Principal IT Test Manager
Heathrow AirportWith an average annual Capex profile of circa ยฃ120m, strong testing and quality assurance practices are fundamental to the functionality, resilience, and usability of the technology at Heathrow. The breadth of our work includes business-critical applications essential to the running of our airport, as well as infrastructure and network services that support our operations, airlines, and business partners. These systems must meet the diverse functional needs of all airport stakeholders and uphold the highest standards of resilience and cyber security.
The Principal IT Test Manager plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping and maintaining a world-class testing capability across Heathrow IT. This includes oversight of test management practices, automation tooling, non-functional testing, and quality assurance across all programmes and suppliers.
Working closely with Heads of IT, IT Project Managers/Delivery Leads, System Integrators, and Suppliers, the Principal IT Test Manager will lead a Test Team capable of delivering excellence in testing outcomes. They will lead and mentor Test Managers and their teams (both Heathrow and supplier-based), ensuring consistent delivery quality, process conformance, and continuous improvement.
As the strategic lead for the Testing Centre of Excellence, they will define and uphold testing standards, processes, and governance frameworks. They will ensure the Test Assurance Framework is implemented appropriately across all IT Programmes, providing evidential oversight, advice, and guidance internally and externally.
The Principal IT Test Manager will also be accountable for the deployment and optimisation of the MS Modern Requirements toolset within Azure DevOps (ADO), enabling traceability, collaboration, and assurance across the delivery lifecycle.
Where required, the Principal IT Test Manager may undertake direct Test and QA delivery responsibilities within specific Programmes or large-scale projects, ensuring benefits are realised and risks are mitigated. They must be able to establish credibility with stakeholders at all levels and be confident in challenging and influencing decision-making to ensure testing and QA are embedded effectively across the IT portfolio.
Responsibilities
Design and Leadership of Test Assurance Framework
Accountable for designing, implementing, and managing a quality-focused Test Assurance Framework aligned to Heathrow IT Quality Standards and industry best practices.
Ensure the framework is embedded across all IT Programmes, enabling successful delivery of Heathrowโs strategic technology initiatives.
Programme-Wide Implementation and Oversight
Ensure all projects and programmes appropriately incorporate the Test Assurance Framework, including integration into supplier work packages.
Provide evidential oversight, advice, and guidance to internal teams and external partners, ensuring consistent application and governance.
Governance and Compliance
Assure testing and control through appropriate project governance mechanisms.
Liaise with Heathrow and supplier Architects to ensure testing activities comply with the Heathrow Gateway Lifecycle and architectural governance standards.
Strategic Influence and Relationship Management
Build strong interfaces with IT Programme Leaders, Senior Project Leaders, System Integrators, and suppliers to ensure effective relationship management and alignment of testing objectives.
Influence multi-sourced delivery teams to embrace a culture of transparency and quality throughout the testing lifecycle.
Quality Assurance of Testing Artefacts
Oversee the quality of key documentation including test plans, assurance checklists, traceability matrices, and reporting outputs.
Ensure documentation meets Heathrowโs standards for completeness, accuracy, and alignment with programme goals.
Continuous Improvement and Value Realisation
Continuously improve test assurance efficiency to reduce cost, accelerate delivery, and enhance quality.
Ensure test assurance activities demonstrate value for money, aligned to risk profiles and benefits realisation.
Community Development and Capability Building
Lead the IT Test Manager community through structured training, mentoring, and development.
Implement and maintain a maturity matrix to assess current capabilities and define aspirational growth paths.
Testing Centre of Excellence Leadership
Lead the Testing Centre of Excellence, providing strategic direction, best practice guidance, and continuous improvement initiatives across the testing domain.
Tooling Strategy and Oversight
Oversee the deployment and optimisation of the MS Modern Requirements toolset within Azure DevOps (ADO), ensuring it supports traceability, collaboration, and assurance across the delivery lifecycle.
Integrated Planning and Portfolio Oversight
Create and maintain an integrated test assurance plan covering all Technology Programmes and Projects within the portfolio.
Ensure test assurance activities are adequately reflected in project plans and cost estimates prior to submission to Strategic Programme Boards.
Programme-Level Test Leadership
Where required, undertake direct Test and QA delivery responsibilities within specific Programmes or large-scale projects, ensuring benefits are realised and risks are mitigated.
Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Challenge
Establish credibility with senior stakeholders, confidently challenge decisions, and influence outcomes to ensure testing and QA are embedded effectively across the IT portfolio.
Qualifications
Essential
Educated to degree level or equivalent
An ISTQBยฎ CTEL-TM certification or Advanced Level Test Management (CTAL-TM)ย certification.ย
Significant experience in Test Management on large scale and/or multi project environments, particularly with third party outsource suppliers.ย
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills required, including the ability to operate flexibly and tactically to ensure that projects under test have the coverage and quality of testing required. ย
Strong stakeholder and relationship management skills, tactful diplomat, assists in the facilitation of team and client meetings and a team player working across multiple virtual teams
Great communicator (oral, written and presentation) able to deliver difficult/sensitive information to a diverse group including Executives, Managers, and Subject Matter Experts
Ability to respond to in a rapidly changing business environment and to successfully engage in multiple initiatives simultaneously and to prioritise work accordingly
Experience of Experience of the Azure DevOps toolset with the Modern Requirements extension, and other test management and test automation toolsets.
ย
Desireable
Knowledge of the airport business and airline processes