Quality Assurance Specialist at Vancouver Island University — NeverHard

Quality Assurance Specialist The Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist contributes to the planning, execution, and automation of tests that ensure the reliability, security, and performance of the institution's administrative and student-facing applications. This position supports the institution's ongoing modernization initiative, transitioning from a legacy .NET ASP environment to a modern JavaScript (JS) framework. The QA Specialist plays a hands-on role in building, executing, and maintaining test suites, strengthening the institutional QA program, and ensuring that software meets the highest standards of quality. The successful candidate will demonstrate curiosity, technical competence, and a commitment to continuous improvement, collaborating closely with developers, analysts, and business partners to create a culture of quality across the organization. Employment Group VIUFA Position Number 01125 Division VP Administration and Finance Department Information Technology Campus Nanaimo campus *Successful candidates must be able to attend in person on campus as required. Location Nanaimo, British Columbia Country Canada Appointment Type regular full-time FTE 1.00 Workload 35 hours per week Pay Level VIUFA IT Group D: $81,230 - $95,565 per annum (prorated if part-time). Starting Salary Normal starting salary placement is $81,230 per annum. This position is eligible for annual salary increases as outlined in the Collective Agreement As soon as possible. Applicant Documents CV/Resume, Cover Letter, Qualifications , Name and contact information of recent supervisors willing to provide a reference Posted Date 30-Jul-2026 Closing Date 12-Aug-2026 Job Reference Key Responsibilities 1. Test Design and Execution Develop and execute manual and automated test plans, test cases, and regression suites. Validate functionality, performance, and accessibility across applications and APIs. Identify, document, and track defects through resolution using institutional tools. Work closely with developers to understand requirements, design intent, and acceptance criteria. 2. Test Automation Implement and maintain automated test scripts and frameworks under guidance from the Team Lead. Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab, Azure DevOps). Analyze and report test results, working with developers to resolve failures. Contribute to the development of reusable automated test components and libraries. 3. Collaboration and QA Program Support Participate in sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives as part of an Agile team. Collaborate with developers, business analysts, and system owners to ensure full test coverage of features. Assist in defining QA standards, processes, and documentation for the institution. Support the adoption of test automation, test data management, and reporting improvements. 4. Continuous Learning and Process Improvement Explore new testing tools, frameworks, and methodologies that improve QA efficiency. Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the QA program. Participate in knowledge sharing and technical discussions. Seek opportunities to streamline repetitive or manual testing tasks through automation. Successful candidates will participate in a wide range of activities, including, student support; institutional, faculty and departmental committee meetings and other initiatives; and professional activities in keeping with their disciplines in and outside the institution. Required Qualifications Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, and 2-4 years of experience in software testing within a development or QA team. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Exposure to both manual and automated testing practices. Familiarity with web application stacks, including .NET and modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Angular, Svelte, etc.). Experience with one or more automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Jest, or NUnit). Familiarity with API testing tools such as Postman, Newman, or REST Assured. Understanding of CI/CD processes and version control (GitLab, GitHub, or Azure DevOps). Competence in writing and maintaining SQL queries for data validation. Ability to troubleshoot test failures and communicate root causes effectively. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking abilities. Clear and concise communicator, both verbally and in writing. Team-oriented with a collaborative, learning-focused mindset. High attention to detail and commitment to delivering quality outcomes. Comfortable working in an Agile or hybrid development environment. Preferred Qualifications Experience working in a post-secondary or public sector environment. Familiarity with accessibility and security testing standards. Understanding Agile/Scrum methodologies and ceremonies. QA certification (e.g., ISTQB, CSTE) is considered an asset. VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities. Note Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.