MBS Test Lead

The Met Leadership have approved the design and implementation of a centralised service delivery model (Met Business Services - MBS), to replace functional services with business services, breaking down silos and building end-to-end services around user requirements. The initial scope of the MBS model will be MPS Commercial, Finance and HR scope of services functions with the flexibility and scalability of bringing additional new services into it.

A key enabler of the MBS led transformation is the implementation of a new "MBS Test Lead" Capability within Met Business Services. The MBS Test Lead will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing testing activities for IT systems, ensuring high-quality delivery of software and infrastructure changes. This role requires strong project management, technical expertise, environment management and leadership skills to ensure seamless integration of new systems and updates into the production environment while minimising risks and disruptions.

They will have oversight and management of the people, processes and 3rd party suppliers required for all aspects of MBS from a day-to-day perspective, initially covering HR, Finance and Commercial products and services, with the view to support other services in the future as they on board into MBS.

The MBS Test Lead will manage and coordinate testing efforts, including unit testing, system testing, integration testing, environment management and user acceptance testing.

They will report directly into the MBS Head of Service & Operations who will have senior strategic oversight and accountability for all aspects of services, operations and technology across MBS; control and responsibility will remain with the MBS Test Lead. They are responsible for promoting process excellence and encouraging cross-functional and cross-process collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

What does the average day look like? Your core duties will include (but are not limited to):

Test Excellence

Lead and coordinate testing efforts, including unit testing, system testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT).

• Develop and implement comprehensive test strategies, plans, and schedules for software and infrastructure projects.
• Manage the defect lifecycle from identification to resolution, working with development teams to ensure issues are addressed. Prioritise defects based on risk assessment and impact.
• Implement and maintain environment management tools and automation solutions to improve efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
• Defines and implements test strategies aligned with MBS project goals.
• Act as a point of contact for Oracle Fusion environment and test-related inquiries.
• Provide regular updates to stakeholders on test status, environment readiness, and any potential risks.
• Manage Oracle Fusion Cloud environments (development, testing, staging, and production), ensuring consistent configuration and proper version control.
• Ensures accuracy in all aspects of testing and documentation
• Clearly articulates testing progress, risks, and impacts to stakeholders.
• Analyses complex issues and makes data-driven decisions to improve quality.
• Analyses customer feedback to understand the pain points and frustrations to drive out improved solutions that gain the right outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities for test automation and define automation requirements.
• Ensures compliance with industry standards, regulations, and company policies.

Leadership and Collaboration

Provides leadership and guidance to testing and release teams, fostering a culture of quality and accountability.

• Creates an environment where trust and open communication is encouraged, giving everyone a voice to be creative and work as a single cohesive team.
• Inspires and motivates team members to achieve high performance.
• Act as a liaison between IT teams, business units, and third-party vendors to facilitate smooth testing processes.
• Mentors and trains team members on testing methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Fosters a culture of high-performance, innovation and continuous service improvement embracing MBS, MPS and Met values,
• Collaborates with the senior leadership team to define service and operational priorities.
• Demonstrates a flexible and adaptable approach to managing change and ambiguity, ensuring this culture is driven throughout their teams.
• Sets team goals and monitors performance through structured feedback and appraisals.
• Ensures that the team are set up for success by implementing best practices, continuously improving the current landscape and future proofing changes where applicable.
• Ability to present complex technical concepts in a clear, customer-friendly manner.

Supplier Management

Oversee the management of partners, both internal and external, supporting the delivery of operational and service excellence.

• Agree clear ways of working and set out expectations with all suppliers from the outset.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers to support the multi-partnership approach to managing our technical products and services that we provide our users.
• Promptly address risks/issues affecting successful and commercial binding outcomes.
• Ensure supplier deliverables are executed on time and to the right quality, and address failures proactively using the appropriate channels.
• Drive customer satisfaction with suppliers by ensuring timely and effective resolution of any issues that may arise.
• Gather customer feedback and translate insights into actionable improvements.
• Drives test environment uptime and availability with suppliers by reducing average resolution time for environment related issues., The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If you need any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.

Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards.

• 5+ years of experience in software testing, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.

• Proficient in test planning, test case design, defect tracking, and reporting.

• Proven experience with testing methodologies and deployment strategies in an Agile, DevOps, or ITIL environment.

• Detailed knowledge of Oracle ERP Cloud technology supporting back-office services.

• Experience of managing a team of individuals providing clear direction, support and resolution.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Hands-on experience with test management tools (e.g., JIRA, TestRail) and automation tools (e.g., Selenium, QTP).

• Ability to identify dependencies, assess risks and put effective risk mitigation plans in place, * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or a related field.

• Certification in Agile, Scrum, or DevOps practices (e.g., CSM, SAFe, or DevOps Foundation).

• Professional certifications (e.g., ISTQB, CSTE, CSQA).

Met Business Services (MBS) is a new way for the Met to deliver enabling services to all of our officers and staff. MBS is a front-line focused services organisation that sets our people up to succeed, reduces admin, delivers modern user centric end to end solutions and provides a single source of truth for all HR, Finance and Commercial data, providing a critical cornerstone to fix our foundations. MBS will help every person and supplier working with the Met by: * Building a modern and efficient industry-standard business services directorate, building and pooling key specialist capabilities, strengthening HR, Finance and Commercial functions whilst removing functional silos; * Designing end-to-end services, building them the needs of the users rather than in functional process silos and seamlessly integrating them regardless of how they are delivered; and * Providing easy-to-use interfaces and 'one-touch' services for end-users that leverage the potential of contemporary technologies like automation and low-code workflows. This is an exciting time to be part of MBS - we are building new capabilities and new ways of working that will directly help the frontline to focus on what matters and make a real difference to London. The Met as a whole is transforming to deliver on our goals of More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards, and being part of establishing this new organisation puts you at the heart of that journey with tremendous potential for growth both within the team and across the Met. The value and purpose of MBS is wired into the heart of the Met, with opportunities to collaborate across the organisation, drive innovation to get the right outcomes and support our people in policing London.