Testing Director at State of Washington – Olympia, Washington

One Washington (OneWA), led by the Office of Financial Management, is an enterprise-wide transformation project focused on replacing 1960s-era technology with a cloud-based solution for finance, procurement, budget, HR, and payroll processes, utilizing Workday technology. OneWA is a long-term, yet extremely fast-paced project anticipated to implement all phases by 2030.

*This position requires working on-site two to three days per week; additional time in the office may be needed to support project success. All One Washington positions' default assigned work duty station location is based in Olympia, Washington. Our core business hours are Monday through Friday; we offer flexibility in schedules oriented around core business hours. However, it is common to regularly work beyond the typical 40-hour work week to meet the rigorous operational needs and business deliverables required for go-live.

What you’ll work on:

Strategic Planning & Risk Mitigation:

• Develop and align holistic QA testing objectives with business goals, following scope, schedule, budget, and OneWA’s strategic plan, mission, and values. Support the team in adjusting to changing priorities and requirements.
• Oversight of the QA Testing team to execute deliverables to the short and long-term quality assurance policies and plans informed by business decisions based on available data, and utilizing a deep understanding of various QA methodologies like Agile, Waterfall, DevOps, etc.
• Create and execute comprehensive roadmaps that clearly define pathways to quality solutions
• Develop and execute the end-to-end test strategy and master test plan across multiple workstreams and phases to oversee testing activities, including UAT, Authorization, End-to-End, and Regression Testing.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements to include accessibility for end-users (e.g., GxP, ISO, SOX, IT Security, GDPR) throughout the testing lifecycle
• Develop, refine, and optimize quality assurance testing processes and standards, establishing a Testing Governance Framework through oversight and direction of the team. Implement best practices for testing and quality assurance. Identify inefficiencies in current QA practices. Stay updated on industry trends and advancements in QA.
• Utilize advanced testing techniques such as functional, non-functional, performance, security, and other testing types. Evaluate and adopt new testing tools and technologies, if/when necessary.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead and motivate the QA Testing team to allocate staffing resources effectively to meet project demands.
• Instill a positive team culture and encourage professional growth.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide feedback.
• Identify training needs and support employee development
• Make recommendations on budgets, timelines, staffing, and resource allocation effectively.

QA Testing Stakeholder & Customer Focus:

• Communicate with stakeholders about quality assurance testing strategy and the related business decisions, at all levels, utilizing various communication tactics, means, and platforms. Ability to successfully negotiate with stakeholders and teams to drive to strategic outcomes while maintaining critical relationships.
• Collaborate with business analysts, developers, project managers, and other stakeholders to define quality requirements and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings and initiatives to communicate quality objectives, progress, and issues to various stakeholders, including senior management, employees, and external partners.

IT Compliance, Governance & Standards:

• Implement quality assurance standards and processes.
• Adhere to all regulatory requirements, particularly WaTech Technology Policies, Standards, and Procedures Policy POL-01, for IT project compliance.
• Conduct audits and assessments to maintain compliance.

Quality Metrics & Reporting:

• Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for quality.
• Regularly monitor, analyze, and report on quality metrics to stakeholders.
• Use data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.

What we need you to bring
Required Qualifications:

• Experience in ERP test management and large-scale IT programs in test management, preferably within validated environments and regulated industries.
• In-depth knowledge of various ERP modules (Finance, HCM, Supply Chain Management, etc.) and functionalities, along with testing methodologies and best practices.
• Strategic mindset, ability to assess risk, and ability to identify and implement new QA testing technologies and methodologies to enhance quality processes.
• Hands-on experience with test management and automation tools.
• Ability to think critically, analyze complex problems, and develop effective solutions.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams, collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, and communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Current knowledge on industry trends, evolving technologies, and regulatory changes is critical.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field such as engineering, computer science, or business administration.

• Significant experience in quality assurance or quality control roles, including several years in a leadership position.

• Relevant QA Testing certifications, such as Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA),

• Change Management Certification: LEAN Six Sigma Black Belt, PROSCI, or other industry-specific certifications, etc.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

What we offer:

At OFM, we foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value learned and lived experiences, believing diversity strengthens us. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a complete list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a glance at some of the unique benefits that OFM offers:

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Tuition reimbursement
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you apply, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens and rejects your application. It's important to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Your application will not be considered complete and sent to the hiring teams for review unless you attach all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• References: at least three professional references and their contact information.

Questions:
OFM's Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov.

The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.

This position is exempt from civil service rules.

For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.