Two jobs, one job title

Freya Livsey-Corlett joined us last year as our Test & Analysis Manager. Here she writes more about her role and how she has found her time at PDMS so far...

Explain your role in more detail 

My role as ‘Analysis & Test Manager’ at PDMS has two very distinct jobs.  

Firstly, I head up the Analysis and Testing Team at PDMS and have all our Analysts, Test Analysts, and Support Analysts reporting to me. At the last count, there are 17 people in the team and this number is only going to increase as PDMS grows.

My primary role is to lead and develop our Analysts, whether it be working with the functions within the team to better align our internal processes with industry standards or working one-on-one to develop a training plan. I am also heavily involved with recruitment, working with HR to attract and appoint the best candidates for the team. It’s a hugely rewarding part of my job, from reading a CV, to meeting the candidate, to appointing them, and finally inducting them into the team. 

However, the second part of my job still allows me to get my ‘hands dirty’ working as a Business Analyst or Test Analyst with our clients. It also allows me to see what my colleagues are working on, keeps my skills up to date and I really get a lot out of working with our clients and other internal teams at PDMS.  

What transferable skills have you been able to apply to your new role at PDMS? 

While I was with my previous company for ten years working in a completely different sector, I have brought with me transferable skills that have allowed me to ‘hit the ground running’ at PDMS: 

• Software development lifecycle is largely the same whatever sector you are in 
• Testing software the principles and tools used are universal 
• Utilising qualitative and quantitative data to make decisions and recommendations during product development 
• The ability to multitask  
• Working with different teams including project management 
• Team management   

On a personal level, how have you found your move to PDMS?

I wasn’t actively looking to move roles, but when I came across the job description of ‘Analysis & Test Manager’ at PDMS, it felt like it would be a brilliant and exciting move for me. I could see how my knowledge and experience equipped me to take on the role.  

It could have been a significant risk, moving from a company I had been with for a decade and as a mum of a one-year-old. However, PDMS made the entire process feel normal and are extremely accommodating. We’re able to work flexibly, which allows me to work around my childcare commitments, I can work from home whenever I need to, and I know that I have the opportunity to grow in my career while also being the mum of a toddler. 

Do you mostly work from home or the office?

For me personally, I like working in the office. However, I do really appreciate the fact that PDMS has adopted the hybrid approach. It means that I can work at home when that works best for me or from the office. PDMS allows me to choose where I work.  

What excites you about PDMS?

One of the things that excites me about PDMS is that we are a rapidly growing company and I have joined at a time of great change and momentum. We are recruiting and always keen to hire the best talent available in either the Isle of Man or Glasgow and due to our growth, we have clear progression routes and opportunities to work with a wide range of clients.  

In my role, as Analysis & Test Manager, I am responsible for a large team, and I love that I am able to shape the team and ensure that our new recruits will fit in seamlessly. Being part of a growing company means that I can be actively involved in a wide variety of discussions that I find exciting and challenging.  

Is there a standout moment in your time at PDMS so far?

This is an easy one for me to answer! In my previous role, I worked on internal projects but never spoke to or interacted with the end-user, the measurement of success was if the game had met the agreed KPIs. Since joining PDMS I have been able to collaborate directly with clients. I love meeting our clients to understand their requirements, share my thoughts and ideas for their products and then ultimately deliver a project on time – and get their feedback too.  

Plus, I must give a mention to my team! No day is the same and I really enjoy working with such a talented bunch of individuals.

What structure is your team?

Within my team, there are three different specialisms: Business Analysts, Testers and Support. We all work closely together, learn from each other, and often work on multiple dynamic projects at one time.  

Our Business Analysts collaborate closely with our clients to understand problems. They are quite an established team; many have been with PDMS for a number of years and are used to working with our global client base. They are highly competent, qualified, and span our Isle of Man and Glasgow offices. 

The Testing team is small but very dynamic. I am thrilled at the prospect of growing this team and think it’ll be exciting to see how the role of testing will change as new testing technology becomes available. Cameron who joined PDMS last year said: ‘I like to think of myself as the last line of defence before the clients test our software’ and I think he sums up the role of a Test Analyst nicely.  

The Support Team wears multiple hats, they can assist any number of our customers with requests from website content issues to data requests. The team also produces Change Requests for Customers, Test Bugs and are all-around system gurus!  

I think it is fair to say for all members of the team, that no two days are the same!  

What kind of people do you want to hire?

I want to hire someone who is excited by the opportunity of working within a small but growing, software company. Everyone at PDMS is extremely passionate about their role and what they do, and I want to expand my team with someone who encompasses this as well as having the drive to develop and grow. 

Our values are particularly important to the way we operate, and we are looking for people who embrace them and are able to demonstrate them each and every day.  

We are also a sociable bunch, I’m a member of our Social Committee and have helped organise some of their events. Since I joined PDMS, we’ve arranged various activities including axe throwing, our Christmas party, a paid-for social trip to London, and plenty of meals and drinks.  

Join PDMS today

If you’re keen to explore opportunities at PDMS, we’re always happy to receive CVs from talented individuals or to have an informal chat.  

Please contact our HR team who will be happy to assist.