Principal Test and Assurance Lead
- NHS
- Full Time
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- 57528.00 - 64750.00 a year
Job Description
Job summary
Are you passionate about driving quality and raising testing standards across complex digital services, making a real impact on the services that people rely on every day? If you're excited by the idea of using your testing expertise to influence major digital change, this could be the ideal next step for you.
The Future Workforce Solution (FWS) programme is shaping the next-generation workforce system for over 1.9 million NHS staff across England and Wales, building on the success of the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) which supports HR and payroll for 7% of the UK workforce and processes £45 billion annually.
As a Principal Test and Assurance Lead, you'll play a central role in this major national digital transformation programme.
If you want to be part of an organisation that values People, is driven by Purpose, and is committed to your progress, enabling you to continue to grow your career, we'd love to hear from you.
What do we offer?
o Hybrid working - offering flexibility to work predominantly from home with the opportunity to be office based should you prefer, or if business needs require it.o 27 days leave (increasing with length of service) plus 8 bank holidays.o Opportunities for developmento Active wellbeing and inclusion networkso Excellent pensiono Various salary sacrifice schemeso Employee Assistance programme, offering free 24/7 support for you and your loved oneso Access to a wide range of benefits and high street and online discounts
Main duties of the job
In this role, you'll lead test assurance activities for the Future Workforce Solution (FWS), helping to ensure that testing is carried out to a high standard and delivers the best outcomes for users, suppliers, and stakeholders.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading test and assurance activities to support the delivery of the FWS programme.
- Applying your passion for test and quality assurance to support best practice across a wide range of testing disciplines.
- Providing expert advice on software testing, guiding the programme in line with our Quality Assurance Framework.
- Building positive relationships and communicating effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, suppliers, commissioners and project teams.
- Supporting and enabling the growth of skills within the test assurance team, contributing to a strong and supportive professional community.
- Ensuring that risks, user needs, timelines and delivery challenges are balanced and well managed throughout testing activities.
For a more detailed breakdown of the role and responsibilities please take a look at the job description attached to the advert. We welcome conversations about this opportunity, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you want to find out more.
About us
Here at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), what we do matters.
We manage the NHS Pension scheme, process prescription payments and much more. Our services are used by NHS organisations, contractors and the public: we're proud to be part of something meaningful, that touches millions of lives.
We design our services around customer needs and place people at the heart of our organisation. That's why when you join us, you'll be empowered and supported to help your career grow.
As one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, we're connected to our values: Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We care about our people, our purpose, and your progress.
We strive to offer a fantastic colleague experience, where every colleague is heard, supported and respected. Wellbeing, diversity and inclusion is at the centre of this, and you can join our Lived Experience Networks who help us bring our authentic selves to work.
We're committed to being a flexible employer and we try to offer a working pattern that suits you where possible, through hybrid working, flexible hours and more.
Alongside a competitive salary with pay progression, we offer a people-centric benefits package, connecting you to the rewards and benefits you value most!
Ready to join us in delivering business service excellence to the NHS, helping people live longer, healthier lives? Apply today and see where the NHSBSA can take you.
We are people connected to care.
Job responsibilities
In this role, you are accountable for: Specialist Skills 1. Provide in-depth test and assurance expertise and consultation across all areas of DDaT in a wide range of test areas including, but not limited to:a. Functional integration acceptance testing (including UI, API and database)b. Accessibility testingc. Compatibility testingd. Performance testinge. Security test techniquesf. Data processing testingg. Data migration validation2. Support multiple test and assurance teams across DDaT services to achieve efficient delivery of quality outcomes, promoting both functional and non-functional testing.3. Provide feedback on solution designs, specifications, functional and non-functional requirements to ensure proposed solutions are testable and the overall needs of the business and users are being met.4. Define, document and socialise NHSBSA test standards, methods and tools in line with international test standards and best practice. Ensure they are applied effectively across DDaT and are iterated to provide continuous improvement.5. Design and execute a wide range of testing techniques and approaches. Make decisions on the appropriateness of the scope of testing. Ensure the appropriateness of test tools used, the test data design and the test environment(s) in which DDaT test. Communicate test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, alerting the business to defects, helping to prioritise them based on defect severity.6. Manage the assurance of software test activities across a range of projects including internally built, 3rd party partnerships and fully outsourced deliveries. Develop appropriate measures and processes to provide sufficient insight into project delivery health. Identify trends and anomalies, reporting at agreed frequency on development needs and deviations from standards.7. Ensure appropriate governance of quality controls and test practices are followed through the use and implementation of assurance processes such as code, peer, lead and release reviews to ensure quality code is being delivered into the test environments and beyond. Ensure test practices follow a risk-based approach within the agreed risk appetite.8. Take the lead on investigative work into problems and opportunities in existing processes, absorbing large amounts of conflicting and complex information, taking the opportunity to think creatively, ask the right questions and critically evaluate and communicate findings.9. Lead and support the Test Community of Practice, being accountable for test and assurance specialists aligned to your designated projects and services.10. Act as an escalation point for test and assurance issues arising across the project delivery lifecycle. Apply experience and collaboration skills to find appropriate solutions, coordinating with professionals from within and outside of the project team as necessary.11. Innovate and horizon scan to ensure DDaT and the Test Community is kept abreast of the latest technological developments and advances in software testing. Planning and implementing where possible to support innovative and creative delivery of Testing via workshops, proof of concepts and showcases.12. Identify programme and DDaT level risks and issues within software testing across multiple services and raise through appropriate channels.13. Identify, prioritise and lead the strategic implementation of risk mitigations, improvements and efficiencies, ensuring that the organisation derives maximum value across multiple services.
Knowledge management 14. Take an active, lead role in your professional development. Keep up to date with the latest technologies and software testing standards and best practice, through self-directed and NHSBSA organised learning activities.15. Identify, investigate and champion the application of emerging technologies, test techniques and approaches within software testing and assurance.16. Identify and support opportunities for teams to develop their skills to meet the changing needs of the business. Take ownership for decision making within your area, seeking support and feedback to develop well thought out solutions, processes and work as required, and in conjunction with agreed procedures.Relationship management17. Foster relationships and partnership, to identify and deliver value to the organisation.18. Collaborate across multiple disciplines to achieve strategic aims, ensuring consistent approaches, methods, standards, and patterns are holistically applied:a. Delivery and Product Ownershipb. User Centred Designc. Architectured. Securitye. Dataf. Developmentg. Platform, including DevOpsh. Live Supporti. Commercialsj. Finance19. Work with People Managers to identify, implement and support team and individual development, career progression, performance management, providing mentorship and guidance for other software test and assurance resource. 20. Consult with wider UK Government departments and agencies, and industry to define and achieve strategic aims.21. Deputise for the Head of Software Engineering as required.Information management22. Maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information systems through ...
