Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To lead project teams in the software quality assurance testing for current and future projects within the Government Services Cluster. To establish common QA practices for the cluster and follow applicable cluster and OPS QA and IT Guidelines. To coordinate and lead the delivery of quality assurance and continuous improvement (QA, CI) services for the Cluster, and its partners.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Develops test strategies for application portfolios, coordinating and overseeing the completion of test strategies and test plans. Develop & implement automation strategy by leveraging existing cluster IBM Rational Toolset. Mentoring and supporting cluster testing resources and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from within the I&IT Cluster on usage of existing testing tools.

2. Defines quality assurance targets, creates templates using IBM Rational Toolset e.g. Rational Quality Manager, Rational Functional tester, to ensure consistency and consolidated QA reporting capabilities across projects within the cluster. Facilitates communication between QA teams of individual projects.

3. Leads and promotes a load testing discipline among projects. Coordinates with ITS testers in identifying load testing artifacts required for HP Load Runner, Win Runner and processes required to satisfy defined targets. Identifies and creates Test data for Test Scenarios and Test Cases.

4. Performs IT application tests such as unit, system, user acceptance, functional, Accessibility Ontario Disability Act (AODA), integration, regression, configuration, performance, system, load balance, for java based portal framework & web applications and produces all supporting documentation including designing test cases, writing test scripts, providing test reports and managing the tests for automation and reuse.

5. Conducts reviews, assessments and creates reports on overall quality assurance state in the cluster. Participates in cluster project management, risk management, development and issues management activities.

6. Ensures that quality assurance guidelines and processes align with existing Cluster and OPS QA and I&IT standards.

7. Preparation, validation, automation and execution of all related test cases and test scripts. Leads the test planning activities, confirms acceptance of proposed test schedules, assigns script writing and script execution to test resources. Monitors testing progress to ensure testing is completed in accordance with testing schedule.

8. Ensures a rigorous approach to quality assurance is used for UAT (User Acceptance Testing). This includes ensuring that the users' business functionality has been taken into account. Obtains user signoff/approval of UAT test plan. Leads/oversees the UAT testers and offers support, expertise and direction.

9. Acts as a key liaison and focal point, providing information on and leading activities for the Cluster project teams. Provides information on the project, its milestones and progress, to Cluster staff and stakeholders.

10. Ensures all testing documentation is both complete, accurate and kept current. This includes reviewing standard system functionality testing scripts. Actively participates in identifying testing gaps and taking steps to revise scripts and test documentation and to improve processes.

11. Identify areas for improving the effectiveness of the testing process by assessing new system requirements and problems with previous tests; assessing, evaluating and recommending adoption of cluster standard software tools and applications; devising and developing tools to assist in the testing process; and maintaining their integrity and effectiveness. Identifies the impact of new and changing client requirements and the IT environment on software distribution and infrastructure testing.

12. Reviews and analyzes client business requirements for system changes and upgrades to determine testing requirements. Develops/participates in new system designs and enhancements and helps determine the approach to develop appropriate tests, including manual and automated testing processes. Attends meetings with clients, team members and systems analysts to clarify and discuss system specification requirements and implementation plan options.

13. Position contributes directly to the cluster/ministry mandate by creating a strategy for quality control of applications developed within the cluster and by creating standards, guidelines and processes for quality control. The position is accountable for effectively enforcing compliance with quality control guidelines, assessing and reporting on quality control findings, and making decisions on the quality acceptability of applications. The position is also accountable for maintaining an awareness of current and leading edge technologies; and providing input and recommendations to strategic planning activities

14. Ability to provide authoritative quality control advice and guidance to project team members, colleagues or associates on teams and committees and monitors the financial data that projects input into the cluster's project cost estimation tool.

15. Management has the right to assign other duties.

Knowledge :

• Proven experience in the development/testing/implementation of applications, including considerable knowledge of different platforms, operating systems, environments, database technologies, languages and telecommunications protocols.

• Knowledge of current trends in IT quality assurance domain.

• Knowledge and understanding of quality assurance methodologies, object-oriented analysis/design techniques, proven facility in structured methodologies for the design, development/implementation of n-tier web-based applications, extensive experience in the use of test and development tools.

• Knowledge of database design and data dictionaries.

• Work requires proven experience in monitoring/enforcing application development and quality control standards.

• Excellent working knowledge of industry best practice testing automation tools including HP Load Runner, Rational Functional tester.

• Job requires knowledge of current development and testing tools/languages within the different frameworks and platforms (eg J2EE, .NET, Domino, IMS, Oracle, etc) and the development/testing of collaborative workspaces and portals using industry standard technologies.

• Knowledge of corporate and ministries I&IT operating environments, directions, trends and provincial government business activities and information needs. Knowledge of government policies relating to financial management, budgeting, tendering policies, procedures and processes to develop/ monitor/ manage project budgets.

• Demonstrated customer service and consensus building skills to determine client expectations for the development/ implementation of information systems and technology that meet corporate efficiency, effectiveness, access and security goals.

Skills :

• Works under the direction of the Manager, Image Management & Labs, within the Government Services Cluster mandate and related directives, policies and standards; statutory requirements (e.g. FIPPA), OPS administrative policies, procedures, directives, and accepted systems development practices. Works on assigned projects and may lead projects as required.

• Estimates significant development/implementation costs as they relate to quality control components and in developing and interpreting technical standards and guidelines.

• Determines the acceptability of applications developed within the cluster, with respect to established quality control standards and guidelines.

• Assesses the impacts of quality issues on the overall application and project effort and in recommending measures to resolve the issues or mitigate their impacts.

• Provides credible/timely advice to the Senior Manager and project managers, leading quality control activities, undertaking quality control reviews, reporting on findings, recommending solutions to improve software quality.

• The position is expected to stay current in related I&IT technologies, testing tools, processes, and maintains good working knowledge of different ministry/corporate business environments, and information management legislation.

• Excellent skills in: systems analysis, systems design, problem solving, project planning, test planning, creation of test cases and the execution of testing activities.

• Good written and oral communications skills including very good consultation and negotiation skills to liaise/facilitate communications with numerous internal/external stakeholders and clients.

• Proven ability to work both as a team player and a team leader, depending on nature of task or project.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires frequent contact with Cluster management and staff to solicit input and provide expertise and guidance on testing issues and timelines and regular contact with project senior management to report progress and present recommendations and plans to meet migration timelines. It also requires regular contact with counterparts throughout OPS to discuss and share UAT/QA concerns; daily contact with service delivery teams and management to provide expertise, coordinate migration testing and support; regular contact with vendors, suppliers and external consultants to research technical options, gather information and address migration problems; regular contact with external I&IT professionals/peers to maintain knowledge of developments and trends within related fields. Job requires referring to manager problems/issues such as: conflicting ministry requirements, need for additional resources, performance issues or non-conformance to GSC standards. Poor judgement or errors in the quality control of applications and the planning, development, recommendation and management of quality control processes and methodologies for the Ministry could result in ineffective and poorly integrated application management systems, leading to excessive costs and the inability of management to meet business application needs. This could negatively impact the delivery of ministry's business and program services.