Test Manager (ARE) ( 2738)

Job summary

As a newly created Test Manager role, you will provide technical leadership for the functional, automation and performance test teams within the Division, in addition to providing guidance and advice to the Directorate’s user acceptance test function. You will own ARE’s Test Strategy and engage with stakeholders across and outwith the Directorate, forming productive relationships to deliver value and build confidence in the critical assurance activities.

This post reports to the Head of Software Engineering (C2) at the heart of the Digital Service Operations branch, which is responsible for the effective running of ARE’s digital services.

The Agriculture and Rural Economy (ARE) Directorate of the Scottish Government is part of the DG Net Zero family of Directorates. ARE’s mission is to work together with stakeholders to enable vibrant and thriving communities and businesses, that protect and enhance Scotland’s nature. ARE relies on digital services to deliver its commitment to support Scotland’s sustainable economic growth in agriculture, the food industry and in rural areas. It does this through direct payments; a broad range of best practice support and education; and ensuring compliance with regulations.

For example, approximately £600 million is paid annually to customers using the major Rural Payments and Services (RP&S) digital platform and other supporting systems. ARE Digital and Data (AD&D) is responsible for providing the capability and capacity that ensures these digital services are reliable, secure and up to date. This requires a broad range of technical competencies, mostly provided by in-house and contracted specialists working in multidisciplinary teams.

Job description

• Shape the testing function through recruitment and development, including training and addressing skills gaps.
• Creation, implementation, and continued maintenance of the Directorate’s Test Policy/Strategy.
• Provide recommendations on test tooling and techniques, implementing and embedding these into standard practices in the overall QA approach, including automation and service validation.
• Responsibility for seeking industry best practices and advising on QA improvements, such as refining existing processes or creating new ones and embedding automation.
• Liaise with stakeholders to establish and maintain the risk-based test approach to all areas of testing, including system, SIT, and OAT, with a strong appreciation for promoting test automation.
• Work closely with delivery and product teams to manage timelines, test coverage, and overall test quality across the portfolio.
• Oversee multiple work streams and assure all test deliverables on the work stream adhere to the standards defined in policy. This includes supplier-led deliveries, regular maintenance updates, and small to medium-sized deliveries.
• Responsible for portfolio management, including establishing and maintaining influential relationships across the work stack and future-proofing the team’s capability.
• Take responsibility for talent, succession planning, and supplier management.
• Establish and maintain influential relationships with teams internal and external to the Digital team with the view of implementing policy and/or consulting on best practices.
• Lead on remediation and coordination between multiple teams in the pursuit of resolving defects.
• Report on progress, risks, issues, and dependencies at all stages of test delivery.
• Accountable for all test documentation, including processes to adhere to compliance and auditability.

Person specification

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job, and they include the mix of experience, skills and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience:

1. Lead Criteria 1 - You Lead It: Proven experience of leading a test function across functional and non-functional testing in an authoritative position, providing advice and guidance on test planning and execution, and working with external delivery suppliers.
2. Lead Criteria 2 - You Design It: Experience of designing and executing a wide range of testing techniques, and communicating test results and expectations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
3. You Collaborate: Demonstrable ability to work effectively with cross-functional business and technical teams.
4. You Know It: In-depth knowledge/qualification of industry standards for testing, including Test automation frameworks and products, and a solid understanding of the risks presented by delivery.

Experience is assessed at sift, along with a more in-depth assessment at interview.

Technical Skills:

This role is aligned to the Test Manage Job Role within the Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) Job Family.

You can find out more about the skills required, here:

These skills are assessed by technical assessment, designed to represent the role. Candidates reaching this stage will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack which outlines the specific skills to be assessed, plus the method of assessment.

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving (Level 4)

• Making Effective Decisions (Level 4)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, .

Behaviours are assessed at interview. Full details will be shared in advance with all candidates invited to this stage.

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet each of the 4 Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above.

Candidates will have their applications assessed against all Experience criteria. If a large number of applications are received an initial sift will be conducted on the Lead Criteria highlighted above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and GDD Technical assessment where the behaviours, experiences and technical skills outlined in the Success Profile will be assessed.

The sift is scheduled for w/c Monday 28th September.

Interviews and Technical assessments are scheduled for w/c Monday 19th October, however these may be subject to change.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• This role is aligned to the Test Manage Job Role within the Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) Job Family. You can find out more about the skills required, here:Test manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,111, Scottish Government contributes £17,993 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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, Experience and Technical skills.Apply using link provided.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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.

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 : Siddartha Behera
• Email : Digitalcareers@gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot