Testing Manager (Telecommunications/CRM Integration)

• Engagement: Contract / Consulting - Immediate Start

• Duration: 3 months (with extension subject to programme requirements)

• Location: Remote / Hybrid (Cape Town) - with travel to client site (Johannesburg) as required

We are seeking an experienced Testing Manager to lead the system integration testing (SIT) and client side UAT programme for a major telecommunications client. This is a senior, hands on role requiring the ability to set testing strategy, build and execute test plans across manual and automated testing workstreams, and manage the relationship with the client's business and IT teams.

The role is critical to programme delivery, acting as the primary point of accountability for test quality, defect governance, and readiness for go live.

The programme involves the delivery of a custom built portal integrated with CRM, Offer Engine, middleware, and multiple client back end systems. It is currently in active recovery, targeting Technical Go Live in May 2026 and Commercial Go Live in June 2026.

Testing Scope Includes:

• End to end SIT across portal Add and Modify journeys (16+ scenarios)

• Integration testing with CRM, middleware, and downstream fulfillment systems

• Regression and smoke testing following development sprints and hotfix deployments

• Management of client business and IT UAT, including environment readiness and defect triage

• Automation framework setup and execution using Playwright

• Defect management, prioritisation, and daily reporting

• Strategy & Planning: Define overall test strategy for SIT and UAT; produce the Master Test Plan; establish environment requirements; and define automation strategy.

• SIT Execution: Lead and coordinate the internal QA team; own the full SIT cycle; manage test case design in Jira; and drive the Playwright regression suite.

• Client UAT Management: Serve as primary liaison for business stakeholders; facilitate UAT sessions; manage environment stability; and track execution and sign off status.

• Defect Governance: Own the defect lifecycle; run daily triage; elevate Severity 1 blockers; and enforce the scope control framework.

• Reporting: Maintain testing dashboards; provide daily written status updates; and prepare test readiness summaries for GO/NO GO gate reviews.

• Experience: 8+ years in software testing, with 3+ years in a Management or Lead role on enterprise custom development programmes.

• Industry Knowledge: Proven experience in the telecommunications industry (fixed line, broadband, or converged services).

• Technical Breadth: Experience testing complex CRM or BSS/OSS integrations; background in both manual and automated testing (Playwright, Selenium, or equivalent).

• Tools: Hands on experience with Jira and proficiency in SQL for database validation.

• Skills: API and middleware integration testing (REST, SOAP, ESB); familiarity with CI/CD pipelines.

• Client facing presence: Able to build trust and manage difficult conversations professionally.

• Assertive and structured: Comfortable pushing back on scope creep and holding the line on readiness criteria.

• Calm under pressure: Ability to maintain structure during an accelerated, high stakes recovery delivery.

• Self managing: Able to operate with limited supervision in a fast paced consulting environment.