Lead QAT Analyst
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 15th December 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA): Up to £9,950 is available for candidates who demonstrate exceptional skills and experience evidenced at interview stage.
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Information Technology
Quality
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
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About the job
Job summary
We are looking for people who are passionate about Quality. Do you want to be part of the award-winning Home Office Quality Assurance and Testing Team (QAT) within Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)?
Quality is at the heart of everything we do. We provide a large-scale shared service, delivered through 750 QA professionals. It supports services that are essential for the UK!
A strong continuous improvement culture underpins the way we work, making advancements on how quality is delivered and assured in groundbreaking DevOps environments, including cloud platforms. We are a well-established, well-knit team of quality specialists and among the best in the industry! (Certified to TMMi Level 5).
Job description
As a Lead QAT Analyst, you will lead of the delivery of quality assurance across your project. You will take a user centred approach to Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) and develop and implement QAT approaches to help meet user needs. You will work in collaboration with delivery partners to make sure QAT is embedded by default into the development approach. To help the QAT practice thrive, you will develop expertise in new and emerging tools and approaches and apply these to help the organisation deliver better success.
Working within a programme team, you will promote quality outcomes and values across the organisation. You will further develop your own delivery management and leadership skills with a focus on helping the programme team deliver high quality outcomes at pace whilst honing stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement skills.
You will work with business stakeholders, developing an understanding of their needs and translating them into a QAT approach. You will also work with industry partners to leverage the best of new and emerging tools and approaches. As part of the DDaT community, you will lead on sharing, collaborating and promoting the value of QAT.
QAT/Engineering Tools and Technologies we use
We have a wide portfolio of projects, and our vast estate covers a whole range of tools. The below is sample snapshot of some tools we use:
- Frameworks: Serenity BDD (Selenium + RestAssured), Cypress, Playwright, Karate, and several bespoke frameworks
- DevOps: AWS, Azure, Jenkins, Drone, Concourse, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, Terraform
- Performance testing – Neoload, Locust, JMeter
- Other tools – Browserstack, Axe, ZAP, SonarQube
- Observability and Monitoring – ELK, Grafana, Dynatrace.
What you will do
Your main day to day responsibilities will be:
- taking a user centred approach to leading project or sprint level quality assurance and testing activities, providing practical, risk-based solutions including formal test analysis, design and exploratory or experience-based methods.
- leading QAT practices in different technical delivery environments and delivery lifecycles including agile teams and continuous release pipelines.
- Collaborating with senior delivery partners in QAT, DDaT and more broadly across the organisation and wider industry, to ensure that effective and efficient QAT capabilities are developed and fully integrated into the software development process.
- leading the development of QAT capabilities within the QAT organisation, including continuous professional development and exploitation of new and emerging industry leading technologies.
- providing advice and guidance to QAT team members and project stakeholders on all aspects of Quality Assurance and Testing.
- contributing to Continuous Improvement within projects and the wider QAT team.
Person specification
UK residency and security requirements - You need to have lived in the UK for the past 5 years.
Essential criteria
As a QAT Analyst you will have experience of:
- translating complex or programme level QAT/Development strategies into practical, risk-based quality assurance and testing activities across the delivery lifecycle, ensuring delivery against user needs, technical dependencies and organisational standards
- analysing a range of highly complex user needs, business requirements and technical designs at project or service level, identifying or assuring test goals, test case specifications and acceptance criteria
- working in a highly technical environment, requiring a broad range of internal and external integration, ensuring the deployment of a broad range of tools and test environment options including open source technologies, automation frameworks and modern platforms
- applying deep knowledge and experience of technical and business domains to a range of complex quality assurance and testing activities
- facilitating relationships at senior delivery level, including technical and non-technical stakeholders. Communicating to a range of partners to provide consistent insight into quality assurance and testing activities within the delivery team or across a significant area of delivery
- developing yourself and the wider team through a range of activities that achieve current business goals, meet future challenges and build a capacity for change
SFIA capability framework
Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all Quality Assurance & Testing levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework: All skills A–Z — English (sfia-online.org)
We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process.
SFIA levels of responsibility – Use the SFIA Levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each Technical Skill listed below.
SFIA Technical skills
The essential technical skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework. Please see below for the relevant skills required for your role.
Technical skills
We will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 4
- Test Analysis, Design and Execution – Level 4
- Automation and Tooling – Level 3
- Performance Testing – Level 3
- Integration and Assurance – Level 4
- Domain Experience – Level 4
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
Why work for us...
- A highly competitive pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment rising 1 day per year up to 30 days, plus 8 days public holidays and 1 day for the King’s Birthday.
- Flexible working options to enable you to achieve the work life balance that is right for you including; Full time, part-time, flexi time, compressed hours and job sharing.
- A hybrid working model of a minimum 60% of your contracted hours in the workplace and 40% remote.
- Training and development opportunities tailored to your role, including access to technical and professional accreditations.
- Access to funded qualifications (subject to approval).
- A capability allowance reviewed annually.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- Enhanced parental leave schemes.
- Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards.
This link is to a short guide to employee benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers
Why join our QAT Community in the Home Office?
The QAT Testing Team won the best Team of the Year at the 2024 European Software Testing Awards! This prestigious win reflects our dedication to excellence and innovation in Quality Assurance and Testing.
This is a huge opportunity to be a part of our growth journey and build your capability and expertise. Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) is an important part of the Home Office mission. Everyone is responsible for quality, and we have a team of skilled people who make sure quality is delivered in the most effective way. This means getting fast feedback, understanding how a service performs, and helping the development team to make more informed decisions. We value automating as much of the test effort as possible allowing our team of specialists and domain experts to undertake better evaluations.
You can see more here Quality, Assurance and Testing - Home Office Careers
There is a link to how it feels to work in QAT on our GOV.UK site here: Day in the life of a QAT'er
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and 1000 word personal statement.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note your CV and personal statement should include all relevant experience that relates to our essential skills criteria listed in the advert and role description. Use STAR format in your examples.
Remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age or place of education) so that you will be judged on merit alone and not your personal background, circumstances, race or gender.
(Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected)
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism, copying, and generating of examples/ answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If detected, the application may be withdrawn from the process.
Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all civil servants.
Sift stage
The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement. Please read the Essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirements.
Interview stage
Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend a final interview. The interview will assess your Technical Skills (SFIA Framework) and experience using technical and experience-based questions.
You will be assessed on the core behaviour skills listed above.
Sift and interview dates
Sift will be conducted week commencing 16th December 2024
Interviews will be held from 9th January 2025 Subject to the Panel’s operational requirements/priorities)
Interviews will be conducted remotely via MS Teams.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
Further Information
We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from the widest diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We particularly encourage applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can raise any queries to the email address at the bottom of the advert.
Please read the Essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement.
If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.
Reserve list
A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
UK residency and security requirements
Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years.
However, in exceptional circumstances security clearance applications for candidates who have been present in the UK for at least 3 of last 5 years may be considered. Failure to meet this residency requirement will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
Visa Sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.
Capability Allowance
This post is eligible for a DDaT Recruitment Retention Allowance. Successful candidate with exceptional skills and experience may apply for a Recruitment and Retention Allowance. This allowance is subject to an initial review within six months of taking up the post and thereafter an annual review in line with the departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills.
Working at the Home Office
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Ruth Christy
- Email : ACRecruitment@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
