Further Particulars
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the information you will need to provide with the application.
1. Role details
Vacancy reference: 11582
Job title: Test Manager
Reports to: Senior Head of Engineering
Salary: £38,511 to £45,954
Terms and conditions: Academic Related & Support Staff
Grade: 8
Duration of post: Permanent
Working hours: 37
Location: Walton Hall
Closing date: Midday Thursday 1 October 2015
Type of application form accepted: Long version Number of referees required: 3
2. Summary of duties
Role Purpose: To be an effective leader in managing and delivering both IT Testing and Quality Assurance within the Centre of Excellence for Testing.. The role requires a high degree of testing and quality assurance knowledge and expertise to enhance and embed suitable testing and quality standards and processes within IT Delivery.
• Maintain and own the IT test strategy in line with the department’s Test Policy • Drive the establishment of a quality assurance ethos within the IT Delivery function
• Acting as an advocate for the importance of the testing function across the business
and in the encouragement of the Agile SDLC
• Define test approaches and ensure that IT Delivery plans, prepares, executes and
reports testing in line with testing policy and strategy.
• Manage complex IT testing projects. Able to steer the test project even when requirements are vague
• Matrix manage personnel assigned to agile delivery teams – undertaking line management.
• Negotiates with resource owner to release key individuals.
• Confident in making changes to test plan due to dependency issues and cross-project resource issues
• Help identify all stakeholders and works with the business partners and IT project management to ensure cross-stakeholder communication and priorities are maintained • Gathering and helping to define testing success criteria in collaboration with product
owners
• Execute testing against agreed test plan and strategy • Expand the use of automation regression testing • Definition of test measurement metrics and SLA’s
• Identifying areas for cost and time reductions which add value
• Ensures on-going review and management of test progress and product quality, with any variance approved by key stakeholders
• Manages product risks and test related project risks including contingency plans and escalating upwards. Facilitates ownership of risks and issues and seeks to drive action to provide resolution
• Prepares test progress and closure reports, including sign-off acceptance, test metrics and lessons learnt
• Identifies, implements and maintains testing tools and associated processes, appropriate to all test levels
• Responsible for the specification of appropriate testing environments • Staff selection and recruitment
3. Person specification
Essential Knowledge and Experience
• Experience of introducing and managing Quality Assurance processes
• A strong track record of large successful software developments and package integration / implementation.
• Proven experience of complex decision-making in a complex environment.
• Proven experience of developing and maintaining good and effective relationships with internal and external business partners.
• Proven experience of effectively managing Third Party suppliers.
• Proven experience of managing, motivating and developing team members both collectively and individually and of achieving positive cultural change
• Demonstrable thought leadership within previous businesses • Proven ability to understand business drivers, pressures and value • Strong understanding or Business and Enterprise Architecture • Strong understanding of release / environment management • Ability to simplify and communicate complex issues
• Experience of working in a matrixed environment
• Experience of managing testing within an agile software development environment • ISEB/ISTQB Advanced Test Manager Certificate
Personal Qualities
• Excited by and driven to deliver bottom line value for the organisation.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills – verbal and written – with ability to liaise at all levels, including Board level
• Excellent technical awareness and business acumen
• Ability to drive change and overcome obstacles and resistance • Excellent people management skills, able to engage and lead. • Excellent commercial and negotiation skills
• Confident and convincing presentation skills Personal Characteristics
• At ease working with Board Level / Executive team • Strong Relationship management
• Business Leadership
• Ability to manage in an ambiguous environment • Decision-making
• Setting Direction
• Communicating and Influencing • Innovation and Change
• Commercial Acumen
• Managing internal and external relationships • Delivering expert advice
• Personable approach to individuals • Leader and Shaper
• Credible individual (Business and Technical)
• Coach and Mentor
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working N/A
5. About the unit/department
INFORMATION ABOUT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
The Higher Education sector in England is undergoing dramatic change as institutions adjust to serious reductions in state funding for teaching and students have to bear more of the cost of their education. As well as these cost drivers, the entry of more private providers to the sector and the increasing consumer power of high fee-paying students will put a premium on service delivery and cost efficiency. In turn, this will throw emphasis on the development of robust, efficient, enterprise-scale IT systems to increase efficiency and customer choice.
Information Technology provides and supports all central University IT services and is responsible for the University's technical infrastructure. In addition to this service and support provision, it develops systems to support the business requirements of the organisation.
The IT Delivery department has a number of development delivery teams. It works closely with business partners to ensure that requirements are prioritised according to business value and then delivers agreed changes.
The IT Development function is responsible for the development and maintenance of the University's key operational applications. The main systems support virtual learning, student and customer Administration, course development and production, finance and staff. Teams of analysts and developers are responsible for developing and maintaining systems for particular business areas.
Whilst much of the software is developed in-house, there are a number of packages that are used. These include applications from the Siebel Customer Relationship Management suite, EMC Documentum’s Content Management as well as Finance Ledger, Payroll and Stock Control packages. In-house developed software includes transactional websites to provide self service facilities for students and staff, virtual learning, information websites, decision support, workflow and student and staff records management.
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please contact Juliet Dezille on 01908 655285 or email Juliet.Dezille@open.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Gabrielle Price on 01908 653285 or email IT-Recruitment@open.ac.uk.
7. The application process and where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by: Midday Thursday 1 October 2015Or e-mail your application to: IT-Recruitment@open.ac.uk
Or post it to:
Name/Job title: Gabrielle Price Department/Unit: IT
Address: The Open University Walton Hall
Milton Keynes Post Code: MK7 6AA
8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by Tamsin Petty, Senior Head of Engineering. The other members of the interview panel will be advised.
The interviews will take place on a date to be confirmed.
We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to shortlisted candidates.
