Group IT Test & Release Manager

Position: Group IT Test & Release Manager
Location: Bromborough

Group IT Test & Release Manager

Location:

UK
Department:
Group IT

Reports to:

Head of Group IT Solutions & Data Platforms
Panda Ireland is going through a major business and technology transformation, and we are looking for a Group IT Test & Release Manager to help make sure change is delivered safely, consistently and s is a key role within our Group IT function, responsible for leading testing, release governance and production readiness across a complex technology landscape. You’ll work across enterprise systems, operational platforms, customer service tools, data platforms, integrations and customer-facing technologies, including systems such as Workday, Freshworks and ERP platforms.
As Group IT Test & Release Manager, you’ll help build a modern, scalable and mature testing and release capability that supports rapid transformation while protecting operational stability.

The Role
This Group IT Test & Release Manager role is ideal for someone who combines strong technical understanding with governance discipline, stakeholder management and hands-on delivery leadership.
You’ll be responsible for owning the end-to-end testing and release lifecycle, ensuring technology changes are properly planned, tested, approved, deployed and validated before reaching production.
You’ll work closely with IT, Transformation, Operations, Finance, Customer Services, suppliers and senior stakeholders to ensure changes are delivered with quality, control and minimal disruption.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll be responsible for:
Defining, implementing and improving the enterprise-wide testing and release management framework
Establishing consistent testing standards, governance processes and quality gates across technology and transformation projects
Owning end-to-end testing activities including test planning, SIT, UAT, regression testing, integration testing, release validation and production verification
Ensuring testing coverage across business processes, integrations, data flows and operational dependencies
Introducing risk-based testing approaches that support fast-paced transformation delivery
Identifying opportunities to introduce automation and improve quality, repeatability and delivery speed
Managing defect governance, including prioritisation, root cause tracking and remediation
Owning and governing the release management lifecycle across multiple platforms, suppliers and delivery teams
Coordinating releases across critical systems including Workday, Freshworks and integrated enterprise platforms
Managing release calendars, dependencies, approvals, rollback plans and operational readiness
Overseeing environment governance, release readiness and refresh cycles
Working with infrastructure, security, platform engineering and third-party suppliers to support successful release delivery
Providing clear reporting on testing progress, release readiness, quality risks and delivery status
Supporting agile delivery teams while maintaining strong governance and operational control
Driving continuous improvement across testing, release and deployment processes
Supporting post-implementation reviews and contributing to lessons learned following incidents or major releases

About You
We’re looking for someone with strong experience in test management, release management or quality engineering leadership within a complex technology environment.
You’ll be confident managing multiple releases, working across technical and non-technical teams, and balancing delivery pace with the governance needed to protect business operations.
You’ll bring:
Significant experience in test management, release management or quality engineering leadership
Experience managing testing and releases across complex enterprise application landscapes
Strong understanding of enterprise SaaS platforms such as Workday, Freshworks, ERP or other integrated business systems
Experience working in agile, hybrid or fast-paced transformation environments
Strong knowledge of ITIL change, release and service transition principles
Experience coordinating multiple concurrent releases and delivery streams
Strong understanding of API testing, integration testing, data validation, defect management,…