Quality Assurance & Tester

Job Summary

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America's most international university. UBC is a diverse environment, with almost every industry vertical represented from healthcare, education, food and beverage, legal, media, real estate, etc. and with more than 70,000 members of the community UBC's service providers need to be able to meet a variety of stakeholder needs with both robust and mature operational capabilities combined with the agility and innovation required to meet the ambitious objectives laid out in its new Strategic Plan: Shaping UBC's Next Century.

The Integrated Service Centre ("ISC") is a newly formed unit within UBC that will align practices and processes from Human Resource, Financial Operations, Comptroller's Office, Student Services, and Information Technology. In supporting UBC's transition to an enterprise Workday Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") Cloud-based system, the ISC will provide a single, integrated service that will initially include Financial and Human Capital management services and later expand to include Student and Enterprise Planning. The ISC will seek to continuously improve and adapt to future needs and requirements of UBC while providing a simple, intuitive, consistent user experience for UBC students, staff, faculty, and community partners.

The Quality Assurance & Tester (QAT) prepares and executes complex testing for product development and deployment of updates and improvements for the University Community. This Incumbent applies subject matter expertise and critical thinking to develop strategic plans for designing, running and tracking testing activities, managing defect triage processes. Provides reporting to senior leadership on test quality indicators and improving testing processes and standards.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

Reports to the ISC Project Manager. Works in partnership on a team that is accountable for executing the delivery of releases, enhancements and product major changes. Partners across the Application Sustainment team to provide effective improvement services. Frequently engages across the ISC to understand product roadmap and backlog, including interdependencies and impacts.

WORK PERFORMED

1) Provides technical leadership in the development of quality assurance strategies and in the definition and implementation of test environments for total testing solutions of all information systems programs and projects for the ISC.
- Defines, designs and articulates comprehensive and in-depth quality assurance strategies, approaches and plans for software projects.
- Designs project test plans, QA approaches and processes. Ensures sufficient breadth and depth of testing approach. Advises project managers of QA effort required.
- Leads implementation of quality assurance initiatives, develops and manages project budgets, ensures that quality standards and practices are followed, and coordinates work of technical teams.
- Establishes quality assurance and/or quality control policies in accordance with best practices, defines benchmarks and measures, devises improvements to current procedures, and develops models of possible future configurations.
- Leads the development of functionality, regression, and testing solutions as well as the development of test plans for both existent and new software/products.
- Create and maintain a comprehensive library of regression testing and manage appropriate archival QA documentation.
- Responsible for the identification of test requirements from defined specifications, mapping test case requirements, and designing test coverage plans.
- Measure and monitor progress during each test to ensure that the software application is tested, validated, and piloted on time and within budget, and that it meets or exceeds expectations.
- Lead the research, testing, and preparation of quality management reviews, ensuring adherence to all quality management plans and standards
- Designs project test plans, QA approaches and processes. Ensures sufficient breadth and depth of testing approach. Advises project managers of QA effort required.
- Leads implementation of quality assurance initiatives, develops and manages project budgets, ensures that quality standards and practices are followed, and, where applicable, coordinates work of technical teams.
- Establishes quality assurance and/or quality control policies in accordance with best practices, defines benchmarks and measures, devises improvements to current procedures, and develops models of possible future configurations.
- Assesses testing needs and makes recommendations on testing approach and priorities.
- Creates test plans, scenarios, and test cases and performs functional, application and regression testing.
- Ensures test cases are mapped to business processes and underlying data.
- Executes testing and validation of product to confirm quality conformance to specifications and end-user requirements.
- Identifies, analyzes, and documents issues using the QA Test Lifecycle process
- Proactively identifies opportunities for the use of automated testing and leads the analysis, selection and use of automated testing tools including the development and maintenance of test scripts.
- Applies a methodical problem solving approach to test related issues to determine failure point; traces issues back to the source and replicates the incident to ensure its replicable and potential solutions address the full scope and proposes solutions to encountered issues.
- Develops standards for reporting issues in a clear, concise and in a timely manner.
- Work with cross-functional teams to ensure quality is maintained through all phases of development and software configuration.

2) Develops and fosters effective partnerships across the ISC and across UBC.
- Partners across the ISC to align work, priorities and practices and to determine if enhancements and changes meet University needs and are operating as designed.
- Partners with UBC IT to support the definition and guidance of the Delivery team's business needs, processes, and interdependencies as appropriate.
- Conducts and/or leads audits of quality requirements, analyzing results to ensure appropriate quality standards and operational definitions are in place and aligned with UBC IT guidelines and industry best practices.

3) Advocates for a partnership that moves UBC's practices from ""system of record" to "platform of engagement" through collaborative and innovative efforts.
- Solicits feedback fostering an agile, innovative, and collaborative transformation experience.
- Partners with relevant stakeholders to resolve issues related to engagement, adoption, sustainment, and continuous improvement.

4) Actively promotes best practices in the security and privacy of personal information and data; makes recommendations to improve processes and procedures where necessary.

5) Performs other related duties as required.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

Contributes to the broader Application Sustainment team and UBC's IT strategies. Supports decision-making regarding the design and maintenance of an existing large, complex and campus-wide product. Focusing on partnerships and product delivery will ensure optimal functionality and customer satisfaction in support of ISC's strategic goals.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Reports to the ISC Project Manager. Work in partnership on a team with wide latitude across the ISC. Work is reviewed in terms of quality, achievement against objectives, and focus on collaboration and innovation.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

Acts a mentor or coach to peers as required.

Minimum qualifcaitons

- Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. In-depth knowledge of applications and the business requirements supporting them. Minimum of five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred qualifcaitons

Demonstrated competency working throughout all aspects of the software development processes with knowledge of a wide variety of testing approaches, techniques, and tools.

Proven skills related to managing testing of configured COTS solutions on cloud products and various integrated point solutions.

Demonstrated knowledge of test case and defect management tools, data validation, integration, and report testing.

Advanced experience working with a variety of software including Jira, Confluence and ticketing systems, such as ServiceNow.

Proven experience working on cross-functional teams and communicating to a diverse audience.

Certifications in one or more of the following test management or testing certifications are an asset: ISTQB, ASQ, PMI-RMP. ITIL is an asset.

Workday experience is an asset.

Experience working in a complex, academic environment is preferred. UBC experience is considered an asset.

Excellent interpersonal skills including active listening, written and verbal communication, and conflict management.

Proven ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and work under pressure to meet critical, time sensitive deadlines.

Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and inclusive manner, fostering equitable experiences and a respectful environment through reflection, empathy, sensitivity, and curiosity towards differences across teams.