Group IT Test & Release Manager

Group IT Test & Release Manager

Location: Ireland
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 at pace.

This 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, environment management and production readiness
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• The ability to work across applications, infrastructure, security, data, suppliers and business teams
• A practical approach to governance, with the ability to maintain control without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
• Strong attention to detail, organisation and ownership

It would also be helpful if you have experience in operationally intensive or multi-site businesses, large-scale transformation programmes, ERP environments, Azure DevOps, Jira, ServiceNow, test automation, CI/CD practices, ITIL certification or ISTQB qualifications.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success will mean:

• High-quality, low-risk releases delivered consistently across critical business systems
• Fewer production incidents and failed changes
• Improved testing maturity, coverage and automation
• Faster and more predictable release cycles
• Strong governance that supports, rather than slows, delivery
• Greater confidence from business stakeholders in technology change
• Improved operational stability during a period of rapid transformation
• Scalable and repeatable testing and release processes embedded across the business

Why Join Panda?

This is a great opportunity to play a central role in shaping how technology change is delivered across Panda Ireland.

As Group IT Test & Release Manager, you’ll help establish modern testing and release practices, influence delivery standards and work closely with senior stakeholders on critical business transformation programmes.

You’ll be joining a business that is changing quickly, investing in technology and building stronger, more scalable ways of working across the organisation.Gro

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