SUPP111816

Within the University our IT Services division is on an exciting journey. Our vision is to provide globally accessible technical services and digital solutions to empower world class learning and research at the University., We are seeking a Test Analyst within a Test and Transition team to be a key contributor to the delivery of techinical solutions which will transform core applicant, student and staff processes. Providing bespoke and tailored testing support to senior stakeholders across the University. Working autonomously and as part of a team of transition/software and testing specialists, the role holder is responsible for designing, executing and analysing software tests and reporting on the results to ensure that all software released into production is of a high quality and meets users' needs. If you have an eye for detail, like problem solving and working in team or independently and your passion is driving quality in techinical solutions, then this could be the job for you.What will you be doing?

• Work with business process experts to develop a common understanding of software requirements and agree test criteria which ensure the finished software meets the business needs.
• Design, create and executable test scripts to evaluate whether software meets agreed test criteria in a reproducible manner.
• Analyse and interpret the results of software tests to support developers in resolving software defects and identifying performance issues.
• Produce clear and concise reports on complex test scenarios to inform the decision-making process of senior stakeholders.
• Document test plans and test outputs to ensure repeatability of testing and a reliable audit trail to validate decisions.
• Use initiative to select suitable testing strategies for all systems development within IT services based on a wide range of factors such as maturity of software use, platform/infrastructure, number of users, resource constraints and strategic priorities.
• Build a good understanding of the acceptable levels of risk in each new area of work and work autonomously to decide the level and nature of testing required to manage that risk effectively and efficiently.
• Take bold decisions using own judgement where existing strategies are proving inadequate, where new opportunities arise or where current approaches are at risk of technical obsolescence
• Contribute to overall testing strategy for concurrent systems development projects within IT Services, looking at least 5 years ahead to ensure the approach is sustainable.
• Play a key role within project and development teams to ensure testing activity is given adequate time and priority in comparison to other development activity.
• Influence the decision making of senior stakeholders by flagging potential risks and proposed actions for resolution via testing; persuade managers to reconsider pre-determined courses of action based on testing outcomes pending further development.
• Work with external software suppliers and internal development teams to resolve technical issues and develop solutions.
• Present outputs to stakeholders outside the development team(s) using language and presentation methods appropriate to an audience with limited technical knowledge.
• Advocate for and model testing best practices to help build our test framework maturity.
• Identify opportunities for continuing personal development, proactively remaining up to date with the latest advancements in digital technology and industry best practices.
  
  Experience of manual and automation testing techniques & tools
• Experience of writing clear test scripts (manual or automated)
• Ability to plan and meet deadlines often in the face of numerous and potentially competing priorities
• Experience of complying with standards, methodologies and good practices
• Ability to work collaboratively and build trust within a team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to present highly technical information in a comprehensive way
• Ability to improve team culture by advocating quality throughout the development cycle
Desirable
• Experience of involvement in the full development lifecycle
• Knowledge of the higher education sector and its people, processes and data
• ISTQB Foundation, BBST Foundation; Computer Science qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience in Agile development lifecycle, in particular Scrum.