Test & Validation Specialist

Hemel Hempstead

5 days on site

DV clearance required

6 months+

This role is responsible for functionally leading a team of Test Practitioners conducting the Test and Validation function for a number of key UK business, Government and Defence contracts.

The role holder will create, own and maintain the test and validation strategy for high profile, high value and highly complex project deliveries.

The role holder will assure the integrity of test activities and ensure they are conducted to agreed quality standards.

The role holder will be required to conduct a test architect function to support bid development through the application of their knowledge of the specialism to the activities performed by the test organisation.

The role holder will ensure new or changed Service and Ops delivery processes (C2M, L2C, T2R) will cater for the growing needs of Customers, meeting their requirements and expectations. These new Services expand the BT offering/portfolio, increase BT sales and profitability and will overall ensure Customers remain with BT.

The purpose is to improve the existing Services and ops processes in order to improve business performance, improve efficiency, reduce costs, improve RFT and improve the overall customer experience.

This is a mission critical function due to the significance and profile of the contracts supported. Without this role BT would be unable to meet its contractual obligations, and would be at risk of financial and reputational impact.

What I'll be doing - your accountabilities

• The role holder is accountable for the completion of Test activities on high profile, high value and highly complex, project deliveries (including secure), to agreed quality standards and in-line with the test strategy. Plans and oversees full lifecycle integration testing to support projects from Bid stage through AIS and in-life.
• The role holder is accountable for the creation and quality of all testing documentation (plans, reports, scripts) in line with the testing strategy and accountable for the integrity of the test scripts developed within the teams remit, ensuring they meet the customers agreed requirements and are fit for purpose.The role holder is responsible for assessing, impacting, co-ordinating and allocating work to Test Practitioners.
• The role holder acts as project wide escalation point for all testing matters, liaising with internal/external stakeholders and escalating to the T&V Manager as required; interacting with customers and senior internal stakeholders including project and programme managers to gather insight and feedback to inform testing requirements and approach.
• The role holder will develop plans to define the depth of testing required, data sources and key deliverables in conjunction with technical staff.
• The role holder will conduct test activities at BT core sites and/or customer / supplier sites to assess the impact, functional operation and non-functional capability of a solution.
• The role holder will identify and analyse defects or issues to understand impacts, RCA, severity. Priority and risks - reporting on and discussing findings to enable mitigation.
• The role holder will deliver quality test diagnostics to report on accuracy, quality, and number of errors and whether customer requirements are being met.
• The role holder will apply best practice techniques, using expertise to tailor the test approach depending on the needs of the project.
• The role holder will perform rigorous, complex testing and inspections to evaluate quality, performance, resilience and other non-functional capabilities.
• The role holder will identify solutions to resolve complex problems.
• The role holder will champion the adoption of best practice.
• The role holder may be required to manage multiple deliveries simultaneously, whilst ensuring the integrity of the Test and Validation role is maintained.
• The role holder will report and communicate progress internally and may require regular engagement with the customer.
• The role holder will be a recognised SME and visible leader within own operational team - coaching and continuously improving capability of Test Practitioners and peers. Provides coaching/support within their area and shares knowledge with wider team.
• The role holder will provide expert test specific bid response detail - working with the bid managers / PM / technical and Service team(s) to develop bid content. Will analyse contract documents to define customer requirements to ensure contract adherence.

Skills required for the job

• Expert level understanding of Test and Validation processes and procedures.
• Required to be security cleared ranging from SC. NPPV2 & 3 through to DV clearance
• Experienced in the Winning New Business process and the Shipley methods for BT's bid support, using creative thinking to answer to ITT questions and make key contributions to support high-scoring responses backed up with efficiently sized forecasts and justified risks.
• May be required to interface directly with the customer at operational and director levels. Face to face visits to customer site may be required.
• Drives improvements to the Test and Validation process - is responsible for the integrity / maintenance.
• Strong customer focus and drive to provide proactive, pre-emptive and best in class service.
• Possesses the ability to take well-evaluated risks and be audacious in making decisions and taking action
• Must have technical understanding QA/Static testing of documentation.
• Will provide Design review / input, Security requirement analysis and input to Business continuity plans.
• Required to report / communicate with Director / Head of / Senior Manager for project updates.
• Capable of designing a new Service by considering data, analysing impacted systems and tools, analysing the impact on people from a variety of business functions and locations, being able to choose the best strategy/approach, defining system requirements, process definitions and operational support wraps.
• Service and Continuous Improvement, gap identification and analysis, root cause analysis, process re-engineering, able to provide training to teams from various business functions and overall delivery manage the improvement.
• Qualified at ISTQB advanced or equivalent level.

Experience you would be expected to have

• Significant experience in working in an IT environment using the ITIL framework (MANDATORY)
• In depth knowledge of Managed Customer Solutions landscape (MANDATORY)
• Understanding of how effective implementation of Managed Services will enable the business to be best in class in the industry (MANDATORY)
• Strong understanding of Test and Validation processes and procedures (MANDATORY)
• Security Clearance to the required level (MANDATORY)
• Strong understanding on ITIL framework - qualified to ITIL v3 Foundation - will attain ITIL 4 Foundation within 6 months of appointment to role and Expert equivalent level within 18 months (MANDATORY)