The Open University
User Acceptance Testing Lead
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About the Role
The purpose of this role is to lead and coordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) Programme within Academic Services.
The UAT Lead will take ownership of the agreed UAT approach, scenarios, test plan and existing test pack, ensuring that testing is effectively planned, coordinated and completed. The role will work closely with UAT Testers, business Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), project colleagues and technical teams to ensure that delivered functionality is tested against agreed business requirements and end-to-end journeys.
The successful candidate will coordinate test execution, monitor progress and coverage, manage defects through testing and retesting, and ensure appropriate evidence is available to support UAT completion and business sign-off.
The successful candidate will receive appropriate handover and familiarisation with the LLE solution, relevant systems, business processes, existing test materials and known issues.
Key Responsibilities
UAT Planning and Coordination
- Take ownership of the agreed UAT approach, scenarios, test plan and existing test pack.
- Review and refine existing test materials against delivered functionality where required.
- Work with business and technical SMEs to clarify scenarios, expected outcomes, requirements and test data.
- Plan and coordinate UAT activity against agreed project milestones and timescales.
- Allocate testing activities to UAT Testers and monitor progress and completion.
- Brief and support UAT Testers, acting as their first point of contact for testing queries and escalation.
- Identify and escalate risks, issues and blockers that could affect UAT completion or go-live readiness.
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Test and Defect Management
- Ensure test scripts provide appropriate coverage of agreed UAT scenarios and business requirements.
- Monitor test execution, results and overall test coverage.
- Coordinate the recording, triage and management of defects identified during UAT.
- Coordinate defect retesting and regression testing where required.
- Monitor outstanding defects and assess their potential impact on UAT completion.
- Ensure test results, defects and supporting evidence are recorded accurately and consistently.
UAT Reporting and Sign-off
- Track and report UAT progress, including test coverage, pass/fail results, outstanding testing, defects, risks and blockers.
- Ensure appropriate testing evidence is maintained to demonstrate completion of agreed UAT activity.
- Coordinate outstanding actions required to bring UAT to completion.
- Work with relevant business SMEs and project stakeholders to confirm testing outcomes.
- Coordinate the evidence and information required to support UAT completion, business sign-off and go-live decision-making.
- Escalate significant issues that may affect successful completion of UAT or business readiness.
Use of Systems and Tools
- Use Azure DevOps (ADO) as the primary tool for managing UAT activity, including test plans, test cases, execution, results and defects.
- Use ADO to monitor test progress, coverage, outstanding activity and defects.
- Maintain appropriate traceability between test scenarios, test cases, results and defects.
- Use Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Excel and other approved University tools to support testing, reporting and collaboration.
Contribute to the Effective and Efficient Performance of the Team
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- Work collaboratively with UAT Testers, business SMEs, technical teams and project colleagues to achieve agreed testing objectives.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of UAT processes, documentation and ways of working.
- Provide guidance and support to UAT Testers where required.
You are expected to:
- Comply with the University's Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities policies in the performance of your duties.
- Co-operate with the Open University in ensuring statutory requirements, codes of practice and relevant University policies are followed.
About You
Essential:
- Experience of User Acceptance Testing, business testing or system testing within a project or change environment.
- Experience of planning and coordinating UAT or comparable testing activity.
- Experience of working with UAT scenarios, test plans and detailed test scripts.
- Experience of managing or coordinating defects, including retesting and regression testing.
- Experience of using Azure DevOps (ADO) or a comparable test management tool.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently, use initiative and quickly develop an understanding of unfamiliar systems and processes.
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.
Desirable:
- Previous experience as a UAT Lead, Test Lead or similar role.
- Hands-on experience of Azure DevOps Test Plans.
- Relevant testing qualification or certification, such as ISTQB or equivalent.
- Experience of supporting major system implementations, transformation programmes or change initiatives.
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