Director, QA and Testing CoE

ABOUT US
At HUB International, we are a team of entrepreneurs. We believe in empowering our clients, and we do so by protecting businesses and individuals in our local communities. We help businesses evaluate their risks and develop solutions tailored to their needs. We believe in empowering our employees. As a global firm, we offer employees resources in both technology and industry expertise, but we still maintain the local flavor of our offices. Our structure enables our teams to maintain their own unique, regional culture while leveraging support and resources from our corporate centers of excellence.

HUB is the 5th largest global insurance and employee benefits broker, providing a boundaryless array of property, casualty, risk management, life and health, employee benefits, investment and wealth management products and services. With over 17,000 employees in more than 550 offices throughout North America, HUB has grown substantially, in part due to our industry leading success in mergers and acquisitions.

Position Description

The Director, QA and Testing CoE (Center of Excellence) will build an enterprise TechOps QA and testing Center of Excellence for HUB International. The director will start by assessing the current state of Software Engineering QA and Enterprise Testing practices, standards, strategies; and will centralize the existing capabilities into one strategically aligned CoE. The new QA and Testing CoE will drive quality of software engineering, but also testing of major software upgrades, internal system integration projects, and system integrations related to new acquisitions. The director will work together with current managers of QA and Enterprise Testing to optimize existing QA and Testing standards and processes, frameworks and methodologies.

The Director, QA and Testing CoE will be responsible for establishing overall QA and Testing CoE strategy, leading qa and testing managers and overall team according to the strategy, and planning and providing leadership to new major qa and testing initiatives. This director will also be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders, focusing on fostering strong partnerships and increasing quality of technology deliverables. As a leader within HUB International's growing TechOps organization, the Director, QA and Testing CoE will cultivate working relationships with other key IT and business leaders and bring a perspective to the future of HUB's overall IT delivery strategy.

In Summary,

As a people leader, the Director, QA and Testing CoE will:

• In collaboration with QA and Enterprise testing managers, allocate team members to initiatives, projects and other activities; manage overall team capacity
• Participate in budgeting and resource planning
• Grow and develop the people on the team; help them to pursue and achieve their career goals
• Set and manage objectives and key results for the team that support HUB International's quality objectives, and align with overall business growth objectives

To assure delivery of high-quality systems that drive great end-user experience and customer satisfaction, the Director will deliver the following activities and outcomes, either directly, or through resources on other teams:

• QA and Testing CoE strategy that accounts for the various processes, tools and roles required to deliver IT solutions with quality
• Establish repeatable estimation process for large initiatives based on provided scope, balancing risks against cost and capacity
• Test automation capability that improves over time, reducing effort and time required
• Entry and exit criteria, to ensure systems meet HUB International quality standards

As a leader that strives for continuous improvement of HUB products and employee experience, the Director, QA and Testing CoE will:

• Continually evolve the CoE’s strategy based on trends and innovations in QA and Testing
• Explore and adopt new methodologies as needed to support HUB's growth
• Build a robust testing automation capability to drive teams’ performance and quality of their work.

In more detail with listing focus areas, the Director, QA and Testing CoE will be expected to perform in the following areas:

 1. Strategic Leadership

• Define QA & Testing Strategy: Develop and implement the overall QA and testing strategy, aligned with the organization's business goals.
• Drive Innovation: Encourage and integrate new testing tools, technologies, and practices such as automation, AI-driven testing, or DevOps methodologies.
• Standardization: Establish standardized QA frameworks, testing protocols, and best practices across the organization.

2. Governance and Compliance

• Policy Creation and Enforcement: In collaboration with HUB’s Security and Compliance, Develop QA policies, processes, and procedures ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations (e.g., ISO, GDPR).
• Quality Metrics and OKRs: Define and track metrics to measure the effectiveness of QA and testing efforts, including defect density, test coverage, and time to market.

3. Team Leadership and Development

• Resource Management: Ensure proper staffing, training, and professional development within the CoE.
• Knowledge Sharing and Training: Create programs for continuous learning, upskilling, and knowledge sharing within the CoE. Ensure the team is updated on the latest QA trends and tools.

4. Stakeholder Communication

• Collaboration with Other Departments: Work closely with product managers, developers, and business stakeholders to ensure QA activities align with product development goals.
• Reporting to Executives: Present quality status, testing progress, and potential risks to senior management. Advocate for the necessary budget and resources.

5. Automation and Tooling

• Automation Strategy: Spearhead the move towards test automation to improve efficiency and speed to market.
• Tool Selection and Implementation: Insure alignment with the CoE’s strategy in the selection, implementation, and maintenance of testing tools and environments.

6. Risk Management

• Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks related to software quality and work with project teams to mitigate them.
• Defect Management: Develop a robust defect identification, tracking, and resolution process to ensure quick and effective issue resolution.

7. Continuous Improvement

• Process Optimization: Continuously evaluate and improve testing processes to reduce errors, increase efficiency, and enhance the overall quality of products.
• Feedback Loop: Gather feedback from internal and external users to improve the QA and testing process.

8. Budget and Resource Planning

• Financial Oversight: Ensure proper planning and allocation of resources to testing initiatives and tools.
• Vendor Management: Evaluate external testing partners, vendors, and tool providers to ensure the best value.

9. Client/Project Engagement

• QA Consulting: Act as an internal consultant, guiding project teams on quality assurance best practices and supporting them throughout the project lifecycle.
• Client Relationship Management: For external client-facing CoEs, build and maintain client relationships to ensure customer satisfaction with QA efforts.

The qualified candidate will have the following characteristics:

• 10+ years of experience in software quality assurance, including hands-on experience with both manual and automated testing
• 7+ years in a leadership or managerial position within QA and testing, ideally leading a large team or multiple teams across different projects or regions
• Proven track record of managing or directing QA efforts in large, complex projects across diverse technologies, platforms, and industries
• Key Skills and Competencies:
  • Leadership and People Management: Strong leadership skills to manage cross-functional teams and drive organizational quality goals.
  • Technical Acumen: Deep understanding of testing tools, methodologies, and automation practices.
  • Communication Skills: Ability to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Problem-Solving: Skilled at identifying issues and finding effective solutions, especially in dynamic environments.

Other Helpful Qualifications:

• Experience establishing or managing a Center of Excellence (COE) is highly desirable, especially in a QA or testing-focused COE
• Insurance or insurance brokerage industry experience
• Digital Product Management / Ownership
• Have led or made significant contributions to a digital transformation program
• M&A integration experience
• Certifications (Preferred):

• Software Testing: ISTQB Advanced Level, CSQA (Certified Software Quality Analyst), or similar QA certifications.
• Six Sigma: Green or Black Belt certifications for process improvement.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. A master’s degree (MBA, M.Sc.) in a relevant area may be preferred or beneficial.

Although Chicago hybrid is preferred, candidates in the US will be considered.

JOIN OUR TEAM
Do you believe in the power of innovation, collaboration, and transformation?  Do you thrive in a supportive and client focused work environment?  Are you looking for an opportunity to help build and drive change in a rapidly growing and evolving organization?  When you join HUB, you will be part of a community of learners and doers focused on helping our leaders maximize the potential of their employees.

HUB International Limited is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran's status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations. The EEO is the Law poster and its supplement is available here at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm .

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