Test and Release Manager

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Perch Group are hiring for a Test and Release Manager and if your idea of a smooth release doesn’t involve crossed fingers and late nights, we should talk.

At Perch Group, our vision is clear: to lead the UK debt purchase and collection industry by harnessing cutting‑edge technology to drive ethical, efficient, and data‑driven debt resolution.

Our annual mission is to empower hundreds of thousands of customers to positively engage with and resolve their outstanding debts
. We do this through an empathetic and customer‑centric approach that is at the heart of our success.

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Could this be the next step in your career?

As Testing and Release Manager, you’ll take ownership of testing governance, release planning, and quality assurance across the Group’s technology landscape. You’ll design and implement robust frameworks that ensure all changes from small configuration updates to major system releases are tested, validated, and deployed effectively.

You’ll collaborate closely with project, change, and technical teams to embed structured testing practices, streamline release cycles, and drive continuous improvement through automation and Dev Ops principles.

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So, what will your day‑to‑day look like?

• Develop, implement, and own Perch Group’s testing framework, strategy, and standards (covering functional, regression, performance, and UAT testing).
• Plan and oversee all testing phases, ensuring alignment with project and change delivery timelines.
• Implement test automation frameworks and drive continuous improvement in testing processes.
• Manage test environments — ensuring appropriate configuration, data, and access.
• Track and report on testing outcomes, defect trends, and quality metrics to senior stakeholders.

• Own the end‑to‑end release management process — from planning and scheduling through to deployment and post‑release validation.
• Coordinate multiple concurrent releases across systems and business units, minimising downtime and risk.
• Maintain and communicate a clear release calendar for all technology and business stakeholders.
• Ensure all deployments are version‑controlled, approved, and fully documented.
• Champion the adoption of Dev Ops and CI/CD practices to increase release efficiency, reliability, and traceability.

• Ensure all testing and release activities comply with change control, audit, and risk frameworks.
• Maintain detailed records of testing results, approvals, and release documentation.
• Support internal and external audits related to change, testing, and release processes.
• Ensure compliance with data protection, security, and regulatory standards (e.g. GDPR, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials).

• Work closely with project managers, developers, business analysts, and operations teams to ensure smooth delivery of changes.
• Act as the escalation point for all release and testing issues.
• Communicate status, risks, and impacts of testing and release activity clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Provide mentorship, training, and leadership to testing and release teams, embedding best practices and continuous improvement.

• Proven experience managing software testing and release processes in complex IT environments.
• Strong understanding of software development and delivery life cycles (Agile, Waterfall, Dev Ops).
• Hands‑on experience with automated testing tools, CI/CD pipelines, and version control systems (e.g. Azure Dev Ops, Jenkins, Git).
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement structured testing methodologies and release frameworks.
• Prince2, Agile
  
  PM, or similar project management accreditation.
• Experience working with ISO 27001, PCI‑DSS, or similar compliance frameworks.
• Degree in IT, Computing, or a related discipline.

• A first stage video call with the internal recruitment team (15 minute call)
• A face to face or video call with the hiring manager (45 minutes- 60 minutes)

Typically, the average successful applicant will be within this timeline for 2-3 weeks. Please note we will close this role once we have enough applications for the next stages therefore you should submit your application…