Test Manager

Location: Basingstoke (Onsite)
Contract Length: 18 Months
Clearance: Active DV Clearance Required

Rate: £650-£700 per day | Outside IR35

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Project Test Manager to join a high-profile, secure government infrastructure programme delivering critical national capabilities.

This role offers the opportunity to lead and assure complex Test & Trials activity across a large-scale IT infrastructure environment. You will work closely with programme leadership, engineering teams, cyber specialists, and operational stakeholders to ensure solutions are validated, risks are identified early, and delivery meets operational and security expectations.

The successful candidate will bring strong leadership, governance, and assurance experience within highly secure defence or government environments and be comfortable operating at programme level, providing independent challenge and strategic oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the governance, assurance, and oversight of Test & Trials activities across the programme
• Develop, review, and enhance Test Strategies, Plans, and assurance frameworks
• Provide expert guidance to programme leadership on test readiness, delivery confidence, and risk
• Deliver independent challenge to ensure robust validation, compliance, and assurance standards are maintained
• Coordinate integration, system, acceptance, and operational testing activities
• Work collaboratively with engineering, cyber security, delivery, and operational teams to ensure aligned execution
• Produce senior-level assurance reports, readiness assessments, and risk evaluations
• Identify programme risks and recommend pragmatic mitigation strategies
• Support transition into service, operational acceptance, and go-live activities
• Ensure testing activity aligns with operational, technical, and security requirements

Essential Experience

• Active DV Clearance (mandatory)
• Proven experience leading or consulting on Test & Trials activities within secure government, defence, or national security environments
• Strong background in test governance, assurance, and strategic test management
• Experience delivering within complex IT infrastructure or secure systems programmes
• Ability to advise and influence senior stakeholders on readiness, risk, and delivery confidence
• Strong understanding of integration, system, operational, and acceptance testing methodologies
• Experience operating within highly controlled, security-sensitive environments
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting MOD, Defence, or National Security programmes
• Knowledge of secure networks, infrastructure delivery, or classified environments
• Experience providing independent assurance or programme-level consultancy
• Familiarity with delivery methodologies such as PRINCE2, Agile, or ITIL

Why Apply?

• Long-term programme on a critical national infrastructure initiative
• High-impact role with significant stakeholder exposure
• Opportunity to shape assurance and testing strategy across a complex secure environment
• Outside IR35 engagement with competitive day rate
• Work alongside senior technical and operational specialists on mission-critical delivery programmes