Release Deployment Management and Testing Services Manager - Johannesburg Verfied

Salary Negotiable Johannesburg, Gauteng Johannesburg, Gauteng more than 14 days ago 02-07-2015 12:15:28 PM
30-07-2015 12:15:28 PM
Market leading Group within the Financial Sector are seeking a Manager - Release Deployment Management and Testing Services
Your skills and experience are required to manage the day-to-day activities of release management and testing services within the Group to coordinate the implementation of product releases and to support the Group requirement in terms of testing.
Key areas of focus will include:
• Influence the Infrastructure Services strategy by staying abreast of industry trends and role players and ensure that the Business Unit is well positioned to provide competitive and industry leading services
• Translate the Infrastructure Services Strategy into manageable focus areas
• Ensure, through deliverable actions, that Infrastructure Services is viewed as a products and service provider.
• Contribute to Group's development of strategy on Transformation to ensure that Statistics reflex the South Africa demographics and give feedback to Group on progress
• Position Infrastructure Services as a key service provider to the relevant business units serving as its customer.
• Implement performance controls to proactively measure achievement against strategic targets and address changes or non-performance.
• Drive the proactive negotiation of service level contracts with business unit heads with a continued focus on improved performance, reduction in turnaround times and reduced cost.
• Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships to ensure the unit is successfully positioned to manage risks and expectations and deliver on shareholder value.
• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.
• Determine and analyse development needs for the team and ensure that identified training requirements are budgeted for and executed.
• Drive a culture of proactive compliance and risk management within the executive team and the function as a whole.
• Define the scope of software release packages through consultation with stakeholders and determine the risk and complexities. Document and communicate the decision made to the stakeholders.
• Govern the software release management in terms of the relevant policies by monitoring and enforcing the standards, controls, processes and procedures related to release management.
• Manage the implementation of the software release by developing an implementation back-out and resource plan for releases. Conduct post implementation review following the release and communicate finding to all stakeholders.
• Build a knowledge base on issues related to releases by documenting all issues or problem experienced. Perform root cause analysis to prevent re-occurrence.
• Manage release documentation process to ensure that all requirements are met. Oversee that all documents are collated and filed for audit purposes, manage control gates owned by release management, and distribution of all release documentation and reports, etc.
• Participate in change management meetings to provide input and guidance with regards to release management.
• Manage the escalation of high severity incidents during testing or implementation through the incident management process. Communicate to stakeholders on the availability of systems and environments.
• Manage the services provided by testing services by monitoring and guiding the team on their operational day-to-day activities e.g. performance testing, test automation, test data management, test infrastructure management, testing process and compliance.
• Manage the development and implementation of the release management and testing services strategies. Provide input and guidance on the strategic plans and oversee the implementation of the plans.
• Manage the development and implementation of release management and testing services policies. Provide input and guidance on the content and manage the implementation of the policies across Absa through communicating, monitoring and enforcing the policies across the Business Units.
• Manage the definition and documentation of processes, procedures, best practice and standards related to release management and testing services. Provide input and guidance into the definitions and ensure they are documented and communicated across the Group
B Degree in Information Technology coupled with Honours or Masters Degree in Information Technology
• Minimum 8 years within information technology environment
• Minimum 3 years management experience
• Previous experience in release management and software testing
• Experience in the banking industry
• Knowledge of Technology Management Principles and Practices
• Knowledge of People Management principles and practices
• Knowledge of Financial Management principles and practices
• Knowledge of Risk Management principles and practices