Title: Quality Assurance Analyst #W1094
State Role Title: Info Technology Specialist III
Hiring Range: $85,000 – $110,000 per year (salary commensurate with experience)
Pay Band: 6
Agency: Department of Social Services
Location:DSS HOME OFFICE
Agency Website:https://www.dss.virginia.gov/
Recruitment Type: General Public – G
Job Duties
NOTE: This position may not be 100% telework. This position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Teleworking policy. The employee may be required to work a schedule that is split between remote and onsite.
At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning and cultivating environments of trust, respect and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.
We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety, independence and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency – one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia – partnering with 120 local departments of social services and 31 community action agencies, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children, adults, and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1,650 (state) and 12,200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have easy access to the services and benefits available to them.
QA Analyst is responsible for the Quality Assurance (QA) and will provide direct support to agency projects. The QA Analyst is part of a cross functional team of QA Analysts, BA’s, IT specialists and project managers tasked with supporting the agency’s business function across multiple portfolios. The key role of the QA Analyst is to ensure an application executes functions according to design. QA Analyst strategically tests applications to expose application vulnerabilities and improve quality of product for our clients. The QA Analyst leverages experience in system testing, regression testing, and performance testing to ensure applications are tested functionally and nonfunctionally.
Minimum Qualifications
KSA’s and/or Competencies required to successfully perform the work:
• Leading Change – The incumbent is a dedicated change agent and has the inherent ability to support innovation and organizational changes needed to improve the organization’s effectiveness, by initiating, sponsoring, and implementing them.
• Build Coalitions and Know the Business – The incumbent recognizes the interests of others in different parts of the organization and establishes alliances to achieve business goals. The incumbent proactively establishes recurring communications with customers using various forums including email, blogs, video conferences, recorded videos, and other means to ensure customers are aware of QA functions and support activities.
• Drive for Results – With little direction, the incumbent will be extremely proactive in identifying, assessing, detecting, alerting, and resolving QA-related issues as they occur. The incumbent has a “can-do” approach to all matters and takes the initiative to take control and resolve customer issues as they occur. This includes contacting and coordinating with any staff or managers as needed, and immediately escalating issues as appropriate.
• Customer Service – The QA Analyst is dedicated to customer service and has a deep commitment to supporting all customers. The incumbent will be extremely proactive in communicating with all customers in various forums and media and will follow through in resolving issues. When necessary, the incumbent will escalate concerns to the appropriate management level.
• Interpersonal Communication – Excellent communications skills in a variety of forums including written, verbal, and video communications.
• Leadership – The incumbent is a leader across the agency and is extremely proficient in leading, mentoring, and training staff on all aspects of service operations. The incumbent organizes tasks, consolidates status reports, independently solves problems, and translates technical data into executive summaries for executive staff.• Personal Effectiveness – The incumbent is highly effective in leading a variety of work efforts, assigning critical tasks, and balancing competing priorities.
• Experience writing and maintaining test plans, test cases and scenarios for web-based applications.
• Experience in prioritizing and accessing the severity of defects and communicating the same with developers.
• Experience with automation tools (like Selenium or QTP/UFT) and developing automation scripts and test harnesses to test GUI, API, and Web Services.
• Experience in Behavior Driven Development testing tools (like Cucumber and Gherkin).
• Experience with writing queries against relational databases (like Mysql or SqlServer) for backend testing and data validation.
• Experience with API Testing tools (like Postman and SOAPUI).
• Experience working alongside development teams to execute performance testing.
• Demonstrated scripting knowledge in languages like Java and JavaScript.
• Experience with build tools like Maven, ANT, or Bash is a plus.
• Strong analytical (ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions) and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage time, multi-task, and change priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
Additional Considerations
• Experience with 508 compliance testing
• Familiarity with using configuration management and bug tracking products (like AzureDevOps, JIRA)
• Knowledge of State applications
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.
VDSS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
This position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Teleworking policy.
To be considered for this position, you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line “Virginia Jobs” (PageUp) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and additional considerations as stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.
In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.
VDSS does not provide sponsorship.
VDSS is an official certified state agency that values the service and experience of our Veterans. As such, Veterans are encouraged to apply and receive preference in the hiring process. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni also are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants, if requested, during the application and/or interview process.
If you have been affected by Policy 1.30 Layoff as a state employee and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Card (Blue Card), you must submit this document through the “Virginia Jobs” (PageUp) employment site when you apply.
Contact Information
Name: VDSS – Division of Human Resources
Phone: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov
Email: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.