Test Manager

Job Description

The Role
Principal Accountabilities:

• Delivery of approved Test Strategy (where the TEM requires the TM to create the Test Strategy)
• Sign off of the Requirements Traceability Matrices
• Agreement, management and regular review of testing KPI's and SLA's both as an internal service provider and externally to manage supplier deliverables where appropriate and support the external Market Participants and Settlement providers where required.
• Direct Management of the test team to deliver the approved test phases through assurance and governance
• Responsibility to ensure testing best practice, processes, policies and appropriate tool usage are applied to application delivery

Principal responsibilities:

• 5+ years providing testing delivery & quality assurance
• Manage and deliver approved testing phases
• Take full responsibility to ensure all appropriate activities within the each testing phase to deliver the applications are planned and executed in order that risk is understood and evaluated based on the results of the testing during all stages of the project
• Facilitate Test Planning with all relevant stakeholders
• Take a leading role in the definition of strategies to ensure the most effective and efficient testing is executed, includes the use of specialised testing tools and techniques if appropriate.
• Ensure, endorse and govern the delivery of all project test documentation including Test Strategies, phase test plans, test projects plans test specifications and appropriate test reports detailing progress and agreed test measurement
• Drive test asset reusability and ensure the use of the test repository where assets are stored and maintained are the foundations of the test strategy to assure coverage, reduce risk and lower future testing costs
• Monitor and control the testing effort and publish agreed testing metrics to manage and improve testing activities
• Operate as a specialist and consultant on all aspects of testing
• Agree KPI’s and SLA’s with PMO to ensure project delivery is known & understood at all times
• Help to set priorities that balance desirable against practical testing strategies
• Maintain, and agree internal and external policy, standards, methods and procedures for testing
• Liaise with Programme / Project managers to manage expectations for each of the testing phases. Agree ‘quality gate’ entry & exit criteria and corrective action
• Facilitate and manage phase Entry & exit meetings
• Ensure End of Test phase reports are completed and available so that informed decisions can be made in the application implementation decision making process

Contributes to:

• The successful delivery of the quality assured applications
• Makes test asset efficiency a priority
• The success of test strategy delivering testing as a service which is consistent, reusable and measurable
• Offers utilities application test consultancy when and where required

The individual:

Essential skills include:

• Good experience of formal testing methodologies
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the full test life cycle.
• Knowledge of formal defect management & resolution processes
• A strong understanding of the principles of testing
• Able to differentiate between the different types of testing and their purposes.
• Knowledge of at least one Test Repository (e.g. VSTS)
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Constantly challenge yourself and inspire others to meet ambitious goals and deliver exceptional performance
• Be passionate about Testing and take responsibility for making us a highly regarded Service
• Be as consumed with the success and development of the people you influence as you are with your own
• Focus on excellent execution
• Respect and promote the standards that are our licence to do business and find intelligent ways to apply them
• Ownership, initiative and positive approach (‘can-do’ attitude)
• Desire to ‘champion’ Test Strategy and work disciplines
• Enthusiast; determined to develop teams under the Test Strategy banner
• Consultative; keeping team, PMO, management and customers ‘in the loop’
• Willing to be open, frank and honest with feedback
• Accepts change and manages the effects well
• Likes to develop individuals and to transfer knowledge widely
• Calm and decisive under pressure

Desirable skills include:

• IS Delivery methodologies
• Test Phase Management
• Educational background in Maths, engineering or power systems
• Knowledge of working in a service delivery practice

Behaviours

FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER:

• Have a ‘customer first’ attitude
• Constantly seek ways to improve our service and wow the customer
• Understand that everything we do has an impact – direct or indirect – on the end customer
• Recognise how my role and the roles of others make a difference to the customer experience
• Build strong relationships with our customers

ACT AS ONE TEAM:

• Have a genuine concern for others and a willingness to help
• Pull together to deliver results
• Consider the impact of what we do on other people and the business
• Respect others’ views, challenge where necessary and offer our own ideas
• Value what we all contribute to the business
• Be down to earth, open and honest

MAKE IT HAPPEN:

• Work with drive and passion, and go the extra mile  
• Take ownership for delivering plans and meeting our objectives
• Celebrate success and never be satisfied
• Involve the right people at the right time to get results - and keep it simple
• Raise the bar and be creative to stay ahead
• Deliver more for less, be conscious of cos

BE A GREAT MANAGER:

• Lead by example
• Help people understand their role, what’s expected and how they fit in
• Create opportunities for regular discussion and manage performance
• Recognise people for a job well done
• Actively encourage our teams to work with others and build relationships
• Communicate what’s going on and the impact it will have
• Support the development of your team and yourself