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About the Role
The purpose of this role is to support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) Programme within Academic Services.
Working from agreed UAT scenarios and the test plan, the UAT Tester will develop detailed test scripts and execute these across relevant systems to test end-to-end business journeys. The successful candidate will compare actual system results against expected outcomes, record results and evidence, and identify and raise potential defects.
The succesful candidate will work under the coordination of the UAT Lead and alongside business Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), project colleagues and technical teams to ensure testing is completed accurately and within agreed timescales.
The UAT Tester will not be responsible for defining the overall UAT approach or determining the technical root cause of defects. Questions relating to requirements, expected outcomes, test data or system behaviour will be escalated to the UAT Lead.
Key Responsibilities
Test Preparation
- Attend required UAT briefings, handover sessions and system familiarisation activities.
- Use agreed UAT scenarios and the test plan to develop clear, detailed test scripts.
- Define appropriate test steps and expected outcomes based on agreed requirements and scenarios.
- Raise unclear requirements, expected outcomes or scenarios with the UAT Lead.
- Update and refine test scripts where clarification or changes are agreed.
Test Documentation and Systems
- Use Azure DevOps (ADO) and Excel as the primary tool for recording UAT test cases.
- Maintain clear test steps, expected outcomes, results and supporting evidence within ADO and Excel.
- Use Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Excel and other approved University tools to support testing and collaboration.
Contribute to the Effective and Efficient Performance of the Team
- Work collaboratively with the UAT Lead, other UAT Testers, business SMEs, technical teams and project colleagues.
- Support colleagues to ensure testing is completed within agreed timescales.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of testing processes and ways of working.
You are expected to:
- Comply with the University's Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities policies in the performance of your duties.
- Co-operate with the Open University in ensuring statutory requirements, codes of practice and relevant University policies are followed.
About You
Essential Criteria:
- Experience of User Acceptance Testing, business testing, system testing or demonstrable transferable testing experience.
- Ability to translate agreed business scenarios or requirements into clear and detailed test scripts.
- Experience of using Azure DevOps (ADO) or a comparable test management tool.
- Ability to accurately record and analyse test results, identify potential defects whilst demonstrating excellent attention to detail.
- Organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to complete assigned testing within agreed timescales.
- Ability to identify when requirements or expected outcomes are unclear and escalate appropriately.
- Ability to work independently while operating within an agreed UAT approach and under the coordination of a UAT Lead.
- Experienced in the use of Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders and in a manner which aligns with the Open University's values.
Desirable Criteria:
- Previous experience as a UAT Tester, Test Analyst, Business Tester or similar role.
- Experience of Azure DevOps Test Plans.
- Relevant testing qualification or certification, such as ISTQB or equivalent.
- Experience of supporting system implementations, transformation programmes or change initiatives.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
Working Location: It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be two days per week as a minimum, but this may be more often as required. Full-time working based from our Milton Keynes site is also supported if this is preferred by the candidate. Expenses associated with travel to our Milton Keynes site are not reimbursable.
Next steps in the Recruitment process
We anticipate that interviews for this role will be taking place online via microsoft teams during week commencing 12 October 2026.
Early closing date notification
While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.
If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.
How to apply
To apply for this role, please submit the following documents:
- CV
- Supporting Statement (Your Supporting Statement should be no more than 1000 words and should outline how your current skills and experience meet the Essential Criteria listed above).
You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.
