UAT Senior Manager

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Job Family Group:

This is a hybrid role

Accountable for the strategic direction and execution of enterprise wide user acceptance testing across banking platforms, ensuring all releases adhere to business requirements, regulatory mandates, and risk frameworks. Leads high-performing UAT teams, establishing testing governance standards, and engages stakeholders to enable controlled, audit ready technology delivery at scale

• Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.
• Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
• Regularly connects work to BMO’s purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through. 
• Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders. 
• Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent.
• Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance. 
• Provides strategic input into business decisions as a trusted advisor.
• Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant regulations and policies.
• May network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices.
• Manages resources and leads the execution of strategic initiatives to deliver on business and financial goals.
• Develops the business case by identifying needs, analysing potential options and assessing expected return on investment.
• Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution.
• Provides strategic input into business decisions as a trusted advisor.
• Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
• Manages all UAT requests for the entire business group supported (e.g., only applicable to Canadian P&C, US P&C, Capital Markets, Wealth Management & GAM).
• May network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices.
• Defines business requirements for analytics & reporting to ensure data insights inform business decision making.
• Develops and applies the framework for databases; oversees database management in adherence with data governance standards.
• Leads change management programs of varying scope and type, including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives.
• Leads the development of the communication strategy focusing on positively influencing or changing behaviour.
• Collaborates across BMO to develop communications strategies and ensure consistency of messaging, in order to positively influence or change behaviour.
• Leads the execution of operational programs; assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution.
• Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
• Performs user acceptance testing for projects of various complexities, including but not limited to developing & managing the test strategy, creating & reviewing test cases to ensure traceability, executing test cases, escalating issues, logging outcomes, facilitating/participating in defect meetings, reviewing & validating defect resolutions and developing the exit report.
• Develops UAT solutions and makes recommendations based on an understanding of the business strategy and stakeholder needs.
• Provides advice and guidance to assigned business/group on implementation of UAT solutions.
• Develops and maintains in-depth knowledge of end to end business processes and project requirements through close partnership with business/group stakeholders.
• Coordinates the appropriate parties to execute the overall test plan for project; including identifying key participants to execute the plan, providing estimates on the UAT cycle, determining the UAT schedule, prioritizing test execution, monitoring the test progress, and escalating as required.
• Collaborates with internal & external stakeholders to provide business context in the design, develop and implementation of UAT solutions.
• Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders.
• Leads or participates in change management activities of varying scope and type.
• Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide UAT insights and recommendations.
• Monitors and tracks UAT performance results and addresses any issues.
• Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine.
• Implements changes in response to shifting trends.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.
• Take measured risks while protecting the bank by applying our Risk Management Framework in the execution of your role, in line with our Risk Culture and within our approved Risk Appetite, making sound and risk informed decisions that align to business strategy, protect assets, and adhere to applicable policy documents (Frameworks, Policies, Standards, Procedures and Supporting documents), laws and regulations.

Qualifications:

• Typically 10+ years of relevant experience with at least 4 years leading UAT programs in banking or financial services environment
• Solid understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and experience working within Agile, Waterfall and hybrid delivery models
• Deep expertise in UAT methodology - test strategy, test plan design, defect triage, entry/exit criteria and formal sign off process
• 4+ years managing a team of UAT analysts, testers across multiple projects or business lines
• Strong organizational skills to manage competing priorities, resource constraints and delivery timelines simultaneously
• Demonstrated track record of identifying process gaps and implementing measurable improvements to UAT frameworks, tools and operating models
• Proficiency with test management tools like Jira and HP ALM
• Familiarity with test automation frameworks
• Openness to evaluating and adopting emerging tools including AI for test case authoring and UAT documentation
• Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Influence skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - In-depth / Expert.
• Able to manage ambiguity.
• Data driven decision making - In-depth / Expert.

Salary:

Pay Type:

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact.  We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers.  We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.