Test Assurance Analyst

Job summary

The National Crime Agency require a strong test assurance function to ensure alignment of testing standards and practices across all deliveries within the NCA. The Test Assurance Analyst will assure any testing conducted across the agency, ensuring alignment to the test policy and strategy. This is to ensure NCA systems are fit for purpose and ready for use by officers protecting the public from serious and organised crime.

Job description

The Test Assurance Analyst will support the Test Assurance Manager in providing independent oversight and assurance of testing activities across a portfolio of projects and programmes. The role will ensure that suppliers and internal delivery teams adhere to agreed testing standards, governance, and quality expectations. The role requires a flexible and pragmatic approach to assurance, balancing risk, quality, and delivery needs.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate experience in test management, test assurance, or quality governance across various delivery environments.

Whilst this opportunity is advertised as available for part time workers, please note that the role requires a minimum of 30 hours per week (specific hours negotiable Monday-Friday).

This role is available on a permanent basis. However, qualifying candidates may opt for a 2-year loan or secondment if preferred.

This post aligns with Quality Assurance Test Analyst within the Government Digital and Data (GDAD) capability framework.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide Assurance & Oversight - Provide independent assurance on the adequacy, completeness, and quality of test strategies, plans, approaches, and evidence across internal and supplier-led projects.
• Risk Management - Identify gaps, risks, and issues in testing and escalate them with recommendations for resolution.
• Stakeholder Management - Maintain effective working relationships with project teams, suppliers, business stakeholders, and assurance colleagues. Assess supplier and internal test deliverables for compliance, quality, and risk coverage.
• Continuous Improvement - Contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement in test assurance practices.
• Monitor Test Compliance - Monitor adherence to agency and programme test policies, standards, and assurance frameworks.

Person specification

• Test Assurance or Test Management experience - Experience in test management, test assurance, or quality governance across complex, multi-supplier delivery environments. Ability to review and critique test documentation and evidence objectively.
• Knowledge of testing methodologies - Understanding of software testing methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid) and quality management principles.
• Stakeholder management - Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills, including the ability to challenge constructively.
• Pragmatism - Pragmatic and flexible approach, able to adapt to differing levels of delivery maturity and assurance capability.
• Analytical - Analytical and detail-oriented, with a focus on risk and quality.
• Team Work - Works effectively with others to focus on and achieve joint outcomes, rather than individual goals.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,326, National Crime Agency contributes £13,130 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).

Other benefits include:

• Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
• Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
• Housing schemes - Key Worker status
• Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway , Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
• Staff support groups/networks
• Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)

Further information is available on the NCA Website.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Experience

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following:

Experience - This will be assessed:

CV

Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.

Details of what is expected within you CV are as follows: Please ensure that your CV demonstrates your experience in test management, test assurance, or quality governance across various delivery environments.

Experience Criteria - will be assessed by 500 word examples on:

• Experience of managing and completing end to end testing of a new service or functionality.

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

Longlist

In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.

- Experience of managing and completing end to end testing of a new service or functionality.

Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit:
NCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

• Working Together

• Communicating and Influencing

• Making Effective Decisions

Experience

• Experience of managing and completing end to end testing of a new service or functionality.

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.
If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.
Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.

In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:

1. Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
2. If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
3. If still tied, application sift scores will be used

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.

You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.

Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.

We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.

Professional testing certification (e.g., International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Advanced Test Manager or equivalent).

Experience in government or regulated sectors.

Virtual Open Evening Event

To find out more about this role and the application process we will be holding a virtual opening evening via MS Teams on Thursday 22nd January 2026 at 6.00pm. The event should last about an hour.

This event is by invitation only.

To register for the event, please click on the following link [NCA DDaT Test Assurance - Recruitment Virtual Event, Thursday 22nd January 2026 – Fill out form].

You will be asked for your name and email address. Please make sure you spell your email address correctly, or else we will not be able to send out your invite.

Registration will close on Wednesday 21st January 2026 at 12.00pm. You will not be able to register after this date and time.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.