Group QA Lead

Job Title: Group QA Lead

Key Purpose Statement – Core mission

We are looking for a methodical and results-driven Group QA Lead to lead a team of manual QA engineers, ensuring product quality across diverse and complex deliverables. This role requires hands-on involvement in test planning, execution, and result analysis while also supervising test outputs such as Test Strategies and Test Plans. The Group QA Lead will oversee all types of manual testing—regression, exploratory, and smoke testing—and take accountability for the team’s performance in achieving efficient, high-quality testing results.

In this role, the candidate will manage test activities across multiple agile teams, coordinating deliverables with a range of stakeholders to maintain alignment on quality standards. The ideal candidate should excel in handling complexity, diagnosing technical issues, and collaborating with various personality types across the product lifecycle.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and Coordinate Manual Testing Team: Organize and lead a team of manual testers, managing their workloads, assigning tasks, and ensuring all testing types (regression, exploratory, sanity) are executed effectively.
• Supervise Test Strategies and Test Plans: Develop, review, and oversee comprehensive test strategies and plans to ensure consistency and quality across product releases.
• Plan and Monitor Test Execution: Oversee test execution status, document test results, and communicate findings with relevant teams.
• Performance Accountability: Ensure team performance aligns with quality standards, mentoring team members and addressing any gaps in skill or productivity.
• Optimize QA Processes: Identify and implement process improvements within the QA function, aiming for faster delivery and enhanced product quality.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with stakeholders, business and product owners, QA leads,  and development to ensure alignment and quality goals are met.
• Support Test Automation Feasibility: Assess and advocate for test automation opportunities where possible, particularly for regression testing.
• Community Participation: Engage actively within the QA community, contributing to discussions and fostering knowledge-sharing and best practices.

Cooperation with:

• QA Community, QA leads
• Stakeholders, Business and Product owners
• Software development

Key Dimensions

Key KPIs: Timely and successful execution of manual testing phases; quality and accuracy of test execution documentation; team performance metrics; process improvement benchmarks.

• Test Case Execution Rate: Number of executed test cases against planned cases.
• Valid vs. Invalid Defects Ratio: Percentage of valid (genuine) defects vs. invalid (non-issues or duplicate) defects raised.
• Defect Leakage: Number of defects that escape to production after the testing phase.
• Defect Rejection Rate: Percentage of reported bugs that are rejected by developers or deemed not reproducible.
• Defect Reopen Rate: Percentage of defects that are closed but reopened due to incomplete resolution.
• Time to Execute Test Cases: Average time taken to execute a suite of manual test cases.
• Test Coverage: Percentage of requirements and functionalities covered by executed test cases.

Requirements AND OTHER SPECIFICATIONS – Knowledge, Skills and Experience

a. Education

• Bachelors Degree
• 3+ years in QA Leadership role
• English B2 level - written and spoken
• Strong communication skills (very good written/spoken)

Technical and Soft Skills:

• ISTQB certification (Certified ISTQB Test Manager preferred)
• Strong communication and leadership abilities with a capacity for managing and coaching manual QA testers
• Advanced planning and diagnostic skills, with experience in complex test strategies and plan creation
• Ability to perform in dynamic, fast-paced environments and with routine tasks as necessary
• The ability to track, write and articulate reports upon technical assessments

Work and personality characteristics required:

• Above-average self-organizational skills and attention to detail

• Able to work in a fast-changing environment as well as perform routine tasks
• Understanding and implementing industry standards and protocols
• Experience with project and scaled agile approaches