Quality Assurance Analyst - Test Manager

Tender description

Summary of the work Manage and develop the quality assurance processes and activities to support the development of a Northern Ireland Welfare Reform software application development project - Welfare Reform Mitigation Measures. Liaise with and coordinate in-house and externally sourced resources. Provide timely quality assurance advice and guidance to the project. Specialist role Quality assurance analyst Expected Contract Length 6 weeks Latest start date 09/01/2017 Maximum Day Rate £1000 Who Speclialist Work With You will report directly to the Department's technical lead on the project. You will be working on a daily basis alongside the Project Team, the internal IT development and support team, the Microsoft delivery team, the Department's client advisors - Ernst & Young and representatives from the business user community. What Specialists Work On 1. Manage and develop all aspects of the quality assurance processes and activities to support the development of a key Northern Ireland Welfare Reform application development project - Welfare Reform Mitigation Measures - to very challenging timescales. 2. Liaise with and coordinate in-house and externally sourced resources and expertise in a multi-vendor development and hosting environment built on the Microsoft Dynamic CRM 2013 platform to achieve best quality outcomes. 3. Provide timely quality assurance advice and guidance to the project Senior Responsible Owner, the Department's IT technical lead and the internal delivery team. Skills & Experience • Have extensive experience of developing and managing testing policies and supporting processes. (15 points) • Have experience of managing all testing activities within a range of system development/integration projects. (15 points) • Have experience of identifying, evaluating and managing all risks associated with testing and taking timely and effective preventative action. (10 points) • Have experience of providing advice and guidance to management on the practicality and impact of various testing options, recommending alternative processes and implementing improvements to testing processes. (10 points) • Be capable of determining appropriate project testing standards and influence all stakeholders to adopt and conform to those standards. (10 points) • Have experience of developing and managing harmonious relationships with all stakeholders involved in the development and testing function. (10 points) Nice to Haves • Have experience of testing in a Microsoft Dynamic CRM platform. (5 points) • Have experience of working in a multi-vendor development environment. (5 points) • Have experience of working with industry standard best practice methods and standards of ICT service design, ICT service transition and ICT service operations. (5 points) Work Location The Design Centre, Corporation Street, Belfast BT1 3BA Working Arrangments The Test Manager will be expected to work on site at the customer premises in Belfast on a full-time basis. The engagement is expected to last for a period of approximately 6 weeks leading to a key go-live date in February 2017. If the nature and volume of work can facilitate a reduction in hours for part of the assignment - the Department may consider a part-time working arrangement for part of the assignment. If expenses apply - these should be specified and factored into Price/day rates quoted. Security Clearance AccessNI - Basic Clearance is required. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 10 Cultural Fit Criteria • Be capable of working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team involving staff from the Department (technical and non-technical) and from other suppliers. (15 points) • Be prepared to be transparent and collaborative when making decisions. (5 points) • Have a no-blame culture and encourage people to learn from their mistakes. (5 points) • Take ownership and responsibility for their own work under the general direction of the Department's IT Lead. (10 points) • Be comfortable and prepared to share their knowledge and experience with other team members. (10 points) • Be prepared to challenge the status quo if required. (5 points) • Communicate in a manner that is timely, accurate, easily understood and appropriate to the intended audience. (10 points) • Be capable of identifying and evaluating priorities and manage available resources accordingly to meet challenging deadlines. (15 points) Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 10% Price 40% Questions from Suppliers 1. We have entered our pricing for QA Analyst up to QA Lead level and we have placed our management roles, including Test Manager under the other categories, e.g Programme Manager. Would it be possible to open the opportunity to include the Programme Manager role? No. The Quality Assurance Analyst - Test Manager will work as part of a multi-supplier/multi-disciplinary team in which the Programme Manager role is already covered through an existing commercial arrangement. 2. We are trying to apply for this role as the position of Test Manager is easily fulfilled in our niche market provision of functional and non-functional testing. However, when we try to enter the day rate (under £10000) the error message comes up "This can't be more than the maximum day rate you've already provided." The rate we are trying to enter is within the day rate range we submitted when applying to service the Digital Marketplace and below the max day rate of £1000. If possible, please advise. Sorry - unable to advise regarding the operation of the Digital Marketplace service. 3. Is Disclosure Scotland Basic Clearannce acceptable to commence the work whilst an applied for AccessNI clearance certificate is awaited? No. The requirement is as published and is the same for all bidders.