Test Team Lead I (ShopriteX) at The Shoprite Group of Companies

Job Objectives

Test Planning:

• Collaborate with Project Team and Stakeholders.
• Coordinate all activity and all testers during each testing phase of a project and/or program.
• Determine which tools and utilities work best.
• Develop, modify, and ensure that software testing plans are executed.
• Provide accurate and precise estimates for assigned task duration.
• Defining test strategy and test plans and reviewing them with stakeholders.
• Identify the testing scope required for each release based on the requirements.
• Ensure optimal test coverage and improve the test coverage where needed
• Identify the testing effort required by calculating the sizing needed for the given release.
• Identify the tools to be used for test reporting, test management, test automation, etc.
• Estimate the testing resources and time required and negotiate with management to acquire the necessary resources.
• Publish the test plan after discussions with the test team and have it reviewed and approved by the management/ development team.

Test design and execution:

• Analyse test results to ensure existing functionality and recommend corrective action.
• Integrate test suites into the test management system and custom test harnesses.
• Propose required functions, tools or scripts to management for approval based on complexity and coverage of solution.
• Select and develop appropriate test automation tools.
• Update test execution status following agreed-upon processes as part of regularly scheduled test status updates.
• Use risk-driven techniques to develop, maintain, and execute automated test suites for various software applications.
• Lead and monitor the analysis, design, implementation and execution of the test cases and test procedures.
• Ensure proper configuration management of the test ware produced and traceability of the tests to the test basis.
• Manage the building of required test environments.
• Manage test environments, test devices and technology versions required for testing.

Test monitoring and evaluation:

• Assist in the creation of test project status reports and metrics.
• Consult with developers to resolve issues and provide feedback for the technical appraisal of the tested software program(s).
• Ensure that quality standards are maintained in the team.

Test completion:

• Review software design and change specifications.
• Trace test cases and results back to specific quality risks.
• Schedule the tests for execution and monitor, measure, control and report on the test progress.
• Review new or modified tests and introduce improved testing techniques.
• Write and present summary reports on test status for each test execution cycle.

Technical Test Process Management:

• Keep pace with new industry trends, approaches, tools, and techniques for testing.
• Provide technical guidance to junior-level test engineers and/or test technicians.
• Work closely with development and test to review use cases, requirements, workflows, and technical specs needed to create automated scripts and tools.
• Work with the Development team to capture and reuse automated Unit Test Cases, Test Stubs and Drivers, and other Development test objects.
• Work with the Release Management team to create and maintain an automated nightly build verification test.

Test Lab management:

• Ensure the Test Lab assets are in place or planned for.
• Liaise with the Test Lab Manager in the event there is new equipment required.
• Plan Resource Access to the Lab.

Team Management:

• Propose work assignments to delivery teams for test team members based on the skills and abilities of each member.
• Lead a team of quality analysts and testers including task identification, monitoring progress and issue resolution.
• Ensure that testing resources are properly skilled to execute their testing duties.
• Ensure that the testing team is educated on the TCoE’s standards, processes, and selected tools.
• Plan, monitor, and control all testing activities and tasks of the test team.
• Monitor test progress by constantly assessing the work assigned to resources and rebalance or re-allocate them as required.
• Identify any delays in achieving the testing schedule and resolve any issues expediently.
• Bridge any gaps and differences between the testing team and the management.
• Improvement and implementation of Test Centre of Excellence (TCoE) Discipline and Standards:
• Continuously drive the improvement of the Testing Discipline standards and quality measures.
• Define quality standards, testing processes and ensure these are implemented.
• Drive improvement in the use of tools, techniques, and methods within the team.

Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in IT, Software Development, Information Systems, Computer Science or related field - (essential). Or proven work experience leading structured software testing practice, project and team deliverables, with solid knowledge and skills.
• Formal software testing training and registration (e.g., ISTQB, ISEB advanced level) - (essential).

Experience

• +2 years’ experience in a software testing leadership capacity or similar, with experience optimizing quality testing practice (structured processes and methods) and testing team delivery within the software development projects - (essential).
• Experience with application lifecycle management and quality center tools (I.e., Microfocus ALM & QC, Jira) to plan, manage, monitor and report on testing activities including project collaboration - (essential).
• Experience executing software development lifecycle or testing life-cycle activities within a retail or financial sector - (essential).
• Expert knowledge of quality testing within various types of manual testing and testing techniques (I.e., end-to-end, functional, UAT, SIT, etc.) - (essential).
• Experience in cloud (AWS or Azure) testing within Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery environments - (desired).
• Strong proficiency with automation testing tools (I.e., Selenium, Test Complete, QTP/UFT, SOAP UI, etc.) - (desired).
• Expert knowledge of executing automation and performance testing techniques - (desired).
• Knowledge and Skills
• Leadership, Team Mentorship and Coaching – Natural leader with the ability to easily establish trust-based relationships. A positive technical expert and coach who serves the team and shows an appreciation for the development of team skills.
• Analytical with strong problem-solving skills - Quickly grasps, organises and evaluates relatively complex scenarios to identify trends/problems and their causes. Generates feasible solutions to achieve goals and develops decision criteria considering relevant factors (cost, benefits, risks, timing, buy-in, business goals, customers, etc).
• Build stakeholder rapport - Able to build rapport and relationships with key stakeholders.
• Innovative and solution-orientated – creating and applying sound judgment and the ability to generate solutions that serve the flow of work and meeting deadlines. Eye for visual design and utility
• Strong communication skills - approachable, adopt a range of communication styles to facilitate successful outcomes within the team and cross-functionally in a matrix structure.
• Assertive - Vocal when issues arise and takes action to resolve concerns.
• Planning and organising - Including planning, deadline management and attention to detail. Is highly organised, with a focus on execution, quality and improving processes.
• Output orientated - Drives delivery of outputs on time and to standard within the team. Efficiently manages deliverables in a high-volume environment.
• Is curious and adaptable, finds agile and rapid ways of answering business questions and implementing solutions fast. Plays an integral role in building Sixty60’s development muscle, constantly finding ways to leverage opportunities.