Quality Assurance Specialist

About the Role

The Quality Assurance Specialist will shape and run the bank’s quality assurance approach, including governance, testing coordination, and oversight across all projects. This role is responsible for making sure testing is structured, thorough, and consistently applied from planning through to deployment, so that technology solutions remain secure, dependable, compliant, and ready for business use.

The position supports important technology initiatives such as core banking upgrades, system enhancements, and integrations with internal platforms and external client systems. It also covers multiple customer and operational channels, including Agency Banking, Internet Banking, mobile applications, and other internal and customer-facing solutions.

By providing strong control and governance, the role ensures solutions are carefully validated against business, regulatory, and customer needs before release, helping maintain system stability and improve service quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the direction for QA governance, testing standards, and coordination across all projects.
• Define and enforce testing approaches, methods, and best practices.
• Provide independent QA oversight so work aligns with internal policy, audit expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain clear traceability, documentation, and evidence that can stand up to audit review.
• Direct test planning, test case creation, scripting, and test execution.
• Oversee System Integration Testing, support User Acceptance Testing, and manage load and performance testing activities.
• Make sure all systems, interfaces, and dependencies are tested together effectively from end to end.
• Validate both functional and non-functional aspects of solutions, including performance, security, and reliability.
• Lead the planning and delivery of load, stress, and performance testing.
• Confirm that systems can scale, remain stable, and handle peak demand before launch.
• Promote early defect detection using a shift-left mindset.
• Track, manage, and resolve defects promptly while monitoring trends, leakage, and root causes.
• Recommend and support corrective actions to reduce repeat issues.
• Ensure outputs are fully tested and ready for business handover before UAT.
• Act as a control point to reduce production issues and avoid unnecessary rework after deployment.
• Coordinate testing efforts across technology, business, and governance stakeholders.
• Provide visibility across functional and non-functional testing workstreams.
• Support business teams with UAT preparation and validation.
• Coach QA Analysts and help strengthen team capability in advanced testing practices.
• Encourage test automation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 to 8+ years of experience in QA or testing, preferably within banking or financial services.
• Hands-on experience with QA governance and framework design.
• Strong background in SIT and UAT coordination.
• Proven experience in performance and load testing.
• Solid understanding of SDLC and STLC principles.
• Capability in system integration, functional, and non-functional testing, including performance, security, and reliability checks.
• Working knowledge of QA methods, frameworks, and tools such as JIRA, Azure DevOps, and HP ALM.
• Awareness of test automation concepts and CI/CD pipelines.
• Understanding of banking IT governance, compliance, and audit expectations.
• Strong analytical ability for defect investigation and root cause analysis.
• Ability to lead QA work and coordinate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, reporting, and documentation skills.
• ISTQB Advanced Certification or an equivalent qualification is considered an advantage.

Additional Information

This opportunity is based in Tanzania and is a full-time, onsite role. The organization is the oldest serving bank in Tanzania, with more than fifty years of experience, and provides retail, business, corporate, investment banking, and wealth management products and services.

Qualifications and Competency Profile

The role also aligns with competencies in abstract reasoning, customer excellence in service delivery, enabling team success, openness to change, planning and organising, project and programme management, and project management. Background in business, commerce, and management studies at national diploma or advanced certificate level is also referenced.