QA Manager (FTC)

Important, please read before applying: For this role you must be based in the UK, Europe, or on Universal Time Coordinated UTC +/- 2 hours. This is non-negotiable. Only CVs uploaded in .pdf form will be reviewed. At this time, we do not offer visa sponsorships, the candidates must be eligible to work where they currently reside. ZA/UM is looking for a seasoned QA Manager to help us build and maintain a team of internal and external testers across multiple projects on multiple platforms (mobile, PC and console). In addition, we are interested in candidates who also have experience with release management processes, vendor management and integrating with customer service tools and pipeline. ZA/UM is a small, independent game studio and this role requires the candidate to be very hands-on with testing and integrating testing processes across other disciplines as well as able to delegate work across a team of contractors. This includes defining and managing internal testing tools and hardware across multiple offices with a remote staff. This is a full-time, fixed term contract of one year, reporting to the Studio Head. Responsibilities: Drive the structure, policies and procedures of QA in the studio Build and maintain QA strategies and test plans for multiple game projects and internal tools. Manage internal QA processes and coordinate extensively with third-party QA companies to ensure cohesive and comprehensive test coverage. Establish and keep strong relationships with external QA vendors, ensuring alignment on quality standards and expectations. Manage the QA budget, including resource allocation, equipment, and software licences, while ensuring cost-effective operations. Create comprehensive testing schedules and test cases for each project, ensuring thorough coverage of features, prioritising projects based on timelines and project objectives. Act as a bridge between the QA team, other departments, and senior management, providing regular updates on QA progress, issues, and risks. Report on testing progress and results, providing insightful and actionable quality-related insights to the development teams. Continually assess and refine QA methodologies and processes, ensuring adaptability and alignment with industry advancements. Cultivate an inclusive and collaborative team environment, fostering professional growth and knowledge sharing. Promote a culture of quality excellence throughout the studio, advocating for a strong commitment to quality among all team members. Qualifications: A minimum of 4 years of experience in QA leadership within the games industry, preferably overseeing both outsourced and in-house QA teams on PC and console (mobile experience is a bonus) Extensive knowledge of QA methodologies, tools, and best practices. Experience in developing and upholding test plans, experience in JIRA, Zendesk and Confluence for reports and documentation. Strong leadership and team management skills with a commitment to team development and mentoring. In-depth understanding of the game development lifecycle and various production processes. Proven experience with QA for internal tools and systems. Proven QA experience through full game development cycle. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills. Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to prioritise and manage tasks effectively. Bonuses: Experience with cRPGs and Cross-Platform development Familiarity with the Unity engine. Experience with console platform tools such as Razor and XBox Manager A profound love for gaming and a meticulous eye for detail. Knowledge of player trends and preferences. Knowledge of Coding languages used for automation and games development (Python, C++, C#) About Us: Since 2015, ZA/UM Studio has been at the forefront of artistic achievement within the video games industry. Driven by a commitment to video games as an art form and endless intellectual curiosity, we are now a studio with a portfolio of projects and a global team of over 80 people. We are committed to creating narrative-driven games that challenge the boundaries of art and storytelling. We do not shy away from social commentary or challenging industry conventions. The foundation of our artistic pursuits is collective creativity, we view teamwork and camaraderie as essential. ZA/UM is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. The organisation - in providing goods and/or services and/or facilities - is also committed against unlawful discrimination of customers or the public.