QA Manager - Johannesburg at ADvTECH

Job Description

To plan, coordinate and direct staff in the quality assurance program by evaluating, testing, and validating software and/or IT services across the Group. Develops and implements quality assurance problem reporting processes and systems. Analyses deficiencies in service or performance and recommends product or service improvements to address problems. Designs and implements defect reduction programs.
This role is responsible for planning and co-ordination of Quality Assurance programs to support business objectives and testing their efficacy and will continually review, redesign, develop and implement policies and procedures, as appropriate, to keep them up to date and in line with best practice. Establishing consistent and insightful reporting practices will be a key deliverable to internal as well as external stakeholders.

Education (Formal Qualification required)
Minimum

• Degree / Diploma in IT (NQF Level 6)
• Certification in ITIL

Ideal

• Degree / Diploma in IT
• Legal (E.g. Driver's license, blasting certificate, etc.)

Minimum

• Driver’s license
• South African Citizen
• Experience (Minimum Experience required - type and number of years)

Job Title / Function Minimum time spent in job

• IT industry experience Years 8
• Systems Management Years 5
• Project Management Years 5
• Experience in IT Operational Management Years 5

Strategic Input

• Provides input to the organisation's strategy planning process and sets and implements strategy for the area of responsibility. Is involved in planning over periods of 3 months up to 5 years.
• Understands, aligns and supports the Group Strategy and Group IT Strategy.
• Translates business strategic plans and road maps for IT into action items for divisions.
• Communicates the IT strategy and direction with respect to Quality Assurance & Testing. 

Quality Assurance Management

• Designs and implements the IT Quality Assurance framework.
• Defines and communicates the IT Quality Assurance framework and standards to staff and users.
• Completes assessments, identifies gaps for the Group against the international frameworks and benchmarks the group against those QA and testing frameworks. (Identify gaps against the to-be state and puts a roadmap together to get there
• Drives an IT Quality Assurance culture. Promotes awareness in the functional IT areas so that their areas / services are consistent with and supportive of enterprise-wide and QA initiatives.
• Serves as a technical expert to staff as well as allows system users to understand the functionality of information technology services and necessity of Quality Assurance.
• Designs technical specifications and requirements for new systems or improving existing systems, referred to as the development life cycle.
• Trains organizational users, developing training programs and educating users in QA and testing.
• Provides Quality Assurance reports for the various forums, MANCO’s, ICT SteerComs, Board meetings.

Testing

• Plans and drives testing activities across all stages and iterations of systems and service development.
• Develops and executes test plans and test cases. Implements scalable and reliable automated tests and frameworks.
• Provides authoritative advice and guidance on any aspect of test planning and execution.
• Adopts and adapts appropriate testing methods, automated tools and techniques to solve problems with tools and testing approaches.
• Collaborates across parties involved in systems or service design and development to enable comprehensive test coverage.
• Measures and monitors applications of standards for testing. Assesses risks and takes preventative action.
• Analyses and reports on test activities, results, issues and risks, including the work of others.
• Identifies improvements in requirements, design or specification processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of testing.
• Identifies improvements and contributes to the development of organisational policies, standards, and guidelines for testing. 

 Risk Management

• Defines and manages an information risk mitigation plan.
• Monitors and reviews the QA Risks for the Group.
• Maintains the necessary IT risk registers.
• Provides input to the Risk Register for the group.
• Communicates and reports on QA risks and mitigation to stakeholders.
• Handles escalations and problems from the IT Operations when they arise. 

Project Implementation & Management

• Assists with the implementation of new projects for the group.
• Manages projects as defined in the project initiation form.
• Defines and manages quality standards, practices and procedures for projects.
• Performs quality monitoring, control and reviews in respect of projects.

Continuous Improvement

• Finds areas of information technology to cut costs or improve services, and research, emerging technologies to improve systems in a cost-effective manner.
• Designs programs, policies and procedures to ensure continuous improvement of quality of information technology services and maintenance of the integrity of systems.