Testing Services Assistant Director

Testing Services Assistant Director
Location: Arlington, VA
Clearance Requirement: Existing Public Trust or security clearance with the DoD

We are looking for a Testing Services Assistant Director to work closely with the Testing Services Director and other senior software testing leadership and software test platform leaders to ensure projects are progressing to plan, key metrics are being reported and to drive operational efficiency.
This person should proactively drive work independently in alignment with broader strategic guidance, anticipate challenges, accurately prioritize responsibilities, and develop actionable, solution-oriented recommendations in close collaboration with stakeholders. This role will work closely with other contracted members of the team and subcontracted resources. This role requires a proactive, solutions-oriented individual who takes initiative, anticipates challenges, and works closely with clients and stakeholders to drive outcomes. As the needs of the contract change, this role will also evolve. Some highlights of the job duties include the following.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Own execution of Software Testing – Accountable for end-to-end delivery of testing across the program, including planning, execution, and reporting
• Drive development and execution of test plans aligned to program needs
• Lead resolution of testing issues and remove blockers to maintain schedule
• Deliver clear, accurate reporting on solution health and test outcomes
• Establish and improve test performance metrics to drive accountability
• Partner directly with government leads and key stakeholders across all activities
• Operate and make decisions effectively in high-stakes environment

Drive change and implementation of best practices – Lead adoption of modern testing practices across Agile and DevSecOps environments
• Define and communicate a clear vision for testing best practices
• Drive cross-functional alignment to implement and sustain changes
• Develop actionable implementation plans and ensure execution
• Advocate for change using data, metrics, and measurable outcomes
• Address adoption challenges with practical, experience-based solutions

Provide Subject Matter Expertise – Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders on testing strategy, execution, and optimization, including
• Test strategy development and execution in a DoD context
• Implementation of testing procedures, requirements, and best practices
• Trade-offs and impacts across development, security, operations, and business decisions
• Test environments and infrastructure strategy
• Test automation and CI/CD pipeline integration
• Test scheduling, coordination, and management

Strategically manage team tasks and direction – Hold ultimate accountability for success of team tasks, including
• Support development and maintenance of test strategies and plans
• Lead core meetings (e.g., Working Integrated Program Teams, scrums, etc.)
• Allocate resources among different business units
• Use information from reports and test results to change operations
• Drive test automation and modernization efforts
• Support introduction of new tools and techniques that are aligned with the strategic testing program

Enforce documented processes – Ensure consistent adherence to defined testing and quality processes across teams and vendors
• Monitor compliance and proactively identify gaps or deviations
• Lead root cause analysis and drive corrective actions to resolution
• Partner with platform leads to implement process improvements and training
• Track and report process adherence and improvement metrics

Evolve with the role – Adapt responsibilities as program maturity increases, shifting from execution oversight to strategic optimization and continuous improvement
• Identify and lead initiatives that improve testing effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability
• Establish and refine metrics to measure success of evolving responsibilities and capabilities
• Partner with leadership to continuously improve testing strategy, tools, and processes
• Proactively assess organizational gaps and implement solutions aligned with DevSecOps best practices

Perform specific projects and/or other duties as assigned or required.

Requirements:
• Existing Public Trust or security clearance with the DoD
• Undergraduate and/or graduate degree in STEM (preferably in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or similar technical field; graduate degrees preferred)
• ISTQB Certified (preferably in Strategic Test Management and Operational Test Management; certification in Assessing Test Processes and Implementing Test Process Improvement also preferred)
• Experience in Acquisitions & Testing in the Department of Defense, including experience with programs following Adaptive Acquisition Framework
• Working knowledge of testing requirements and documentation needed in the DoD, especially for paths 5000.75, 5000.87, and 5000.74
• Defense Acquisition University Test & Evaluation training and/or Certification preferred

Soft Skill Requirements:
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Experience with JIRA, Zephyr, Xray, Git Integration, GitHub
• Familiarity with automation tools, especially UFT and UI Path
• Experience working with a variety of test / preproduction environments
• Familiarity with XML, SQL, Tableau, and PowerBI (C# or JavaScript, preferred)