Test Analyst

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

In your role as Test Analyst, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to work as part of the Business Analysis & Test team, where you will take a critical role in the planning, preparation and execution of testing needed to support USS' large and complex change portfolio and small change initiatives.

In your capacity as Test Analyst, you will develop key relationships with business and technical colleagues, senior stakeholders across the organisation, as well as third-party suppliers.

This role requires you to develop and maintain your knowledge of USS' business, products and services, as well as industry best practice in testing. You will also take ownership of the key responsibilities listed below, whilst recognising that the role requires flexibility and adaptability to support the business in the delivery of change.

Ensuring the rigorous application of USS' testing methodology and standards in the preparation of testing deliverables, including:

• Reviewing and contributing to the development of test plans in collaboration with project stakeholders, including risk-based testing approaches, as agreed with the Test Manager, covering all phases of testing, e.g. Integration Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and Regression Testing.
• Analysing, reviewing and assessing business requirements, data models, solution designs and prototypes for testability, ensuring they are fully understood.
• Producing high-quality test deliverables and test designs appropriate to the phase of testing, e.g. business test scenarios, test scripts, test cases and expected results.
• Working in collaboration with technical colleagues (internal and external) to ensure that the test environment is set up to support the agreed phase of testing.
• Preparing test cases, including identifying and acquiring (or creating) the requisite test data to support test cases.
• Designing and building automated tests where appropriate, using the agreed testing tools and ensuring the necessary technical support is in place.
• Ensuring that all test deliverables are reviewed and approved by project stakeholders, as agreed with the Test Manager.

Performing test execution at the required level, documenting and reporting test outcomes, ensuring that:

• Testing tools are used to execute tests (where possible), record and monitor testing progress, and support management reporting, as agreed with the Test Manager.
• Test results are recorded and evaluated against test criteria, with any deviations from expected results logged as defects.
• Testing is executed in line with the planned testing cycles and coverage, with any deviations recorded and reported appropriately.
• Test environments remain controlled throughout test execution cycles, such that the integrity of test data is assured.
• Establishing collaborative working relationships across the organisation and with third-party suppliers to support test preparation and execution activities.
• Providing support and sharing best practice, technical skills and product knowledge with other members of the team as required.
• Supporting the team’s workload planning by providing estimates for deliverables to support capacity and project planning activities.

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• Excellent test analysis, test preparation and test execution skills.
• Demonstrable experience of the full testing lifecycle, from business requirements through to test execution across various test phases (Integration Testing, User Acceptance Testing [UAT] and Regression Testing), including risk-based testing approaches.
• Experience using testing tools for test execution and defect management, including test automation.
• Experience of working with third-party suppliers and testing software delivered into USS' environments, including COTS packages.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex scenarios clearly to key project stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder…