AVP, Testing Services

Overview

The Testing Services team sets testing strategy, defines approach and provides support to all teams and projects across the organisation with a global remit. We provide assurance to senior leadership in Pacific Life Re (PL Re) by operating using current industry standards and adhering to testing principles, controls and governance under which the business operates.

AVP, Testing Services

The Testing Services team sets testing strategy, defines approach and provides support to all teams and projects across the organisation with a global remit. We provide assurance to senior leadership in Pacific Life Re (PL Re) by operating using the most current industry standards and adhering to appropriate testing principles, controls and governance under which the business sets out to operate.

We are looking for a driven and experienced Testing or QA Leader to join PL Re Technology as an AVP and lead the Testing Services team. This experienced leader will shape and deliver the testing strategy across our large back office transformation programme and BAU activities, ensuring robust quality standards and the seamless integration of new platforms and technologies. You will also be the face of testing to the organisation.

• Leadership & Team Management
  • Management of the testing services team, including recruitment, development, and performance management.
  • Matrix management of additional testers and QA resources across business units and third-party vendors.
  • Foster a culture of quality, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team and across the programme.
  • Alignment with our parent company Pacific Life’s Technology approach and framework and apply specific Divisional requirements for PL Re.
• Test Management & Strategy
  • Develop and implement the overall test strategy and approach, aligned with Pacific Life Re’s standards and the Unify transformation programme objectives.
  • Define detailed testing scope and approach for all programme and project test phases (unit, integration, UAT, Dry Run, regression, automation).
  • Oversee production of test scenarios, scripts, data sets, and defect management processes.
  • Ensure best practices in testing and QA, leveraging modern methodologies (Agile, Waterfall) and tools (JIRA, automation frameworks, cloud platforms).
  • Maintain comprehensive audit trails and reporting to support project approval and closure.
• Programme Oversight & Delivery
  • Lead testing oversight for a complex, multi-territory transformation programme, anticipating risks and ensuring timely completion of milestones.
  • Ensure the smooth execution of all testing cycles across the programme whilst helping co-ordinate cross-functional testing.
  • Establish and run regular project testing meetings, including defect triage and readiness activities.
  • Provide project management support with periodic reports detailing testing and defect metrics.
  • Drive continuous improvement by implementing lessons learned and optimizing test processes. Provide visibility and reporting on key Programme activities where testing is engaged or required for Technology.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Engage with senior leaders to provide assurance that the right quality solutions are being delivered into the business with minimal disruption and traced back to business requirements.
  • Build effective networks and partnerships with global PL Re teams, system owners, support teams, and external delivery partners.
  • Communicate testing strategy, progress, and risks to senior stakeholders, including executive sponsors and business unit heads.
  • Influence decision-making and manage corrective actions to enable successful delivery.

• 10+ years’ experience in software testing and QA, including leadership roles in large-scale transformation programmes.
• Deep understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and the role of testing within it.
• Proven experience with all testing phases and methodologies (unit, integration, UAT, regression, automation, non-functional, performance, security).
• Proven experience in managing environments and releases in relation to testing on large transformation programmes.
• Strong…