The BA / QA Manager is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing both business analysis and quality assurance functions within the organisation. This individual will lead a team of Business Analysts and QA professionals, ensuring that business requirements are accurately captured, systems are thoroughly tested, and solutions delivered meet business objectives and quality standards. The BA / QA Manager acts as a bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, driving the successful delivery of projects and continuous process improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Development:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Business Analysts and QA specialists.
- Set team goals, conduct performance reviews, and identify training and development opportunities.
Business Analysis:
- Oversee the gathering, documentation, and analysis of business requirements from stakeholders.
- Facilitate workshops, interviews, and meetings to elicit requirements and clarify business needs.
- Ensure creation and maintenance of detailed business process models, user stories, and functional specifications.
Quality Assurance:
- Develop and implement QA strategies, test plans, and procedures to ensure the delivery of high-quality solutions.
- Supervise the execution of manual and automated tests, ensuring thorough coverage and defect tracking.
- Drive continuous improvement of QA processes and tools.
Stakeholder Management:
- Serve as the primary point of contact between business users and IT teams.
- Manage relationships with project sponsors, business owners, and external vendors.
- Communicate project status, risks, and issues to stakeholders in a timely manner.
Project Delivery:
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to defined quality standards.
- Contribute to project planning, estimation, and resource allocation.
- Monitor and report on project progress and team performance.
Requirements
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- Proven experience (typically 5+ years) in business analysis and/or quality assurance, with at least 2 years in a leadership or managerial role.
- Strong knowledge of business analysis frameworks (e.g., BABOK) and QA methodologies (e.g., ISTQB).
- Experience with project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Proficiency with business analysis and QA tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, test automation suites).
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Attributes
- Relevant certifications such as CBAP, PMI-PBA, or ISTQB Advanced Level.
- Experience in the industry sector relevant to the hiring organisation (e.g., finance, healthcare, technology).
- Track record of driving process improvement initiatives and successful project delivery.