Sr Scrum Master

Role Description

The Sr Scrum Master is a “servant leader” who helps teams follow Scrum. The Sr Scrum Master has expert level understanding of the Scrum framework, Scrum values, Agile principles and values in the Agile manifesto. This person is sought out to coach other teams on the subtleties of Scrum.

They partner effectively with stakeholders to ensure alignment of priorities and product delivery, planning and executing on product tasks and driving for results through both product team members and stakeholders. They leverage technical/functional subject matter experts to maximize velocity for product completion, carefully balancing the three constraints of cost, time, and scope to best suit the needs of the business and the enterprise.

They ensure accountability, transparency, and regularity in product status updates. They serve as a leader in the deployment of Agile methodology and processes for assigned line of business product being supported by Information Technology.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provides expert consulting to the Product Owner in building and maintaining the product roadmap, release plan and strategic product roadmap based on the priorities set by the Product Owner and input from the Team.
• Responsible for leading multiple product teams or large initiatives monitoring progress across all products to ensure on target and providing needed support to remove obstacles to achieving product deliverables.
• Responsible for leading product teams and managing all activities (including strategy and ideation), in a product life-cycle (initiation, planning, executing/controlling, and closing) associated with high visibility products that are long-term, across one or more lines of business and carry a substantial impact to the relevant businesses.
• Foster self-organization and cross team collaboration. Enable the Team to make decisions and remove decision making barriers whenever possible. Facilitate discussion, decision making, and conflict resolution.
• Identify areas for process improvement and establishes effective and efficient processes, by analyzing current and new product management processes.
• Provide leadership to assigned product managers to establish product plans and objectives that result in on-time and on-budget outcome. Track progress and provide updates on any changes in strategy or priorities.
• Effectively communicate relevant status and initiative level metrics to senior executives on the progress of individual products and the overall initiative.
• Establishes and maintains a strong partnership with internal customers to fully understand the business and their business needs. Work cross functionally in a matrixed environment to drive partnerships to achieve shared goals.
• Strengthen the presence of our team as an Agile center of excellence. Actively contribute to the company’s Agile and Product Community. Keep the rest of the company network aware of our activities.
• Inspire others to achieve challenging goals and high standards of performance while committing to the organization’s direction (Product/Agile/DevOps).
• Models Thrivent’s leadership competencies – courage, collaboration, and commitment by demonstrating resiliency, working together to make the best decisions, and holding yourself and others accountable.
• Supports and/or develops an environment in which Thrivent employees and colleagues are focused on continuous improvement, exceptional employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to our clients.
• Shapes and/or supports a culture that represents the Thrivent purpose, promise and values, ensuring that Thrivent’s trust and reputation remain strong with its clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business or other technical related field or equivalent work experience.
• 4-6 years in a lead role on projects, scrum teams, and/or business lead initiatives, at least 3 years as a ScrumMaster or related experience.
• Understand fundamentals of iterative development, software development process and procedures.
• Expertise with common Agile practices, service-oriented environments, and better development practices.
• High level of organization and attention to detail.
• Passion and understanding of new technology and trends.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and influence skills among all organizational levels; strong facilitation and executive communications skills.
• Strong ability to effectively manage and resolve conflicting priorities.

Requirements

• Experience leading agile teams in SAFe, Scrum, or Kanban contexts.
• Certified Scrum Master or similar certification.
• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience managing essential risk mitigation activities including identification, tracking, follow-up, escalation, and contingency planning on risks, issues.
• Demonstrates mastery of software development processes and procedures, including test driven development, incremental development approaches and technical change management.
• Strong leadership skills to coordinate and motivate product teams, even outside direct reporting relationships.
• Experience developing and implementing initiative and product level performance metrics.
• Experience working in large, complex organizational initiatives.
• Advanced skills in MS Office Suite with particular emphasis on Excel.
• Adept at financial management to administer budgets across multiple products and ensure the product meets its requirements for return on investment.

Benefits

• Various bonuses (including, for example, annual or long-term incentives).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health savings account.
• Flexible spending account.
• 401k.
• Pension.
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• Supplemental protection insurance.
• 20 days of Paid Time Off each year.
• Sick and Safe Time.
• 10 paid company holidays.
• Volunteer Time Off.
• Paid parental leave.
• EAP.
• Well-being benefits, and other employee benefits.