Test Section Manager in Bracknell

At Honda we embrace inclusion in our policies, so whilst our contracts state that the hours are as required to fulfil the role with a minimum of 35 hours per week, we offer flexibility for when you work. The regular office hours are 08:00 – 16:00 Monday to Thursday with a half hour lunch break and 08:00 – 13:00 on a Friday. We offer flexibility of when you work with a daily flex-time start of between 07:00 and 11:00 providing that there is no business requirement. There is no contractual right to work from home, but the flexibility offered is that you can request to work from home 2 days per week, again providing there is no business requirement to attend the office.

The Test Section Manager holds responsibility for overseeing the full lifecycle of testing for software products within the organisation. This position requires close coordination with both internal teams and third-party suppliers to ensure that every software release undergoes thorough testing, conforms to established quality standards, is completed accurately and punctually, and within the defined process, minimising business risk. Releases managed by this role will encompass both defect fixes and changes/features.

In leading a dedicated team, the Test Manager focuses on delivering and managing high-quality testing activities. The role works collaboratively with other section managers within the department to coordinate the delivery of software releases according to agreed priorities. A continuous drive for improvement in processes and outcomes is central to the remit, ensuring optimal quality and efficiency across all testing and release activities.

Main Responsibilities

• Development and Implementation of Strategies: Responsible for the creation and deployment of the HFE Test Strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and best practice.
• Test Planning and Scheduling: Responsible for the formulation and execution of comprehensive test plans and schedules for software releases, ensuring all deliverables are met on time and to the required standard.
• Coordination with Third Parties: Manage and facilitate collaboration with 3rd party suppliers and internal operations teams to ensure the smooth and timely execution of testing activities, while continually identifying opportunities to enhance testing processes and outcomes.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Track and report on the progress of testing providing clear and timely updates to senior management.
• Risk Management: Identify, mitigate, and, where necessary, escalate risks associated with software releases to minimise business impact.
• Quality and Compliance Assurance: Ensure that all releases strictly adhere to established quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Team Leadership: Provide direction, leadership, and guidance to the testing team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders at all levels to define, clarify, and prioritise release goals, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Issue Resolution: Lead the resolution of issues relating to testing processes, ensuring swift and effective solutions.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate as part of the Business Solutions Management team to ensure harmonised working practices across Honda, with particular focus on intercompany projects.
• Business Test Pack Management: Oversee the management and continuous updating of business test packs, ensuring they remain current and fit for purpose.
• Requirements Review: Review and recommend adjustments to business requirements to confirm they are fully testable and align with project objectives.
• Project Support: Support the Business Solutions Department Manager on various projects, as directed and required, contributing expertise in testing and release.
• Reporting: Provide regular weekly and monthly reports on testing activities, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making.

Team Management

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Test Analysts, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide feedback.

Required Qualifications, skills and experience:

• Test Management Expertise: Possesses solid experience in Test Management and hands-on testing, ensuring a thorough and reliable approach to quality assurance. Proven experience delivering testing strategy and managing releases.
• Exceptional Communication: Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication abilities, with a strong focus on understanding, establishing, and effectively managing customer expectations.
• Financial Services Experience: Experience working within a regulated industry and able to demonstrate an understanding of operating within a regulated environment.
• Clear Communication of Needs and Schedules: Capable of effectively conveying requirements and timelines to both IT teams and end-users, ensuring that plans are comprehensive and all standards are consistently met.
• Leadership and Motivation: A self-starter with proven ability to lead and inspire teams whilst managing own workload. Utilising a diverse range of skills and problem-solving techniques to address challenges and achieve objectives.
• Technical Communication: Adept at presenting and explaining technical concepts in a manner that builds rapport, persuades stakeholders, and facilitates clear understanding.
• Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates strong collaborative abilities and interpersonal skills, working effectively with colleagues at all levels of management.

Desirable

• Comprehensive Knowledge of Software Development: Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the complete software development lifecycle. This encompasses requirement gathering, analysis and design, as well as familiarity with development tools and technologies. Experience extends to effective management of release and version control, the application of robust testing methodologies, and efficient deployment management.
• Proficiency in Test Automation: Brings hands-on experience in implementing and working with test automation frameworks and tools, contributing to improved efficiency and reliability in the testing process.
• Automotive Finance Industry Experience: Possesses relevant experience within the automotive finance sector, providing valuable industry insight and understanding of sector-specific requirements and challenges.

Honda is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in the workplace for all employees, temporary workers, contractors, applicants and visitors. Honda also encourages respect for the individual differences and talents of others while making full use of one's own abilities, based on Honda's philosophy of respect for the individual. At Honda, we value and celebrate diversity and are committed to being a fair, non-discriminatory company that promotes and welcomes the uniqueness and differences of people around the world. We recognise that a diverse workforce allows for different ideas and perspectives, and we encourage everyone to share them. We strive to foster a culture of belonging that is consistent with Honda's core values and lived out in the way we work and respect each other. For us at Honda, diversifying our workforce means increasing its overall strength by providing people with equal opportunities - regardless of personal characteristics or previous careers. This commitment flows directly from the Honda philosophy and the belief that we are all working towards a common goal. Honda recruits, hires, trains and promotes the most qualified/experienced individuals at all levels without regard to race, origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.