Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To plan, design, develop, maintain, modify, and perform tests designed to assess the functionality, integrity, viability of applications and systems in operation and/or under development or modification for JTS and its' clients. To provide project leadership, and advanced testing and quality assurance (QA) advice, performance verification and certification.

Duties / Responsibilities :

The job requires:
1. Planning, resourcing, leading, co-ordinating, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on technical aspects of testing/QA projects to ensure applications satisfy corporate directions, I&IT standards, and client/user needs. Providing advanced testing/QA guidance, leadership and input for projects including: participating in/defining QA testing process and resource needs with client and Manager; developing test cases; assisting in building and configuring the test environment; testing applications and assisting in/documenting results; certifying quality of applications and systems; costing and evaluating technical options for quality improvements; and making persuasive recommendations to management, stakeholders and clients.
2. Contributing advanced testing/QA advice and expertise: eg: providing technical input to I&IT committees, management planning, evaluation and budgeting; providing advanced testing/QA guidance and support to Branch/team members; assisting in managing QA-driven technical change to improve functionality, integrity, viability of applications and systems, including anticipating and resolving incidents and/or problems resulting from change implementation, and recommending post testing/certification acceptance and release; developing detailed testing/QA specifications for the tendering process.
3. Providing ongoing client service and co-ordination regarding testing/QA. Participating in/helping clients/users manage change resulting from testing/QA decisions, (eg: explaining, leading, and/or developing and delivering technical education programs for clients and work teams).
4. Performing related administrative activities, (eg: participating in selecting and negotiating with vendors to develop contracts and SLAs; managing assigned vendors' performance, alerting management to defaults, recommending and implementing solutions; scheduling and assigning work; providing work status reports; monitoring costs; verifying that vendors' deliverables meet contract requirements before Manager authorises payment).
5.Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge :

QA knowledge (eg: application environment; testing tools; processes and standards for functionality or usability testing; user acceptance and release test procedures; scientific test analysis methodology, etc) *Sound knowledge of related hardware and software, networks, systems analysis, design, development, implementation, installation, operational techniques and methods for technology, data, applications, networking, and/or security, in order to research, plan, lead and evaluate assigned portions of QA/testing activities; provide advanced technical knowledge to support teams, management planning and decision ?making, vendor management etc; make reliable technical recommendations; identify and diagnose incidents/problems and provide viable options and solutions; draft testing procedures *ITIL and change management techniques, standards and systems in place in JTS *Sound knowledge of clients' QA needs and business environment, to define technical scope of work with Manager or a more senior analyst/specialist (eg: Systems Engineer); develop advanced technical RFP specifications; assist in negotiating SLAs *Project management techniques, including costing and cost control *Customer service techniques, to co-ordinate user testing; provide reports, problem resolution, training, explanations, education and information for technical and nontechnical users/clients *RFP and tendering process, contract management to ensure own input is compliant with corporate/JTS standards and client needs.

Skills :

Job requires: *Reasoning, planning, analysing and assessing to: use scientific methods in applying testing processes to meet defined QA standards; collect and integrate test results; participate in analysing/analyse multiple test data and possible causes of problems; participate in/develop solutions; ensure that needs are identified and validated, technical project work is planned, prioritised, scheduled, co-ordinated, monitored and evaluated to meet project management standards; and that workable solutions are provided for management, clients and users *Conceptual skills to see the big picture and assist in integrating QA/testing processes and standards *Judgement and flexibility to work effectively within the system and organisational norms, perform timely and appropriately conducted tasks; assign tasks; and maintain diverse business relationships *Project planning, prioritising, Analytical and problem-solving skills, to provide technical leadership and solutions which identify and address testing/QA problems and incidents cost-efficiently and effectively *Project leadership to develop and encourage team work, good morale and high performance *Written and oral communications to: document processes and summarise findings in detailed supporting documents; write, explain and present complex technical reports and recommendations for non-technical audiences and/or decision-makers; establish effective working relationships and provide instruction for less experienced team members; negotiate with vendors; instruct vendors; and provide testing documentation and draft procedures

Freedom of Action :

Job requires: *Translating work goals and objectives into project specifications within organisational policy for use by self and project teams *Reasoning, planning, analysing and interpreting data to identify trends, anticipate/evaluate problems, and assist in solving/resolve a variety of QA/testing problems or related change implementation incidents and problems where situations are diverse *Providing advanced QA technical, operational and service guidance and input; assisting in building and configuring test environments; assisting in documenting and explaining detailed tests and results; participating in developing options (eg: at one or more of conceptual, identification, research, selection, analysis, design, configuration, testing, implementation, maintenance, operation, trouble-shooting, enhancement and/or modification, monitoring and evaluation phases); recommending appropriate technical resources for work, including suitable project/staff team members; designing and drafting procedures to improve A/testing and client-user understanding *Providing appropriate project/team leadership and co-ordination in response to diverse business situations and project needs, including: providing sound needs assessments, costing, resource estimation and deployment; developing project milestones and performance benchmarks for approval; monitoring and evaluating approved technical aspects of work performance; developing and implementing remedies and improvements *Managing relationships and providing appropriate support to a variety of stakeholders and/or clients, including determining/recommending best ways to educate, guide and communicate technical information to peers, team members, stakeholders, management, users, less experienced analysts, etc *Developing technical QA/testing specifications that meet project needs and are compliant with JTS/enterprise standards *Monitoring and managing vendors' ongoing performance to ensure compliance with SLAs Work is checked by the Manager for compliance with work objectives and organisational policy and standards.