Job No:
ROLE PROFILE
Job Title: Lead Test Analyst
Current Job Holder(s):
Department: IT Operations
Date Created/By: 21/08/14 / Simon Walton
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
IT Operations provides the highest quality technology-based services, in the most cost-effective
manner, to support MPS’s business strategy and strategic change programme. The department
develops, enhances and manages applications and infrastructure through appropriate architecture
streams to provision highly effective, reliable, secure, and innovative information systems to support
MPS in its delivery of a world class service by exceptional staff.
ILLUSTRATIVE DIMENSIONS








User base circa 700
Circa 300 terminals / users connected through a VDI infrastructure spread across 3 sites to a
VMware View (Horizon 5.x) environment
Approximately 400 laptop users using Windows 7, centrally- configured/managed using VMware
Mirage
Current Microsoft technologies including Windows Server 2012 migration, Exchange 2010, CRM
2011 and SQL 2012 including clustering and web farm load balancing hosted on VMware5.x
architecture.
Circa 250 servers running on a VMware virtualised platform
Redundant Wide Area VPLS network connecting three UK based sites.
Dual 1GB links Leeds and London for BCP purpose.
IBM i v7r1 on an IBM System i, with 3 partitions (Live, Test and Development), replicated onto
similar machine, with single partition for HA. (To be decommissioned).
Large implementation to deliver a new Members’ Sales / Servicing system for UK and International
Members and Groups. Improve the Member experience through supporting multi-channel access and
efficient self-service processes, integrated front / back-end and case management systems. Deliver
seamless Member and staff processes, ensuring the security and integrity of information.
Implementation will increase terminal, laptops and infrastructure exponentially with an expected
additional 180 servers. Significant Data Warehouse implementation and greater architectural
complexity, integrating existing / new applications and Member self-service.
The Medical Protection Society is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and
healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 290,000
members around the world. Our benefits include access to indemnity, expert advice and peace of
mind. Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from
professional practice. Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to
avert problems in the first place.
JOB PURPOSE
To ensure that the Test Team carries out appropriate testing (e.g. Integration, system and regression
testing for example), which is relevant to the new release of a software application.
To ensure consistently high quality software releases of both in-house MPS software applications and
their interfaces to other relevant 3rd party applications into the Live IT environment. This will be
achieved through the creation of targeted test strategy / approach documentation followed by
appropriate design and execution of system and non-functional tests.
1
Job No:
ROLE PROFILE
To facilitate and support key business representatives to ensure comprehensive and successful User
Acceptance Testing occurs.
To proactively seek ways of improving the key activities of the team, including:




The quality, accuracy and fitness for purpose of software testing related project deliverables
The effectiveness of those elements of the MPS project methodology and approaches to project
delivery where Test team involvement is required.
The quality and range of software testing related services provided by the team, including test
specific reports during key stages of project delivery
Investigation and evaluation of up and coming trends, tools and techniques within the software
testing industry and how they can be successfully applied within MPS.
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Management responsibility for: Test Analysts (up to 5 reports max)
Reports to: Test Manager
Budgetary/financial framework: N/A
MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
Education/Qualifications/Training:



4+ years of software testing experience with strong hands-on skills
Experience across various testing phases – System, Integration, Regression, User Acceptance
Testing
Proven track record of leading and managing software testing teams
Required



















Commitment to quality in all aspects of work
Strong team player who leads by example and is able to work positively within any team
Flexible approach to work within the project delivery environment
Challenges preconceptions and focuses on the business problem/opportunity
Provides innovative and practical solutions to problems
Professional approach to both internal and external contacts
Coaching and mentoring team members
Sound knowledge of “best practice” for Software Testing
Formal / structured project management methodologies
Full software development lifecycle
Ability to manage relationships with other staff and team performance/motivation.
Ability to promote team working and develop the Test team
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong analytical and diagnostic skills
Strong negotiation skills
Risk and issues management
Critical thinking and problem solving skills
Organisation, planning and time management.
Able to report results to manager and system stakeholders in a timely and accurate manner
2
Job No:
ROLE PROFILE
Desired




Knowledge and strong appreciation of MS SharePoint
Knowledge and strong appreciation of MS Dynamics CRM
Experience in Insurance, legal and CRM systems
Enjoys learning and developing professional skills.
JOB EVALUATION FACTORS – (relevant information required for JE but not covered above.
formally used for JE this information may be stored separately from the main text of the JD)
Once
1. EXPERTISE – What expertise is required for the type of work carried out by this role?
What is the key purpose of the role and how does it differ from roles above and below?



Evidence of knowledge of current best practices in software testing
In-depth knowledge of software testing techniques
The role requires the post holder/s to act as the subject matter expert for software testing.
2. COMPLEXITY – How complex and ambiguous are the problems that are encountered by
this role and the type of decisions that are made at this level?


A requirement to balance day to day priorities with short to medium term priorities
The project elements of the role will require independent thinking and proposing solution
methods to their line manager or project leads
The user community often contains people from different departments and of differing
seniority. The role holder must be able to communicate effectively at all levels and present
information in varying degrees of technicality/ detail as the audience dictates
It is essential that the role holder establishes good working relationships with other
members of the IT Operations Team as their involvement will always be required at one
stage or another during the testing phases of MPS’s project lifecycle.


3. IMPACT – What is the overall impact of this role on the organisation and the scope for
driving the organisation forward? What is the influence of the role on the internal
organisation and its employees/associates?

The role is solutions focused and it is necessary for the role holder to make
recommendations on the best software testing practices to the Test Manager who will be
responsible for the ultimate decision making
Day to day operational decision making.

4. INFLUENCE – What types of relationships are required in this role? What type of
communication, influencing and persuading skills are required for this role?

The role will interact with a range of people at different levels in the organisation to provide
IT advice and support
The role holder will work on projects that have an IT development and test requirement. The
projects will often have senior stakeholders and the role holder will require a level of
credibility, influence and impact to work at this level
The role holder may act as the test lead for the testing aspect of IT projects with the
guidance and support of the designated project manager and Test Manager


3
Job No:
ROLE PROFILE
5. RESOURCES – What resources are they responsible for managing? People, technology,
finance and third party relationship management.

The role holder will build appropriate relationships with 3rd party application providers such
that optimal solutions are in place and recommended at all times.
The role holder will line manage a small number of resources, initially 1, although this may
increase over time.

I confirm that this is a true and accurate reflection of this job.
JOBHOLDER signature:
Print Name:
Date:
LINE MANAGER/SUPERVISOR signature:
Print Name:
Date:
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT (if different from Line Manager above) signature:
Print Name:
Date:
4