Job Purpose

• The Test Team Lead is responsible for coordinating and guiding the day-to-day testing activities within the software development lifecycle.  This includes leading the execution of test plans across functional, integration, regression, and user acceptance testing phases. Working closely with testers, developers, business analysts, and project stakeholders, the Test Team Lead ensures that testing is conducted efficiently and effectively, with a strong focus on quality and collaboration.
• Key responsibilities include supporting the definition of test strategies, managing test cases and defect tracking, and helping to embed best practices in testing processes. The Test Team Lead plays a hands-on role in testing efforts, while also mentoring junior team members and contributing to the continuous improvement of quality standards across projects.

Responsibilities

Quality Testing

• Select the appropriate complex tests or tests from a specified range and carry
• out using specialised methods and equipment; validate and interpret test data to verify that specifications are met and/or to identify remedial actions required to ensure conformance or suitability.
• To take responsibility for: time management; reporting and monitoring; risk management; issue management and quality assurance.
• Carry out a range of quality management activities under the guidance of senior colleagues. Contribute to the identification and evaluation of current policies and business processes that are in the scope of the Quality Management System.
• Support the design, development, and documentation of new policies, procedures, and business processes.

Leadership and Direction

• Supervise a team performing routine work. Explain the local action plan to support team members in their understanding of what needs to be done and how this relates to the broader business plan and the organisation’s strategy, mission and vision; motivate people to achieve local business goals. Provide training and mentoring to more junior colleagues.

Performance Management

• Develop and propose own performance objectives; take appropriate actions to ensure achievement of agreed objectives, using the organisation’s performance management systems to improve personal performance. Manage and report on team performance; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports or project / account team members and hold them accountable for achieving these, taking appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of team / personal objectives.
• Responsible for Testing Team as well as functional responsibilities aligned with improving product quality.

Project and Program Stakeholder Engagement

• Deliver stakeholder engagement activities to support development of effective project working relationships and to identify and respond to stakeholder needs and concerns.

Testing IT Performance

• Assist with the design and perform website/applications software tests and respond to user emails to monitor, diagnose, and correct performance issues.
• Ensure conformity to the SIT/UAT entry and exit criteria decisions.
• Responsible for Environment readiness (SIT/UAT).
• Oversee and review automated and functional test scripts, execute complex test scripts, monitor the execution of automated scripts and ensure results are recorded and reported on.

Insights and Reporting

• Contribute to the preparation of various data and analytics reports.
• Provide status report detailing test coverage and defect analysis to relevant stakeholders.

Organisational Capability Building

• Use the organisation’s formal development framework to identify the team’s individual development needs. Plan and implement actions to build their capabilities. Provide training or coaching to others in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.

Quality Testing Design

• Validate new or existing complex test methods and procedures; identify issues and recommend improvements to contribute to further development.
• Oversee that test scenarios and scripts are prepared in a structured way, prioritised to reflect business or technical priorities and are approved by appropriate stakeholders. Scope is to cover test cycle contents and regression packs.

Operational Compliance

• Identify, within the team, instances of non-compliance with the organisation’s policies and procedures and/or relevant regulatory codes and codes of conduct, reporting these and escalating issues as appropriate.

Continuous Improvement

• Review existing operations in own area of work and implement innovation processes to generate new ideas and ensure continuous improvements are delivered.

Personal Capability Building

• Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching; gain or maintain external professional accreditation where relevant to improve performance and fulfill personal potential. Maintain an in-depth understanding of technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.

Education

• Grade 12/ SAQA Accredited Equivalent (Essential); ISTQB foundation certification (Essential); ISTQB Advanced Test Manager Certification (Advantageous); Relevant IT degree/diploma (Advantageous)

Experience

• 5 or more years’ experience in a software Test Analyst/Lead role (Essential); Experience having worked on more than 6 IT software projects (Essential); Knowledge of Agile process and SDLC (Software development life cycle) (Essential); Experience in the Financial Services Industry (Advantageous). 3 or more years supervising and directing people and other resources to achieve specific end results within limited time-frames (Essential)