Quality Manager

Department Purpose and Structure
The Business Solutions Management team are responsible for the management of projects, typically (but not exclusively) involving the development and implementation of business processes and standards to meet identified business needs, acquiring and utilising the necessary resources and skills, within agreed parameters of cost, timescales, and quality.
The Quality Manager on a day to day basis reports to the Technology Programme Manager, however, they have functional responsibility to the Quality and Development Manager.

Role Purpose
The Quality Manager assists the Quality and Development Manager in implementing quality assurance strategies that improve the quality of products delivered by Business Solutions. The Quality Manager is responsible for managing the test team, planning and monitoring all of the testing they perform. In addition they are responsible for the Dev and CTE Environments.

Key Relationships
Project Teams
Global IT Support and Service management Teams
Supplier(s)
Business Stakeholders

Job Description
Role and Responsibilities:
Business IT / Strategy
Ensures Quality standards are aligned to overall Business and IT strategies
Develops, facilitates approval of and implements strategies and plans for improving the Dev and CTE environments
Analysis
Applies system & data analysis, modelling and quality assurance techniques, based upon a detailed understanding of business processes, to establish, modify or maintain the Dev and CTE Environment
Testing
Promotes quality testing and performance improvement throughout Allen & Overy
Reviews test processes and recommends improvements, driving the Allen & Overy testing strategy
Coordinates and manages planning of the system and acceptance tests within a development or integration project or programme
Takes responsibility for integrity of testing and acceptance activities and coordinates the execution of these activities.
Support the assessment of suppliers' development and testing capabilities
Selects project testing standards for all phases, influencing all parties to conform to those standards
Supplier Management
Monitors supplier performance, collects performance data and investigates problem
Maintains good relationships with channel managers and business partners to facilitate the creation of quality business requirements

Risk Management
Monitors the development of contingency plans.
Quality, Methods & Tools
Develops and implements good practices that improve product quality
Signs off quality plans produced for projects and programmes
Specifies procedures for the assessment of an activity, process, product or service against industry standards
Provides advice to management on ways of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of control mechanisms.
Facilitates improvements to processes by changing approaches and working practices, typically using recognised models

Key requirements:
Business Competencies
Strong attention to detail
Ability to work under pressure without compromising quality
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Knowledge
Good knowledge of different software development methodologies e.g. waterfall, agile etc
Broad knowledge of different technologies, architectures and application types
Strong understanding of testing methodology and test tools
Experience
At least 8 years experience of application development and testing
At least 3 years IT management experience
Experience of formal software engineering and quality assurance methods (e.g. CMMI or Six Sigma) is desirable

Qualifications
Qualifications – ideally the candidate should have the following or equivalent:
Degree qualified – preferred
Minimum “A” level standard education
· PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification
· ISEB/ISTQB Foundation Course

For further information on this position please contact William Cranston on 02890 325325 or to view a full job description for this role, please visit www.brightwaterNI.com/allenovery