Lead Functional Analyst & QA - Contract

ROLE OVERVIEW

Our client is seeking a seasoned Lead Functional Analyst & QA to spearhead quality assurance and functional analysis activities across complex healthcare and public sector transformation programs. The successful candidate will bridge business strategy and technical execution, ensuring that solutions meet regulatory standards, stakeholder expectations, and quality benchmarks throughout the full delivery lifecycle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Functional Analysis & Requirements

. Lead requirement analysis, functional design validation, and end-to-end traceability across all workstreams.

. Collaborate with business stakeholders, SMEs, and technical teams to ensure a clear understanding of scope and deliverables.

. Review and validate Business Requirements Documents (BRDs), Functional Requirements Documents (FRDs), user stories, and acceptance criteria.

. Ensure compliance with healthcare and public sector regulatory standards throughout solution design.

. Drive comprehensive impact analysis for change requests and enhancements.

Quality Assurance & Test Management

. Develop and own test plans, test cases, and requirements traceability matrices (RTMs).

. Lead defect triage meetings and ensure timely, prioritised resolution of identified issues.

. Coordinate seamlessly with development, integration, and release management teams.

. Oversee and define automation strategy where applicable to improve testing efficiency.

. Track, analyse, and report testing metrics, risks, and quality KPIs to project and client leadership.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

. Lead and mentor a team of functional analysts and test engineers, fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

. Allocate tasks effectively and monitor team deliverables against project timelines and milestones.

. Provide regular, transparent status reporting to project and client leadership.

. Manage client communications and expectations with professionalism and clarity.

. Champion and drive continuous improvement initiatives within the QA process and broader delivery framework.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education

. Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Healthcare IT, or a related field.

Experience

. 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in functional analysis and/or software testing roles.

. 3+ years in a formal leadership capacity managing QA and/or functional analyst teams.

. Proven track record in Healthcare or Public Sector transformation programs of significant scale.

. Hands-on experience managing the end-to-end test lifecycle from planning through to sign-off.

. Strong practical exposure to Agile and Hybrid delivery models and associated ceremonies.

. Proficiency with test management tools: JIRA, HP ALM, or Azure DevOps (ADO).