AddressOverview
Lead Automation Tester
Location : Newport
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Job description
The IPO is a modern organisation which depends on its IT services to operate and innovate effectively. In order to provide up to date services to our customers both nationally and internationally systems need to be developed, improved and maintained. You will have the opportunity to work on the latest cutting-edge cloud technologies, use modern delivery processes and work on innovative projects some including the use of AI and ML. Working alongside experts in their fields you will have the opportunity to make valuable contributions without compromising on quality.
You will need the appetite to learn new technologies and methodologies for delivering high quality IT services. In this role you will work within a multi-disciplined squad using several technologies to build enterprise grade services. You will be expected to be proactive and take accountability for the squad assigned deliveries as well as mentoring and coaching team members. The role will also require the investigation, diagnosis and fix of any system issues. A Lead Automation Tester is expected to contribute to the technical strategy for the department. Formal line management duties also form the key duties of this role.
As a multi-skilled individual, you will have the opportunities to develop and mature skills in a core role but extend this to skills typically aligned to other role types. You will have a high level of input in defining which additional skills you can develop.
- Has been a key player in delivering technical solutions as part of large projects
- Experience in leading and/or managing a squad of test engineers
- Experience of using data models
- Experience of working with cloud technologies such as Azure
- Experience with API Automation tools, such as MS Visual Studio with C#, Selenium, BDD, SpecFlow, MSTest and RestSharp
- Experience of working with source/version control technologies such as Git
- Excellent understanding of a mainstream automation testing frameworks/libraries such as Selenium, BDD, SpecFlow, and RestSharp
- Experience in web services, REST
- Experienced with modern delivery models such as Scrum and Agile
- Advocate of DevOps principles
- Has a deep understanding of architectural principals such as SOA and Micro-Services
- Experience of writing SQL statements
This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport office.
The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.
- Unlimited Pluralsight video learning access
- Access to Microsoft’s ESI training suite
- Pension: 27.1% – 27.9%employer contributions
- Hybrid working with no core hours
- Substantial support for career progression
- 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments
- You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
Click the ‘Apply now’ button and complete the application form by uploading an anonymised copy of your current CV.
Your CV will be used to assess your suitability for the role therefore please ensure that you evidence the essential requirements listed in the person specification above.
For further information on the sift and interview stages of this recruitment campaign, please head to our ‘Things you need to know’ section below.
Person specification
Alternatively, If you require job-specific information, please contact Dominic Read.
E-mail: dominic.read@ipo.gov.uk
Telephone: 01633 433189
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Developing Self and Others
- Working Together
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- As per attached role profile
Benefits
For more information about what’s on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert.
Please note that benefits may be subject to change.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Additional details on security and vetting
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check and if successful you must also hold, or be willing to obtain, a higher Security Clearance.
For meaningful checks to be carried out individuals will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, depending on the level of clearance, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. For this role the successful individual will need to have consistently lived in the UK for a minimum 5 years in order to meet the relevant security clearance.
Further information on the vetting process can be found at United Kingdom Security Vetting – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Please note that the IPO do not hold a sponsor licence, therefore if applicable please ensure your VISA enables you to work in the UK at the IPO without sponsorship.
If you have questions regarding this or are unsure if you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
How to apply
- All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder
- When making an initial application for this role please ensure that you refer to and have read the attached role profile.
Sift
An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist.
This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:
Experience
Please upload an anonymised copy of your current CV. Your CV will be used to assess your suitability for the role therefore please ensure that it demonstrates your technical skills and experience against the essential requirements detailed in the role profile document.
Please note: candidates will be required to complete a technical test if they pass the sift stage.
Interviews
If invited to interview Behaviour and Technical based questioning will be used.
Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation.
Interviews for this role will be carried out virtually via Microsoft Teams (video).
IMPORTANT: CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.
- There may be important information contained within the job role profile candidates may also wish to refer to. We recommend candidates download and save a copy of the role profile for reference.
This post is being advertised to Internal, across Governmentand external candidates at the same time.
Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
Should you have any queries or require any assistance in this matter, please contact the IPO Recruitment team at Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk prior to the closing of the post.
In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.
Diversity Statement
The IPO is an inclusive employer where diversity is respected and differences valued. Our positive approach to diversity allows us to select the most suitable applicants free from bias on factors such as age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion, and many more protected characteristics.
If you require an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know via ; recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Candidates to note
Please select the arrows below to drop down each heading for further information, alternatively you can contact recruitment@ipo.gov.uk;
Information on Fraud data base and childcare vouchers
Any move to the Intellectual Property Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
From 8 June 2020, The Intellectual Property Office is to provide a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they have been successful at interview.
As one aspect of pre-employment screening, personal details (name, National Insurance Number and date of birth) will be checked against the Civil Service Resourcing Extract Internal Fraud database. Anyone included on the Internal Fraud Database will be refused employment unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances. The Intellectual Property Office will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the Internal Fraud database.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Terms & Conditions
Please note that IPO has updated its terms and conditions of employment as part of Civil Service Reform. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful on application.
Please see the attached Terms and Conditions document.
Voluntary Moves: If your pay (excluding allowances) is above the IPO maximum for the grade it will be capped at the IPO maximum for the grade when you transfer.
OGD loan or permanent transfers
Please note that due to the childcare changes introduced by HMRC in October 2018, employees going on loan/transferring to another government department that were in receipt of childcare vouchers in their previous department will not be able to continue receiving these post transfer.
The IPO will not allow individuals from Other Government Departments to carry over annual leave with them unless there are exceptional circumstances. Individuals will therefore be expected to make necessary arrangements with their existing department to ensure an annual leave balance of zero ahead of transferring to the IPO. If you feel you have an exceptional circumstance, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
For more information on the childcare schemes offered by IPO, please contact HRandPayrollteam@ipo.gov.uk
If moving internally on lateral transfer you will remain on your current base salary. Please note: All allowances are specific of individual roles and may not be transferable.
Pension information
Further information Civil Service pension schemes can be found here: https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : IPO Recruitment Team
- Email : Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Further information
The Civil Service recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
Complaints Procedure:
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please contact;
Penny Phillpotts
Intellectual Property Office,
Concept House,
Cardiff Road,
Newport,
NP10 8QQ.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
