QA Manager

Position Title: Manager, IT Quality Assurance

Location: Winnipeg or Calgary

The Manager, IT Quality Assurance is a key strategic role responsible for the overall testing strategy and execution spanning multiple technology implementations. The role has direct ownership and accountability for testing and testing teams spanning multiple products and teams partnering with Portfolio Leads, Product Owners, Architects, RTEs and other stakeholders. Collaborates closely alongside other Leaders to ensure integrated systems consistently meet or exceed the quality standards expected by our customers and internal partners. Ensures all migrations, greenfield implementations and on-going enhancements are tested effectively and efficiently and high quality outcomes are maintained. Responsible for influencing QE policy decisions as they apply to the design, development, testing and delivery of application software across our client. Ensures that products, applications, and systems are built and maintained in a manner that consistently meets or exceeds the quality standards expected by our customers and internal partners.

This role utilizes broad Quality Engineering and Software Engineering expertise needed to drive our testing engagements and to contribute to the ongoing evolution and roadmaps supporting broader Test Engineering practices. Drives and takes ownership of the testing roadmaps, projects and deliverables supporting the Portfolios they oversee. Directly engages and builds collaborative relationships with IT Partners, Business Stakeholders and Quality Engineering vendor(s). Ensures quality governance standards are being consistently adhered to and delivered in a cost-effective fashion. This Quality Leader will be a strong advocate and champion of Agile delivery supported by “Shift Left” testing, optimized test automation, Test Data Management (TDM) and integrated testing supporting CI/CD pipelines.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelinesActively contributes and provides input and oversight into IT Quality Assurance strategy, decisions and execution across supported areas.
• Actively participates in defining and implementing the TCOE Tooling & Practices Roadmap supporting functional and non-functional test automation frameworks, application life cycle, test data management, environment provisioning, defect tracking and quality metrics. Stays informed on new and trending technology, tooling and practices supporting QE and related practices.
• Engages with internal and external partners/vendors to advise, promote and measure adherence of Quality Engineering best practices, policies, tooling, governance and reporting.
• Works with vendor partners supporting our clients technology environment to ensure reliable, cost effective and optimized business operations and customer support.
• Promotes and facilitates expanded use of Automated Testing, Test Data Management, integrated testing supporting CI/CD and Test Driven Development (TDD) across supported areas.
• Is a champion of SAFe Agile and provides influence and engagement expertise. Ensures testing teams are properly integrated within agile scrum teams utilizing quality engineering principles, tooling and techniques that are appropriate to the supported platforms.
• Provides input into key decision-making activities with IT Leadership by advising on best practices and providing alternative solutions to complex issues during project execution as needed to ensure adequate quality and governance. Leads projects with moderate to large resource requirements, risk, and/or complexity in area of responsibility. Works independently with guidance in only the most complex situations.
• Ensures effective administration of, and compliance with, all applicable client processes, procedures, and controls related to IT Quality Assurance through active monitoring, reporting and governance. Drive action on improvement priorities by summarizing trends identified, actions taken, and results defined by key metrics.
• Oversees estimation and staffing exercises and assists in the management of budgets across Quality Engineering Services.

May perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Possesses multiple areas of specialization spanning software quality practices & principles, testing standards & best practices, integrated tooling, test case management, automated testing, test data management (TDM), testing governance and quality analytics. Possesses broad IT experience spanning development, testing and release management.
• Hands-on expertise with Guidewire PolicyCenter and associated testing patterns and strategies is a plus. Experience on Guidewire ClaimsCenter and BillingCenter are a plus.
• Solid technical experience and strategical knowledge of multiple test automation disciplines and models spanning API, Web, Data, Comparative, Distributed, TDD, BDD, DDT etc. Previous experience building and leveraging automated testing is mandatory.
• Previous experience supporting a metrics driven quality governance practice. Possesses expertise and experience optimizing software testing and improving overall quality by embracing technology, tooling and analytics. History of promoting a “Shift Left” and “Automate First” culture and mindset.
• Knowledgeable and current on technologies and tooling supporting integrated testing as part of CI/CD Pipeline and release progression practices. Hands-on experience with Google Cloud and/or AWS a plus
• Solid ability to influence and collaborate with our clients business and IT leadership to define service goals, objectives, and metrics through the application of specialized knowledge of concepts, principles and practices in IT QE.
• Has developed cross-team roadmaps and facilitated the planning through execution while monitoring progress and results against strategic goals.
• Acts as a thought leader in researching and presenting innovative ways to solve complex QE/Testing issues. Ability to think analytically, critically and creatively in an outcome-based model to identify viable options from conception to execution
• Excellent project management skills and ability to organize and plan effectively to meet project goals in an Agile environment and working through multiple IT vendors across disciplines.
• Proactively engages and collaborates with other leaders across our clients Technology to ensure needed business subject matter expertise and skillsets are in place for testing design, development and execution.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with internal and external business partners at all levels.
• Proven ability to work well under pressure while maintaining a professional image and approach. Acts with a sense of urgency while achieving quality results and identifying and resolving problems and issues within the scope of responsibility.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related work experience. Advanced degree preferred.
• Typically 5+ years in a Leadership/Management role within Quality Engineering/Quality Assurance
• 10+ years of Information Technology experience spanning IT Applications Development, or Quality Engineering
• Experience managing and maximizing IT vendor partner relationships.
• Extensive knowledge of testing frameworks and practices supporting functional, performance, security and accessibility testing in a dev/ops culture. GT Framework experience a plus.
• Extensive Quality Engineering experience supporting Agile, Scrum and/or SAFe delivery methodologies.
• Experience supporting Commercial Lines is a plus
• IT Quality Assurance & Guidewire certifications are a plus.

Job 70542