Test Manager
Joined Travelex to support development team creating transactional web services, involving development / integration of processes across multiple stand-alone systems, including databases. Reviewed existing informal test processes; created roadmap to implement best-practice; built test team of 3, training non-technical staff to support a 12-strong development team; Hands-on Test Manager throughout all phases of functional testing (Systems test, Integration, UAT, LCT), infrastructure upgrades and test phases with external retail and banking clients. Responsible for the quality of approximately 45 different e-commerce websites. Reviewed existing informal testing approaches, and proposed a roadmap to develop a testing function drawing on industry best practices. Recruited, trained and managed a small team of 3 core testers together with other personnel seconded as required for specific business expertise or to meet peaks in workload. Performed all line-manager functions for team, including appraisals, reviews and disciplinary. Developed and maintained close relationship with developers, testers, business users, I.T support and CRMs. Supported development team leads in accelerating the defect-fix cycle to meet deadlines. Provided a key point of contact to the business community, project managers, change management team and Head of Development, ensuring acceptance criteria were well understood and that development deliveries demonstrably met business requirements. Consistently delivered a highly professional and effective testing function to Development and the business, determining priorities to meet tight deadlines across multiple projects with competing needs to access both human resources and limited test environments.