Scrum Master

Servant Leader And Coach Leading Cross-Functional Agile Teams

Apex has an immediate need for an experienced servant leader and coach leading cross-functional agile teams operating in complex and cross functional work across the Security, Data, and Networking domain areas related to transformation to the Cloud. The Scrum Master guides and facilitates a Scrum &/or Kanban team involved in a large fast-paced program implementing complex technology for business-oriented solutions, through effective application of the agile based SDLC (Software Delivery Life Cycle) and associated ceremonies, ensuring the agreed upon agile practice is being followed. Removing impediments and fostering a high performing team with a focus on continuous improvement resulting in quality and timeliness delivery.

Ideal candidates will have the following:

• Scrum master experience in a complex large-scale enterprise.
• Experience in an agile environment in other roles.
• Ability to be flexible, curious, & collaborative.
• Experience focusing on learning current environment/practices before proposing changes to transition teams to new Agile ways of working.
• Great communication & drive to take on new challenges!

Must be local to Cincinnati & open to being in-office 2-3 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide, coach and motivate the team with the goal of increasing productivity
• Organize and lead Scrum ceremonies
• Oversee and manage scope, timeline, quality, goals and deliverables that support business goals
• Remove impediments or guide the team to remove impediments
• Build a trusting and safe environment where problems can be raised without fear of blame, retribution, or being judged, with an emphasis of productive conflict resolution and problem solving
• Facilitate discussions, decision making, and conflict resolution
• Prepare and present reports on the progress and success
• Coordinate activities with other teams across the program
• Partner with and support the Product Owner
• Participate in the Scrum of Scrums and partner with other Scrum Masters
• Coach the team to higher levels of maturity, at a pace that is sustainable and comfortable for the team and organization
• Organize and facilitate planning and coordination including release / Potentially Shippable Increments planning, iteration planning, daily stand-ups, iteration review/demos, and retrospectives
• Ensure teams are held accountable to agile SDLC (Software Delivery Life Cycle) tenants and their internal working agreements including use of appropriate tools, standards and best practices
• Promote and demonstrate core agile principles of collaboration, prioritization, team accountability and visibility
• Ensure the team is tracking and communicating team progress and metrics to the appropriate resources.
• Facilitate and enable an environment of collaboration and creativity
• Support and empower the team to make appropriate commitments through story selection and task definition.
• Empower the team to self-organize around achieving their commitments
• Identify and remove any impediments/distractions that interfere with the team’s ability to deliver against their commitments
• Challenge and enable the team to continuously improve through intentional and data driven inspect and adapt cycles (retrospectives)

Requirements

• Scrum master experience in a complex large-scale enterprise
• Experience in an agile environment in other roles; such as quality assurance, development, product owner, or as an agile coach
• Proven knowledge and experience with agile software development methodologies, values, and procedures
• Demonstrated leadership ability to coach and mentor the team to reach their highest potential. Excellent team player and team builder
• Ability to work with all levels of the organization
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with diverse personality types
• Ability to understand technical issues at a high level and communicate agile methodologies within the organization
• Must have exceptional communication, organization, and time management skills
• Strong ability to manage multiple agile teams and ensure a proper balance between PMO (Project Management office, business and technology teams and management)
• Must be self-motivated as well as creative and efficient in proposing solutions to complex problems
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail

Required Skills : Top 3 soft skills: Flexible, good communicator, curious, collaborative, willing to take on a new challenge