Quality Assurance Manager

£55-£60K

Hybrid working – 1 day in office

Milton Park, Oxfordshire

Purpose

To lead a global team of local and remotely based testers through the client's Software as a Service (SaaS) lifecycle – following an agile methodology for internal ‘new functionality’ releases and a waterfall approach for customer-facing releases

Results & Responsibilities

Enable Testing

• Facilitating and coaching application support team to ensure effective QA & testing provision

• Ensuring the necessary resource and capability is available to ensure agreed service levels are met in a cost-effective manner

• Determining the quality assurance and testing model and strategy for the client and ensuring it is understood and effectively executed across the team

• Develop, maintain, and instil clear and concise test strategies and test plans that are appropriately tailored to meet the requirements of varying client programmes/projects

• Become subject matter expert of the client’s products and expected system behaviour to be able to lead effective training within test and the wider business

• Provide accurate test estimates to Programme/Project Management

• Record, measure and report on Programme/Project test results using appropriate tools, as agreed with stakeholders (e.g. TFS)

• Escalate any risks/issues identified in a timely manner to Programme/Project Management and assist in resolution

• Maintain active communication with stakeholders throughout Programme/Project lifecycle

Service Improvement

• Refine and govern best practice processes and procedures for agile ‘new functionality’ releases and waterfall ‘customer solution’ releases

• Identify any gaps/risks in current test approach to the client’s solution(s) and work in a positive manner with senior management to ensure these are solved (e.g. vulnerability/security risk assessment, automation testing, test reporting structures)

• Implement and influence best practice for IT Quality Assurance across departments, covering all elements of Software development and testing (Unit, UAT, BVT, etc.)

• Strive for continuous improvement within the team and across IT

• Determine internal projects to deliver ongoing improvement to the application support function and ensure appropriate allocation of resources and capability

• Contribute to discussions on best practice approach to builds/deployment and manage suitable test data

Team Leadership

• Coaching team leaders and testers to support the professional development of the team

• Undertaking effective performance management, including performance review, and undertaking remedial action where required

Person Specification

Competencies

Driving Quality

• Develops programmes or initiatives which drive continuous improvement in the organisation

• Benchmarks the performance of own area or the company in terms of quality, taking action to improve levels if appropriate

• Identifies bottlenecks or barriers to quality standards and takes action to address these

• Reviews and evaluates organisational quality standards to ensure they remain at an industry-leading level

Decision Making

• Consults to an appropriately broad degree, without letting this get in the way of coming to a timely conclusion

• Fully explains the rationale behind decisions so that others understand and buy in to them

• Draws conclusions supported by reasoned arguments and reliable information

• Makes and/or implements difficult or unpopular decisions when necessary

Leadership

• Leads on organisational or corporate projects and initiatives

• Creates cross-functional networks which contribute to operational efficiency

• Shares resources with other areas

• Encourages others to achieve goals through their personal energy, enthusiasm, understanding of what motivates people and by celebrating success

Achieving Results

• Monitors projects or programmes against plans and timescales

• Takes appropriate corrective action when projects go off track

• Takes account of all stakeholders needs and translates strategic goals into practical, efficient and effective operational plans

• Creates detailed project plans which incorporate risk management, effective use of resources and measurable outcomes

Managing Change

• Proactively identifies the need for change and convinces others to act

• Develops plans to implement change in areas which are performing sub-optimally

• Changes own plans or approach when things aren’t working

• Is willing to challenge the way things are done, even if this makes them unpopular

Drive & Motivation

• Demonstrates a curiosity about the broader organisation and talks about Achilles in positive terms

• Finds ways to contribute to corporate efforts or projects

• Gets involved in areas which are outside their remit and where their skills and abilities can make a difference

• Demonstrates a drive to make a positive difference and a success of the client by taking carefully calculated risks

Supporting Colleagues

• Actively participates in knowledge sharing and cross-functional networking groups

• Sets up systems and processes by which useful information or intelligence can be shared

• Makes appropriate information and knowledge available promptly to those who have a need for it

• Recognises and capitalises on the opportunities presented by the diversity within and across different teams

Knowledge

Experience of establishing, developing, and delivering QA strategies and test plans

Team leadership experience inc. managing a team remotely

Experience of working in a collaborative agile and waterfall environment

Experience with all elements of software development and testing, inc. performance, penetration, and automation testing

Knowledge of testing processes and best practice with proven problem-solving skills

Experience of delivering process improvements across multiple departments or teams

Test script development

Experience

Previous experience in global QA & testing role

A successful track record of leading global testing and QA function

Qualifications

IT degree or equivalent experience

ISTQB Certified Tester or Certified Agile Tester

INDIT