Program Test Manager

We are seeking a highly experienced Program Test Manager with minimum of 12 years experience in leading end-to-end testing strategy, planning, governance, and execution across complex, multi-stream programs. This role is at the Program level sharing testing authority across project teams, driving quality definitions, ensuring requirement completeness, and enabling predictable, high-quality delivery outcomes. The ideal candidate will combine strategic leadership, hands-on test management expertise, and strong stakeholder influence to deliver integrated testing across business and technology teams.

In this role, you will

• Owns the overall strategy and test governance model for the program, ensuring alignment across all testing phases (SIT, E2E, UAT, and Performance).
• Define, own, and obtain approval for the program-level test strategy.
• Establish and maintain testing approaches across all phases: SIT, DIT, Integration, UAT, and Performance.
• Manage end-to-end test lifecycle activities, ensuring seamless execution across all systems and workstreams.
• Develop, implement, and maintain the master test schedule, integrated test plan, and execution tracking.
• Plan and oversee integrated testing activities across business and technology for large initiatives
• Define standards for test environments, tools, test data, roles, and quality metrics.
• Drive test governance, quality assurance controls, and adherence to standards.
• Track defect trends and aging across critical, high, and medium defects, including cross-domain impacts and resolution plans.
• Coordinate all phases of testing (SIT, DIT, Integration, UAT, Performance) ensuring completeness and timely delivery.
• Ensure all test exit criteria, deliverables, and signoffs are met within expected timelines and quality standards for Multiple applications.
• Work closely with UAT/QA/E2E Leads to ensure QA exit criteria are met and UAT entry criteria are fully satisfied.
• Produce testing dashboards, status reports, and executive communications across all levels of the organization.
• Maintain and track RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) and ensure visibility to stakeholders.
• Ensure release readiness reviews, mock runs, and Go/No-Go decisions are executed effectively.
• Maintain test traceability and quality reporting across the lifecycle.
• Strong expertise across SIT, DIT, Integration, UAT, and Performance testing.
• Drive testing transformation, automation, and continuous delivery practices.

Required skills:

• Minimum 12+ years of extensive experience in program test management, strategy, and leadership across complex, multi-stream program delivery.
• Must have 5+ years of recent banking domain QA Manager/Test Manager experience.
• Extensive experience in program test management, strategy, and leadership.
• Strong expertise across all testing phases including SIT, DIT, Integration, UAT, and Performance testing.
• Proven track record in defining test strategies, governance models, master test schedules, and quality assurance controls.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing onsite-offshore or cross-functional teams, Test Leads, and Test Analysts across multiple streams and systems.
• Strong capabilities in defect governance, trend tracking, RAID log management, and executive reporting.
• Proven track record in complex, multi-stream program delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership in driving testing transformation and operational excellence.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills to coordinate between business, product, development, and infrastructure teams.

Preferred skills

• Experience managing large-scale, complex enterprise programs within regulated or multi-vendor environments.

We're eager to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in various ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the required skills listed. Your transferable skills and experiences matter—help us see how you the right person for this role.

Total compensation:

We regularly assess market data to ensure we offer a competitive compensation package for our associates. The base salary for this position ranges between CAD 90,000 – 110,000 per year. Where the successful candidate may fall within the range depends on relevant education, work and/or management experience and other business-related and job-necessary qualifications. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual performance-based bonus, as well as benefits that support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Working arrangements

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a Cognizant or client office in Toronto. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various well-being programs.

Note: The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in Canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Applications for this position are reviewed by our recruitment team without the use of artificial intelligence screening tools.

About Cognizant: 
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.

Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.