Skip to main content
Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
DDaT - Enterprise Architecture
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (per annum)
Job ref
193-8324824CORB8a-DIGTEST
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£57,528 - £64,750 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Digital Test Lead

NHS AfC: Band 8a

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Please note: all vacancies automatically close when 50 applications have been received.

Job overview

The Digital Test Lead will play a pivotal role in the delivery of high quality digital solutions across the Trust. This leadership position focuses on shaping the Trust’s digital testing and quality assurance (QA) strategy, overseeing multiple projects, and ensuring the seamless integration of advanced testing methodologies within the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

The Digital Test Lead will drive continuous improvement, operational excellence, and innovation in testing processes to support the Trust’s digital transformation objectives and enhance patient care.

The role involves leading a team of QA engineers and testers, collaborating with stakeholders across IT, clinical departments, and third party vendors, and ensuring that all applications meet the highest standards of performance, security, and usability.

The post holder will also be responsible for managing financial resources, overseeing budgets related to testing tools and technology, and ensuring compliance with NHS standards.

Main duties of the job

  • Develop, deliver, and manage the testing strategy for the Trust’s digital solutions, ensuring integration with technical infrastructure, applications, and data conversion.
  • Develop a detailed testing programme timeline in coordination with key programme leads, ensuring resources, environments, and tools are prepared for timely execution of testing.
  • Oversee both manual and automated testing efforts, ensuring test coverage across applications, infrastructure, and integrated systems.
  • Lead the development of detailed test plans, scripts, and test cases for functional, non-functional, integration, and regression testing.
  • Liaise with IT teams, application owners, clinical leads, and external suppliers to ensure testing is aligned with project objectives.
  • Collaborate with external vendors to ensure thorough testing of third-party solutions including relevant supplier relationship management where applicable.
  • Act as the central point of contact for testing activities, presenting complex technical data and testing outcomes to various stakeholders, including senior management and clinical leads.
  • Evaluate and adopt new tools and technologies for test automation, performance testing, and integration testing to enhance testing capabilities.
  • Manage a multi-disciplinary test engineering team, providing leadership, mentoring, and training opportunities.
  • Own and manage the overall testing programme across all digital applications, data conversion, and infrastructure readiness.

Working for our organisation

Diversity makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

We support flexible working wherever possible, with requests considered on an individual basis taking into account service requirements, operational needs and the requirements of the role.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached the Job Description, which provides details of the main responsibilities and requirements of the role.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Minimum of 5 years in a leadership role managing testing in a complex, regulated environment, ideally within the NHS or healthcare sector.
  • Extensive experience in software testing and quality assurance, including both manual and automated testing techniques.
  • Significant experience in leading and managing test teams in an agile, multidisciplinary digital delivery environment.
Desirable criteria
  • Testing experience gained in Acute NHS or a healthcare environment, with knowledge of healthcare-specific digital systems.
  • Strong experience in leading digital testing processes in complex, multi-system environments.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Extensive knowledge of various software testing techniques, including Agile testing and test automation.
  • Strong ability of managing the overall testing programme across all digital applications, data conversion, and infrastructure readiness.
  • Strong knowledge of software testing best practices across functional, non-functional, regression, integration, and UAT testing.
Desirable criteria
  • Significant knowledge of project governance in relation to testing in a digital healthcare environment.
  • In depth understanding of software development processes, including Agile and DevOps methodologies, and their impact on testing.

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and application of test automation tools.
Desirable criteria
  • ITIL Service Management Qualification.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy will automatically close when 50 applications have been received.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mustansar Hussain
Job title
Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01183221111
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies