Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Croydon About the job Job summary The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports. Home Office Digital, Data and Technology designs, builds and develops services for the rest of the department and for government. Every year our systems support up to 3 million visa applications, checks on 100 million border crossings, up to 8 million passport applications and deliver 140 million police checks on people, vehicles and property. The Home Office leads on immigration and passports, refugee protection, counter-terrorism, policing, fire services, and crime and drugs policy. This is an exciting time to be at the Home Office. Youll have a chance to shape the future and support our mission to deliver exceptional public services that work for everyone. Our work is guided by these principles: We put user needs first. We value delivery and outcomes over process. We work in the open. Our flexible working policy ensures a healthy work-life balance. We also nurture talent and offer a broad range of learning and development opportunities that will help you flourish in your role. Job description As a QAT Analyst, you will deliver quality assurance across your programme. 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. You will actively seek guidance, coaching and support from specialists and domain experts in order to develop your skills. To help the QAT practice thrive, you will develop an understanding of new and emerging tools and approaches. Working within a programme team, you will have an opportunity to promote quality outcomes and values. You will begin to develop your own analytical and delivery management 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. Within the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession community, you will share, collaborate and promote the value of QAT. Key Responsibilities: Taking a user centred approach to implementing team or sprint level quality assurance and testing activities, providing practical, risk-based solutions. Selecting, deploying and advising on a range of quality assurance and testing approaches and techniques appropriate to specific business problems and requirements including formal test analysis and design and exploratory or experience-based methods. Applying QAT practices to different technical delivery environments and delivery lifecycles including agile teams and continuous release pipelines. Working in collaboration with delivery partners in QA and DDaT to help ensure effective and efficient QAT capabilities are integrated into the software development process. Helping to drive forward the development of QAT capabilities within the QAT organisation, including professional development and increasing your knowledge of new and emerging industry leading technologies. Other day to day activities may depend on the delivery approach, business area or requirements of the product team. Person specification Essential Criteria: Youll have a demonstrable passion for Quality Assurance and Testing, with the following skills or some experience in: Delivery of QAT/development strategies through practical, risk-based quality assurance and testing activities across the delivery lifecycle, ensuring alignment to user needs, technical dependencies and organisational standards. Analysing user needs, business requirements and technical designs at sprint or team level, to identify or assure test goals, test case specifications and acceptance criteria. Working in a technical or software development environment, ensuring the deployment of a range of tools and test environment options including open-source technologies, automation frameworks and modern platforms. Applying knowledge and experience of a general technical or business domain to enable the delivery of quality assurance and testing. Working with multiple delivery partners in a delivery team, including technical and non-technical stakeholders, whilst taking an active role in communicating the goals and progress of quality assurance and testing activities. The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework- use the levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role: Strategy and Architecture · Strategic Planning (ITSP) Level 2 Test Analysis, Design and Execution Level 3 Automation and Tooling Level 2 Performance Testing Level 2 Integration and Assurance Level 3 Domain Experience Level 2 Desirable Criteria: Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in: Developing yourself through activities that achieve current business goals, helping to meet future challenges and build a capacity for change Qualifications. You may also hold the following desirable qualifications or have equivalent experience: ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level BCS Agile Practitioner ISQi Certified Agile Tester PRINCE2 Foundation MBCS Level Membership Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Changing and Improving Delivering at Pace Working Together Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Technical Skills (SFIA Framework) and experience Benefits This post is eligible for a DDaT RRA. Successful candidates with exceptional skills and experience may apply for a RRA between £2,500 - £4,000. This allowance is subject to an initial review within six months of taking up the post and thereafter an annual review in-line with departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time. A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements. 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days. Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised. Application by 15th December 2024. As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete: Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words). The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description. For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website. 1. Sift from 16th December 2024 The sift will be held on the Personal Statement. Please read the Essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirements. 2. Interview - from 20th January 2025 - Subject to the Panels operational requirements/priorities). If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be: Behaviours and experience using technical skills-based questions. The interview will assess your Technical Skills (SFIA Framework) and experience using technical and experience-based questions. For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to: A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam. Good internet connection. Microsoft Teams. Problems during the application process If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think youve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website. Location Preferences You will only be able to select a single location preference so please ensure this is a location that you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at your preferred location and you decline, your application will be withdrawn. Reserve List A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Standards All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. Additional Security Checks As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates. Further information 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.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity. 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. Visa sponsorship We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas. 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 HOrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.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're 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 Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. 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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre - DDaT Resourcing Email : HORCCampaignTeamDDAThomeoffice.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : HOrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance HORecruitment.GRScabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Attachments candidate_information_v11_August_2024 Opens in new window (pdf, 363kB) Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V14) 12-08-2024 Opens in new window (pdf, 464kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail