Domain Portfolio Lead (Mashreq Global Network Pakistan)

We are seeking an experienced QA professional to lead and manage the Testing Center of Excellence (TCOE) within a dynamic banking portfolio. The role involves establishing and optimizing QA functions aligned with organizational policies and industry best practices. The successful candidate will drive governance, standardize testing methodologies, and ensure quality delivery across multiple initiatives while collaborating closely with business and technology stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

- TCOE Implementation & Governance: Establish, optimize, and manage the QA function in alignment with Mashreq QA Policy and TCOE standards. Drive the implementation of TCOE frameworks, governance processes, and testing best practices. Standardize testing methodologies, tools, templates, and reporting mechanisms across portfolio initiatives. Ensure consistent adoption of QA policies, standards, and governance controls.

- Portfolio Quality Leadership: Align QA strategy with business objectives, technology priorities, and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with Product Owners, Business Analysts, Project Managers, and other stakeholders to ensure effective test planning and execution. Monitor testing activities to guarantee quality outcomes, compliance, and timely delivery. Apply risk-based testing approaches by prioritizing activities based on business impact and technical complexity.

- Stakeholder Management & Collaboration: Partner with the Central Process Governance Team to ensure compliance and adoption of QA standards. Work with Technical Leads to promote automation-first approaches, performance testing, and effective test data strategies. Collaborate with Transformation Office and Change Teams to drive TCOE adoption and portfolio-wide visibility. Engage domain experts to validate business-critical scenarios and identify domain-specific risks.

- Metrics, Reporting & Continuous Improvement: Define, manage, and monitor QA KPIs and performance metrics across projects. Develop and maintain dashboards and management reports covering automation coverage, test execution metrics, defect density, defect leakage, defect aging, defect removal efficiency (DRE), productivity trends, and exit criteria compliance. Present QA performance reports and recommendations to portfolio stakeholders and the Head of TCOE. Drive continuous improvement initiatives through trend analysis, root cause analysis, and lessons learned.

- Capability Building & Quality Maturity: Promote QA maturity through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Support onboarding and upskilling of QA professionals. Encourage adoption of innovative testing tools, frameworks, and quality engineering practices. Drive standardization and reuse of QA assets across projects.

- Operating Environment & Working Relationships: Demonstrate strong planning, organization, and execution capabilities. Build and maintain effective relationships across technology and business teams. Support team objectives by assisting colleagues in achieving portfolio and organizational goals. Foster collaboration and ensure alignment across multiple stakeholders and delivery teams.

- Problem Solving: Lead the design, implementation, and evolution of TCOE practices across the assigned portfolio. Analyze business and technical requirements to determine testing scope and feasibility. Identify quality risks and implement effective mitigation strategies. Apply strong testing design and implementation expertise within banking technology environments.

- Decision-Making Authority & Responsibility: Ensure focus on critical deliverables and quality objectives. Take ownership and accountability for outcomes, quality targets, and governance compliance. Make informed decisions related to testing strategy, prioritization, and quality risks within the portfolio.

Required Qualifications

- Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related quantitative discipline.

- Experience: Minimum 10+ years of banking QA experience, including core banking, digital banking, trade finance, corporate banking, and regulatory & compliance programs. Proven experience in QA leadership and Test Center of Excellence (TCOE) initiatives.

- Technical & Functional Expertise: Deep understanding of QA processes, frameworks, and governance practices. Expertise in test strategy, planning, and execution management. Strong experience with automation testing frameworks, API testing, performance testing, test data management, defect lifecycle management, and risk-based testing. Advanced knowledge of defect severity and prioritization, defect aging, defect leakage, defect removal efficiency (DRE), and quality KPI frameworks.

- Tools & Technologies: Proficient with Azure DevOps, Jira, Confluence, SharePoint, Excel, Grafana, and Power BI.

- Reporting & Analytics: Proven ability to create automated dashboards and quality reports. Skilled in defining and measuring automation coverage, execution effectiveness, quality trends, team productivity, and release readiness metrics.

Key Deliverables

- QA strategy documents
- Test plans and test exit reports
- Automation strategy and execution reports
- Weekly status reports
- Portfolio QA dashboards
- QA governance reports
- Quality assurance SOPs and standards
- Monthly and quarterly QA audit reports

This role offers the opportunity to lead quality assurance excellence within a leading banking environment, driving innovation, compliance, and continuous improvement across critical technology portfolios.