Test Leads

Department: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C)
Location: Canberra, ACT (Hybrid)
Security Clearance: Must hold or be able to obtain NV1 (Negative Vetting Level 1)
Start Date: 17 November 2025
Initial Contract Duration: To 30 June 2026
Extensions: Up to 2 x 12-month terms
Hours: Up to 40 hours per week
Classification: APS6 Equivalent

This role is a full-time opportunity to join the Local Peoples team permanently, with your first project supporting the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet team.. Beyond this project, you would be contributing to impactful co-design projects that improve services, policies, and products for communities across Australia.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) is seeking two experienced Test Leads to support the delivery of a range of ICT projects. The successful candidates will play a key role in ensuring software quality, data integrity, and test excellence across multiple Agile delivery squads.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing test strategies, leading automation initiatives, and overseeing the defect management process across the full software development lifecycle. The role also involves mentoring testing teams and engaging with project, technical, and executive stakeholders to drive continuous quality improvement.

Defect Management and Triage

Manage the full defect lifecycle from identification to closure across Agile squads.

Lead daily defect triage sessions, ensuring prioritisation and resolution in line with delivery goals.

Analyse defect data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for quality improvement.

Maintain consistent severity classifications aligned with established risk models.

Cross-Squad Coordination

Act as the central point of contact for defect communication across up to 10 Agile squads.

Collaborate with Release Managers and Delivery Leads to validate and track defect fixes.

Participate in Go/No-Go discussions to inform release readiness and risk mitigation.

Tooling and Reporting

Use Azure DevOps (or equivalent) to manage test and defect workflows.

Maintain traceability between defects, test cases, and user stories.

Generate weekly test and defect reports, highlighting key performance indicators and quality metrics.

Leadership and Governance

Champion a "fix it right the first time" approach within teams.

Provide guidance on defect prevention and test improvement practices.

Mentor and support junior QA and test analysts in test management and automation practices.

Foster a collaborative, quality-first culture within the delivery environment.

1. Strong understanding of data quality principles and modern testing methodologies.

2. Minimum 3 years' hands-on experience in analysing and testing data quality, identifying integration and functional anomalies, and validating data accuracy and completeness.

3. Proven understanding of defect metrics (severity, priority, fix rate, reopen rate) and their implications for delivery risk.

4. Experience across SIT, UAT, and production warranty cycles within large-scale digital transformation programs.

5. Demonstrated expertise in writing detailed test cases and scripts, and practical experience in configuring and using test automation tools.

6. Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence developers, business analysts, product owners, and senior executives.

7. Structured and analytical thinker with strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
   
   

8. Able to remain calm and decisive under pressure.

9. Committed to promoting a quality-first culture and accountability within delivery teams.
   
   

Experience with automation frameworks such as Selenium, Postman, or JUnit.

Familiarity with Agile delivery environments and cross-functional teams.

Exposure to large-scale government ICT projects or enterprise transformations.

This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with a mix of on-site work in Canberra and remote flexibility as agreed with the delivery team.

Who are Local Peoples?

Local Peoples is a strategic research and design studio based in Melbourne and Canberra.

Our mission is to design healthy, resilient and resourceful communities. We are proud to be a certified B-Corporation with a strong focus on our social, environmental and economic impact.

We work across brand and digital design, place and experience design,, content and community engagement. Our key partners include state and local government, social enterprises, universities and large commercial organisations. All are experiencing complex challenges right now and we believe that design research, thinking and delivery can help to solve these challenges and make positive change for people and the planet.

We produce , a publication and community of 100K+, which focuses on design-led social innovation and impact.

Why join Local Peoples?

Representative and inclusive - we are dedicated to building an inclusive and accessible workplace for people from diverse backgrounds

Impact driven - work towards achieving real impact for people and the environment

Fantastic culture - driven by a welcoming, supportive and collaborative team environment

Professional support for design excellence- benefit from being a part of one of Australia's fastest growing design and delivery communities

Flexible working arrangements - including the ability to work remotely

Market rate salaries - attractive remuneration packages in line with the market rate

Flexible employment types - including the preference for permanent, but will consider contracting

Local Peoples proudly supports the LGBTQ+ community, neurodiverse individuals, and First Nations people. We are committed to creating inclusive spaces where everyone, regardless of their identity, feels valued and respected. Together, we strive for equality and a positive future for all.

Local Peoples works, creates, and plays on the lands of the Wurundjeri, Bunurong, and Wathaurong peoples of the Kulin Nation, land which has never been ceded. We thank them for caring for this land for over 40,000 years and recognize and pay our deepest respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land