Practice Lead, Quality and Testing (The… at NCS Australia · Sydney

Company Description

At NCS Australia, we believe in doing technology services better. Our commitment to quality, focus on people, and willingness to challenge traditional thinking set us apart. Our team brings this belief to life by partnering with our clients and communities to make tomorrow together.

We are committed to creating an environment that prioritises innovation, collaboration, and purposeful work. Our diverse team is empowered to make a meaningful impact with curiosity, creativity and resilience to shape better outcomes. Join us and accept the challenge of creating a better tomorrow

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to lead and evolve the Quality and Testing Practice to ensure NCS delivers confidence, trust, and predictability for clients across complex digital transformation programs.

The Practice Lead is accountable for shaping a modern, future‑ready Quality and Testing capability spanning traditional testing, quality engineering, automation, and AI‑enabled assurance. The role balances people leadership, commercial growth, practice innovation, and client impact, while positioning NCS as a trusted advisor in quality, risk, and outcomes.

A strong external and market‑led focus is required, including the responsible application of emerging technologies - such as AI‑assisted testing, test optimisation, and continuous assurance - to improve delivery speed, reduce risk, and support business‑critical platforms and services.

Responsibilities

• Position NCS’s Quality & Testing Practice as a leader in modern quality engineering and assurance, not just testing execution
• Contribute thought leadership on quality in enterprise, regulated, and AI‑enabled environments
• Support the evolution of NCS’s external Quality & Testing narrative to reflect emerging delivery models and technologies
• Client insights and future needs that are communicated from the Operating Groups are incorporated into future improvement plans
• Contribute to managing client satisfaction and resolving issues as needed
• Embed quality engineering practices across delivery, including automation‑first and continuous quality approaches
• ⁠Apply risk‑based testing and assurance, ensuring effort is aligned to business criticality and outcomes
• Introduce AI‑supported quality techniques where appropriate, while ensuring transparency, auditability, and client confidence
• Ensure quality approaches are fit‑for‑purpose across complex platforms, integrations, data, and third‑party ecosystems
• Meet revenue and contribution targets
• Set goals and manage the contribution of direct reports
• Develop and retain identified talent
• Ensure learning and development plans are agreed upon and actioned
• Ensure skills are relevant to established clients, the market and at the forefront of new technology
• Recruitment
• Communication and engagement
• Reward and recognition
• Actively manage poor performers if required
• Constructive participation in the broader capabilities team
• Behaviour consistent with NCS policies and values
• Commitment to personal and professional development
• Collaborative communication with leaders and team members
• Define and execute a multi‑year practice strategy aligned to client demand and market direction
• Evolve the practice from traditional testing towards quality engineering and continuous assurance
• Identify, incubate, and industrialise new offerings, including:
  • Automation accelerators and reusable IP
  • Continuous quality and release assurance
  • AI‑assisted test design, optimisation, and analytics
  • Quality and risk assurance for data and AI‑enabled solutions
• Balance innovation with strong foundations in enterprise, legacy, and regulated environments
• Co‑create differentiated Quality & Testing solutions for strategic pursuits
• Lead solution shaping for large, complex, and business‑critical programs, including platform and transformation initiatives.
• Clearly articulate the business value of quality, linking assurance to risk reduction, speed, and confidence

Qualifications

• Over 15 years of leadership experience in QA and testing
• Previous experience leading a testing/QA capability for a large complex organisation.
• Experience leading capability or practice transformation within QA, testing, or related technology disciplines.
• Thought leader on QA best practice and strategy including how technology influences business model changes.
• Consulting practitioner with strong influencing skills and the ability to take stakeholders at all levels on a journey.
• Ability to architect value.
• Solid sales and commercial acumen including the ability to apply knowledge of business and marketplace to advance NCS’ goals automation, CI/CD integration, and continuous testing.
• Strong awareness of AI‑ and data‑driven approaches to quality, including where they add value and where they introduce risk.
• Proven ability to apply emerging technologies responsibly and pragmatically in enterprise and government environments.
• Strong capability in translating quality outcomes into business value, confidence, and risk management.
• The ability to builds strong client relationships and delivers client-centric solutions.
• Results driven and tenacious, with the ability to consistently achieve outcomes even under tough circumstances.
• Deep understanding of modern quality engineering practices, including automation, CI/CD integration, and continuous testing.
• Strong awareness of AI‑ and data‑driven approaches to quality, including where they add value and where they introduce risk.
• Proven ability to apply emerging technologies responsibly and pragmatically in enterprise and government environments.
• Strong capability in translating quality outcomes into business value, confidence, and risk management.
• Customer focus—builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions
• Results driven and tenacious, with the ability to consistently achieve outcomes even under tough circumstances.
• Able to communicate effectively including developing and delivering multi-mode communication that conveys a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Demonstrates strong situational adaptability with ability to adapt approach and demeanour in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
• Collaborates and contributes to a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organisation achieve its objective.

Additional Information

Please share your resume along with response to the above questions in a maximum of one page.

1. If appointed Practice Lead, how [would you / do you] assess the current state of the QA practice and what would you focus on in your first 90–180 days to build credibility with clients, delivery leaders, and wider stakeholders?
2. The QA & Testing practice today is largely staff‑augmentation led. How would you evolve the practice to drive deeper client value and stronger relationships, and how will the rapid developments in AI capabilities impact your strategy.?
3. When quality, speed, and cost are in tension on our client engagements, how do you decide what to prioritise — and how do you influence clients and account teams to align behind that decision?

This is an urgent opportunity, with applications closing on 23/04/2025. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications promptly.

Why join us:

NCS Australia is where you can feel at home, nurturing your talents and skills as we make tomorrow together, one day at a time. Our benefits include paid parental leave, initiatives focused on your well-being and discounted health insurance. You will also enjoy discounts on various products and services and be regularly recognised and rewarded for high performance. We are committed to your career development through our Capability Fingerprint, industry and partner training programs, special interest groups, and an AI-driven learning platform. No matter where you are in your career, we offer meaningful work and opportunities for growth.

NCS Australia is an equal-opportunity employer, and we take pride in our commitment to valuing and supporting our people and the communities we serve.We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community and we strongly encourage applications from the Veterans, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

At NCS Australia, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply.

Agencies:

We’ve got this. We request that you do not contact NCS employees outside of the Talent Acquisition team. NCS exclusively accepts resumes from agencies on our preferred supplier panel through the NCS Agency Portal. Agencies that submit resumes must have a valid fee agreement and be assigned to the particular requisition by the Talent Acquisition team. Any resumes that are submitted outside of this process will become the sole property of NCS. If a candidate is hired outside of this process, no fee or payment will be given.

Work rights and background checks:

To be eligible for a position with us, applicants will need to have valid work rights for Australia and be willing to undergo a comprehensive background checking process, including probity and police checks