Quality & Defect Manager

Quality & Defect Manager (Contract)

Location: Fully Remote (UK)
Rate: Crica 300 per day (Outside IR35)
Contract Length: Initial 3-month assignment with possible extension
Equipment: Contractor to provide own laptop and equipment
Engagement: Outside IR35

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Quality & Defect Manager to support the delivery of a critical Central Government portfolio. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving quality assurance activities, managing complex defect lifecycles, and coordinating testing and remediation across multiple suppliers within a challenging multi-vendor environment.
This role is ideally suited to a professional with strong stakeholder management skills, extensive public sector experience, and a proven track record of improving quality outcomes across large-scale technology programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead quality and defect management activities across a dedicated programme portfolio.
• Manage the end-to-end defect lifecycle, ensuring timely triage, prioritisation, assignment, resolution, and closure.
• Coordinate defect management activities across multiple suppliers and delivery partners.
• Establish and maintain quality metrics, reporting, dashboards, and governance processes.
• Facilitate defect review meetings, root cause analysis sessions, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with programme managers, delivery teams, business stakeholders, and suppliers to resolve issues effectively.
• Monitor testing progress and ensure quality standards are consistently met throughout delivery.
• Identify quality risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Produce regular management information and quality reports for senior stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement in testing, defect management, and quality assurance processes.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a Quality Manager, Defect Manager, Test Manager, or similar role.
• Strong experience working within complex multi-vendor delivery environments.
• Demonstrable experience delivering within Central Government or wider Public Sector organisations.
• Extensive knowledge of defect management processes, tools, and methodologies.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships across technical and non-technical teams.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience operating within Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid delivery models.

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting large-scale transformation or digital programmes.
• Knowledge of government delivery frameworks and governance processes.
• ISTQB, Agile, or relevant quality management certifications.

Assignment Details

• Fully remote working arrangement.
• Contractor will focus on one portfolio at a time to ensure quality and delivery outcomes are achieved.
• Initial 3-month engagement with potential for extension based on programme requirements.
• Outside IR35 contract.
• 300 per day.

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