requirements Essential Responsibilities Implement UAT Framework: Refine UAT process across FAME, IBM, and LMS vendor to ensure alignment on roles and responsibilities in the identification, triage and re-testing process. Define test coverage. Work with SMEs and operational leads in each function to determine what must be tested — including real-world scenarios, high-risk scenarios, edge cases, exception handling, cross-system handoffs, employee and customer user experience, regression scope, etc. Author business UAT scripts. Write clear, step-by-step test scripts with expected results, traced to requirements in the RTM, and review them with SMEs to confirm full coverage. Manage the test-of-record. Maintain scripts, execution status, and evidence in the program test tool (e.g., Zephyr, Xray, PractiTest, etc.), with defects tracked through to Jira. Establish proper reporting metrics that will be used throughout the test development and execution cycle. Run the UAT cycle. Schedule and prepare SME testers, oversee execution, and keep testing on pace through each UAT window. Drive defects to closure. Work with FAME team to log, triage, and prioritize defects with the implementation vendor; resolve test/defect conflicts; manage retest and verification against severity thresholds. Own acceptance. Compile the UAT sign-off package and confirm exit criteria are met. Build a reusable asset. Document the UAT method, process, and script library for each release, so that they carry forward to future releases with minimal rework. Required Qualifications Demonstrated experience leading business UAT on enterprise software implementations — ideally CRM and/or lending/loan platforms; Salesforce experience strongly preferred. Proven ability to author business test scripts from process documentation and requirements, and to trace test coverage to an RTM. Hands-on facility with a test management tool (e.g., Zephyr, Xray, PractiTest, etc.) and a defect tracking tool (e.g., Jira), including defect triage, severity, and retest workflows. Strong skill in eliciting test detail from business SMEs and operational leads and translating it into structured, repeatable scripts — with the discipline to protect SME time. Comfort working across multiple vendors and FAME functions in an Agile, sprint-based delivery model. Awareness of accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) and audit/recordkeeping (FOAA) considerations as they affect UAT coverage. Clear written communication and the judgment to stand behind an objective, evidence-based acceptance decision. Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting Salesforce, CRM, loan management, financial services, public-sector, or regulated-environment implementations. Experience developing reusable UAT frameworks, script libraries, dashboards, defect reports, and acceptance sign-off materials. Ability to quickly understand complex business processes and convert them into practical test coverage that protects operational readiness.