Testing Manager (6 Month FTC)

About the role

The ZCS Implementation Project Testing Manager will be responsible for executing and supporting test activities during implementation projects or programmes for Zellis’ Strategic and Enterprise customers.

The ZCS Implementation Project Testing Manager must have excellent stakeholder management and client relationship building skills and will be responsible for the successful support, execution, reporting back on various phases of testing and measurement of various phases of testing over multiple customer projects. This role will work closely with the ZCS Implementation project or programme manager, ZCS application consultants and the bespoke delivery teams. They will also partner with customer programme, project and test managers and testers to achieve the relevant delivery milestones on time, at the highest level of quality and on budget.

In this role your key responsibilities will be:

• The Test Manager will be the key point of contact for all customer-related testing activities. This includes managing customer expectations, communicating test results and status updates, and maintaining a positive and productive relationship with customers.
• Collaborate with project managers, developers, and other team members to ensure timely and efficient delivery of testing services
• Excellent ability to work with cross functional teams and promote best practice across QAT
• Responsible for Test Planning, Test Strategy, Defect Management, Risk Mitigation Plans.
• Work closely with Test Analysts & Application Consultants (for Zellis, customer and third parties) in troubleshooting critical defects on defect resolution.
• Working with Application Consultants (for Zellis, customer and third parties) to agree priority of work for a given period and to ensure this is achieved as planned.
• Participated in Daily Scrum Meeting and Weekly Meeting project meetings and providing test status by highlighting risks.
• Facilitate and own Defect Triage meeting and informing Senior Management of Risks / Issues discovered while testing.
• Finding and assigning resources for the different tasks that have been defined.
• Experience in “closing the loop” and “continuous improvement” of Testing strategies based on learnings from field issues.
• Strong analytical and reasoning skills.
• Excellent communicator, well organized, good team builder, cooperative and composed under pressure, experienced with matrix management.
• Coordinate SIT and UAT activities on both functional testing.
• Manage defect triages and coordinate bug fixes with different teams.
• Identify, manage and escalate risks.
• Review test status and test evidence, ensure testing deliverables are of high quality and meet standards, and validate SLAs were met.
• Publish test status report and test summary Reports for differing audiences range from project teams to steerco level audiences.
• Working with the ZCS and customer Project or Test Manager to develop a “One Team” approach to testing and to ensure that all testing activities are delivered on time, at the highest level of quality and on budget.
• Input and support into the project test strategy, scope and test plan with the Project Test Manager and customer, based on Zellis standard Implementation methodology, including entry and exit criteria and defect categorisation and prioritisation measures.
• Executing defined testing activities so that they are undertaken in accordance with the relevant test strategy and plan.
• Input, guidance and drafting test scenarios, test Scripts and test cases as part of the test strategy
• Working alongside test resources, application consultants and bespoke delivery teams in providing accurate regular future forecasts against targets.
• Coaching and supporting more inexperienced test analysts and application consultants in the delivery of testing activities
• Attending and inputting into required test meetings (including milestone or stage gate reviews and sign off meetings) and inputting and supporting test reporting to inform project stakeholders of testing progress driving delivery against the agreed test plan.
• Reporting testing defects in line with the testing defect management process
• Input into the continuous improvement approach to overall ZCS customer testing strategy to ensure it follows best practice and takes advantage of automation, innovation and the latest agile or iterative delivery methodology in a customer friendly way.

Skills & experience

• Acting as a Project Test Manager working on Implementation/Transition projects with Strategic and Enterprise customers
• Coordinating test activities as part of a matrix structure
• Reporting defects to defect management for in flight testing activities
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to develop robust and enduring relationships with stakeholders.
• Action oriented and collaborative team player. Passionate, driven and with defined teamwork and coaching skills enabling this analyst to gain confidence and buy-in from his/her peers.
• Capable of conveying complex concepts in simple terms and of tailoring their presentation style of delivery to suit their audience.
• Should be able to work effectively at all levels.Will have the gravitas, charisma and knowledge to be credible in many business situations (with Zellis, Customers & third parties).
• Strong stature and presence.Must be highly credible both internally and with customer and internal business partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills will be needed in order to build strong relationships and to sustain confidence with customers and other colleagues that will be critical to the success of this role.
• Experience working in the HR & Payroll software and/or outsourcing industry (Preferred)

Benefits & culture

At Zellis we create market-leading HR & Payroll products and services, to power exceptional employee experiences so that you and your people do better. Our multi-award-winning products pay over five million employees a year, with almost half (42%) of the FTSE 100, 50% of the top retailers and 30% of the top universities in the UK & Ireland as customers, making us the largest provider of Payroll and HR software and managed services.

Our vision is to be the clear leader in pay, reward, analytics, and people experiences. We're passionate about creating an environment where people want to join, belong to, and be part of a progressive organisation.

Our values, which were defined with input from all of our 2,000 colleagues, we live and breathe every day:

• Unstoppable together.
• Always learning.
• Make it count.
• Think scale.

Our people are critical to our ongoing success; we’re proud of our inclusive culture that gives you the platform to grow, challenge the status quo and play a crucial role in further enhancing our market position as the leading provider of HR & Payroll software and services. With Zellis you’ll have the chance to stretch and challenge yourself in an environment that’s varied, flexible and hugely supportive.

We also love to reward and recognise our brilliant colleagues. As part of your benefits package, you’ll receive:

• A competitive base salary.
• 25 days annual leave, plus your birthday off and the opportunity to buy additional holiday.
• Private medical insurance.
• Life assurance 4x salary.
• Enhanced pension scheme with company contributions up to 8.5%.
• A huge range of additional flexible benefits across financial & personal wellbeing, lifestyle & leisure.