Testing Lead, Program Manager

Company Profile

At Sand Cherry Associates, we excel in the design and delivery of strategic customer-centric initiatives through digitally native, data-empowered solutions. Our client’s confidence in us is centered on exceptionally skilled, high-energy talent working with the support of the full Sand Cherry team. Finding the right match for this role is a critical aspect of continuing that success.

Job Description

Sand Cherry is looking for an experienced Testing Lead and Program Manager to oversee and manage an in-flight, time-sensitive, large, enterprise-wide HRIS system and data integration following a corporate acquisition. This is a short term consulting role (4-6 months+) that is responsible for defining, documenting, executing, and tracking test progress for a large, highly visible program. This role requires a strong executive presence who can facilitate testing discussions, program readouts, status meetings, and collaborate with other team members and vendors. Lead and manage test strategy and drive the integration of data and systems, as well as build test cases. This role requires strong program management and executive communication, and facilitation, along with deep hands-on execution. This role requires experience with system testing, data testing, and building executive-level reporting for senior leadership teams. This is a remote role, all qualified candidates must live and work within the United States, willing to work CST time zone and be eligible to work without requiring visa sponsorship. Must be available to begin immediately and be available throughout the course of the initiative.

Responsibilities:

· Ability to execute an end-to-end test strategy encompassing HRIS, payroll, benefits, talent, and data integration components across multiple legacy and acquired systems.

· Data Reconciliation & Validation Expertise. Strong skills in validating HR, payroll, and organizational data migrations — including mapping, transformation logic, reconciliation reports, and ensuring data integrity between legacy and new platforms.

· System Integration Testing (SIT) Leadership. Deep understanding of integration testing across APIs, middleware, and interfaces between HRIS, ERP, finance, and identity management systems.

·  Cross-Functional Coordination. Experience collaborating with HR, IT, Finance, Security, and external vendors to ensure testing alignment across business processes, data governance, and system dependencies.

· Defect and Issue Management: Advanced proficiency in managing complex defect triage cycles, root-cause analysis, and resolution tracking using enterprise tools (e.g., Zephyr).

·  Change & Cutover Readiness Testing: Ability to simulate post-integration scenarios (e.g., payroll cycles, employee onboarding/offboarding, access provisioning) and validate readiness for go-live across multiple business units.

·  Automation and Regression Testing Design: Proficiency in building automated regression suites to support ongoing releases and platform stabilization post-merger.

· Compliance and Security Testing: Knowledge of HR data compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, SOC2) and experience validating access controls, PII security, and audit readiness.

· Reporting and Analytics Validation: Capability to test HR analytics, dashboards, and KPI accuracy across integrated data warehouses and business intelligence tools.

·  Executive-Level Communication and Risk Reporting: Proven ability to summarize test progress, quality metrics, risks, and mitigation plans for a large team of executive stakeholders and program governance teams.

·  Define and document test approach and delivery plan for multiple workstreams of a large program

·  Ensure all test phases have appropriate entry / exit criteria and clearly defined expectations for obtaining sign-off against these prior to Go Live

·  Monitor and report the status and progress of each test phase to stakeholders across the organization, including senior executive leadership

· Implement a well-structured approach to test defect management and incident reporting, including standardization of defect logging procedures and deriving metrics/KPIs

·  Facilitate defect triage calls when required

Requirements

• Experience with project/program management in planning, defining and documenting testing progress
• Strong experience with test strategy and creating detailed test plans in a large enterprise organization
• Knowledge of navigating Zephyr for Jira, Confluence, and SmartSheet is required
• Experience with data testing, system integration and support is required
• Keen attention to detail, represented in both test plan documentation and program communications
• Knowledgeable in MS PowerPoint and Excel, and confident in creating and presenting executive-level communications is required
• Extracts and distills key requirements from conversations, and investigates information independently to develop full understanding and ability to articulate
• Ability to execute on multiple deliverables in parallel efficiently and accurately
• Expert ability to transition between tasks and prioritize business needs; overall flexible to change
• Knowledge of test automation tools and process for implementation
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or similar field
• Must have experience with systems integration and data testing as mentioned above

Benefits

For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in Colorado, Sand Cherry Associates is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range considers a wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and delivery model. This role has an annual salary range between $125-145k. Years of experience, level of education, geographic location, unique skills/qualifications for the specific role and potential certifications can be key factors in the final compensation for this role. Our benefits package includes health and financial benefits such as medical, dental, vision, 401k and PTO.