Test Manager

As a member of the Information Services IT team, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and reliability of our products/services through the effective management of the testing processes and best practice. This will be applicable across all stages of the development lifecycle and working with different IT teams and other key stakeholders, to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality software solutions.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive test strategy which aims to enhance quality in IT solution development across all stages of the development lifecycle across multi-disciplinary IT solutions/services.
• Lead and manage the testing function across technical and functional areas, including supporting test plan and test case development, setting goals and providing mentoring and guidance.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders to understand and define testing scope, objectives, test time estimates and deliverables and ensure alignment with overall project goal.
• Manage test plans across different projects ensuring priorities are efficiently managed and testing activities are adequately resourced to meet required deadlines.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to minimize project risks and ensure the successful execution of testing activities.
• Escalate critical issues and risks which may impact project delivery or general release cycles, proposing appropriate solutions and strategies to address them.
• Continuously improve testing processes and methodologies, incorporating industry best practices and innovative approaches to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure clear communication and coordination throughout the testing lifecycle, including requirements gathering, test planning and design, test execution, defect management and test results analysis.
• Monitor and report on quality metrics at a project and function level to applicable stakeholders.
• Stay updated with industry trends and best practice, emerging technologies, and advancements in testing tools and techniques, and recommend their adoption to enhance testing capabilities and in line with the overall test strategy.
• Deal with sensitive information and data held for all University staff with a very high degree of confidentiality and discretion adhering to data protection legislation.

Knowledge/qualifications

Essential:

• A1 Either: Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent (including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role(s).
• A2 Significant knowledge of software testing principles, methodologies, best practices, and the overall software development lifecycle.
• A3 Excellent knowledge of automated testing tools.
• A4 A good working knowledge of agile development methodologies and experience working in an agile environment.
• A5 Knowledge of risk management practices within software development.

Desirable:

• B1 Qualification or knowledge and understanding of working in line with Prince 2 Project Management methodology.
• B2 Knowledge of the TMMI Testing model.

Skills

Essential:

• C1 The ability to devise, develop and implement test procedures and best practice in consultation with key stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality software solutions.
• C2 Strong leadership and people management skills, with a demonstrable ability to develop high performing teams.
• C3 Excellent understanding of project management principles and ability to deliver in line with objectives, within agreed timescales and in budget.
• C4 Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify root causes, and propose effective solutions.
• C5 Ability to acquire complex technical knowledge in a rapid and ever-changing environment and adapt approaches to testing practices as required.
• C6 Ability to work independently to provide professional, specialised, or technical advice around testing best practice.
• C7 Ability to work under pressure and work flexibly to support system upgrades.
• C8 Attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality results.
• C9 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders at all levels.

Experience

Essential:

• E1 Significant experience working as a test manager or similar role at a senior level leading, managing and delivering testing across technical and functional teams for large corporate organisation.
• E2 Experience of implementing and using test management tools (e.g. Test Director, Qmetry).
• E3 Experience of implementing and using performance test tools (e.g. WAPT, Jmeter) and test automation tools.
• E4 Experience and proven ability to lead and contribute to major projects and work collaboratively on software development projects.
• E5 Experience of providing specialist testing advice to a wide range of audiences with different levels of technological knowledge.
• E6 People management experience of a team or project group, including performance management.

Desirable:

• F1 Experience of working in the HE Sector.
• F2 Experience of business tools: MS Project, MS Visio, Jira.
• F3 Experience of unit testing frameworks (i.e NUnit, JUnit, PHPUnit).

This post is full time and open ended.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University. We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too.