Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager page is loaded Quality Assurance Manager Apply locations Manchester, UK time type Full time posted on Posted 21 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: August 29, 2025 (13 days left to apply) job requisition id R-6060

Role Profile: Quality Assurance Manager
Function / Area: IT Applications
Reports To: Head of Development or IT Director

Position Summary

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for defining and leading the Quality Assurance practice across the IT & project teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions that meet business needs. This role oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of testing activities, manages a team of QA Analysts, and ensures adherence to best practices in quality assurance and testing methodologies.

The QA Manager acts as a strategic partner to development, project and business teams, driving continuous improvement in QA processes and tools, and ensuring that all technical releases are robust, reliable, and aligned with CNA Hardy's business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Directly or indirectly manage 10-20 QA resources, including recruitment, mentoring, performance management, and professional development.
• Define and implement the overall QA strategy, structure & processes, aligning with business goals and IT delivery frameworks (Agile, Waterfall, etc.).

• Act as a Test Lead on the Transformation programme, defining the test strategy and approach and managing resources to deliver and ensure quality outcomes.

• Oversee the planning, development, and execution of test strategies, test plans, and automated testing frameworks.

• Ensure quality standards are maintained across all projects and releases, including third-party vendor deliverables.

• Collaborate with Development Managers, Business Analysts, and Project Managers to ensure quality is embedded throughout the software development lifecycle.

• Champion the use of automation and continuous testing practices to improve efficiency and reduce time to market.

• Monitor and report on QA metrics, identifying trends and areas for improvement.

• Manage risks and issues related to quality assurance and escalate where necessary.

• Ensure compliance with internal standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

• Act as a key point of contact for senior stakeholders regarding QA matters.

• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across the IT function.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• 7+ years of experience in Quality Assurance, with at least 2 years in a leadership or managerial role.

• Proven experience in managing QA teams and delivering QA strategies in both Agile and Waterfall environments.

• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles and QA methodologies.

• Experience with test automation tools and frameworks.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to influence and drive change across teams and departments.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Familiarity with tools such as JIRA, Confluence, Microsoft Office Suite, and test management platforms.

• Knowledge of SQL and relational databases.

• Experience in the insurance or financial services sector, particularly within the Lloyd's market, is highly desirable.

The Company

CNA Hardy is a leading specialist commercial insurance provider for clients within the Lloyd's and company markets. We offer a highly specialised and comprehensive portfolio of innovative and market leading products. Coverage is available to businesses of all sizes for domestic, international and global exposures.

We are a leading specialist commercial insurance provider for clients of all sizes with both domestic and international exposures. Writing across both company and Lloyd's platforms offers our brokers the flexibility tofind the best solution for their clients in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Find out more about ourLloyd's Syndicate 382 .

Our clients trust us because we understand the risks they face. Our teams on the ground have the local expertise and authority to provide fast, effective solutions for our clients across our network of dedicated offices in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK (Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London).

Whether it's our expert underwriters, risk control engineers, claims managers or international solutions team, we work in partnership with our brokers to deliver our highly-specialised and comprehensive portfolio of innovative and market-leading products in response to emerging exposures and ever-changing needs.

CNA Hardy is part of CNA Financial Corp, one of the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. Trusted for more than 125 years, CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialised insurance products and services for over 1 million businesses and professionals across the U.S., Canada and Europe.