Certified Scrum Master

Description

About Our Company

At Lids Sports Group, we don't just sell hats - we fuel fandom. As the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, we bring sports, fashion, and culture together in more than 1,300 stores nationwide. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lids delivers premium, fan-driven products and unforgettable retail experiences.

Our stores feature officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional teams, alongside top brands like Champion, Nike, New Era, Lululemon Athletica, and Mitchell & Ness. We're also the industry leader in on-demand customization, offering in-store embroidery that turns everyday gear into one-of-a-kind statements.

From specialty concept stores for the NBA and NHL to iconic clubhouse destinations for the Yankees and Dodgers, we create immersive retail experiences that celebrate the teams fans love. Through collaborations with brands like Marvel, Peanuts, and The Walt Disney Company, Lids continues to redefine how fans represent their teams - in style.

General Position Summary

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) is responsible for leading Agile delivery practices across Lids' Enterprise & Corporate Systems portfolio. This role serves as a servant leader, Agile coach, facilitator, and delivery partner supporting cross-functional teams responsible for critical business applications including Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Planning, Real Estate, Legal, and Corporate Services.

The Scrum Master partners closely with Product Owners, Functional Experts, Architects, Engineering teams, and business stakeholders to ensure efficient planning, execution, and delivery of technology initiatives. This role promotes Agile best practices, removes obstacles impeding team success, improves team velocity, and drives a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Agile Leadership & Facilitation

• Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies, including Daily Standups, Sprint Planning, Backlog Refinement, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives.
• Ensure Agile principles, Scrum methodologies, and organizational standards are consistently followed.
• Coach teams, Product Owners, and stakeholders on Agile best practices and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, and delivery excellence.
• Promote and reinforce servant leadership principles throughout the organization.

Team Enablement & Delivery

• Partner with Product Owners to ensure backlog readiness and alignment with business priorities.
• Identify, track, and remove impediments affecting team performance and delivery commitments.
• Facilitate dependency management across multiple teams and technology domains.
• Monitor sprint commitments, team velocity, capacity planning, and delivery outcomes.
• Drive predictable delivery of quarterly objectives and strategic initiatives.
• Assist teams in maintaining focus on high-value work aligned with organizational priorities.

Enterprise Systems Support

• Support Agile delivery across enterprise platforms, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Finance and Accounting systems, Human Resources systems, Merchandising applications, Supply Chain and Distribution systems, Planning and Forecasting platforms, and Corporate Shared Services applications.
• Coordinate efforts among business stakeholders, technical teams, vendors, and project resources.
• Ensure alignment between technology initiatives and business objectives.

Metrics, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Track and report Agile delivery metrics, including velocity, sprint burndown, cycle time, lead time, team capacity, and quarterly delivery performance.
• Develop and maintain Azure DevOps dashboards and reporting.
• Analyze trends and recommend process improvements to increase team effectiveness.
• Lead retrospective action planning and follow-through.
• Drive adoption of Agile maturity improvements across the Enterprise Systems organization.

Stakeholder Communication

• Provide regular updates to leadership regarding team health, risks, impediments, and delivery progress.
• Facilitate communication between technology teams and business stakeholders.
• Escalate risks and dependencies when necessary while proposing resolution strategies.
• Build strong relationships across IT and business functions to support effective collaboration.

Job Required Knowledge and Skills

• 3 to 4 years of experience serving as a Scrum Master within Agile software delivery teams.
• Experience working with Enterprise Applications, ERP systems, Corporate Systems, or Business Technology teams.
• Experience facilitating Scrum ceremonies and supporting multiple Agile teams.
• Experience working directly with business stakeholders and Product Owners.
• Required: Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
• Strong knowledge of Agile principles, Scrum frameworks, and servant leadership.
• Excellent facilitation and meeting management skills.
• Strong conflict resolution and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with Azure DevOps, Jira, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft 365.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Analytical mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and measurable results.
• Strong understanding of enterprise business processes including Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Merchandising, and Retail Operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, or a related field preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Exposure to SAFe, Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar Agile delivery platforms.
• Retail, distribution, supply chain, or corporate systems experience preferred.
• Preferred: SAFe Scrum Master (SSM), SAFe Practitioner, PMI-ACP, Certified Agile Coach, or Scrum Alliance advanced certification.

Key Leadership Competencies

• Servant Leadership, Agile Coaching, Facilitation, Conflict Resolution, Stakeholder Management, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Organizational Planning, Prioritization, Continuous Improvement, Data-Driven Decision Making

Success Measures

• Within the first 12 months, the Scrum Master will be expected to:
• Improve sprint predictability and commitment achievement.
• Increase team delivery velocity and throughput.
• Enhance Agile maturity across Enterprise & Corporate Systems teams.
• Improve stakeholder satisfaction and communication effectiveness.
• Reduce delivery impediments and cycle times.
• Establish consistent Agile practices, reporting, and governance across supported teams.
• Contribute to successful execution of Lids strategic technology initiatives and quarterly plans.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plan
• 100% employer-paid benefits, including short-term and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Generous employee discount and exclusive perks
• Ongoing career development, including discounted secondary education courses
• A collaborative, innovative, and team-oriented work environment
• Early Wage Access options
• Bonus eligibility depending on position level
• Physical Demands & Requirements
• Ability to operate a computer and work with digital systems for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate verbally and visually with internal teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to work in an office or remote environment with frequent task deadlines.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. For inquiries related to reasonable accommodations, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.

Work Environment

• Onsite office work environment.
• Standard business hours from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., flexibility may be provided upon request.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Employment Requirements

Candidates must possess the experience, skills, physical abilities, and qualifications, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential duties of the role and must be able to meet all applicable employment standards. Being legally authorized to work in the United States is a pre-condition of employment for this position. Current or future employment-based visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Notice to Applicants

In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to, or describes you ("Personal Information"). The categories of Personal Information we collect include your name, email address, mailing address, other contact information, employment history, and educational history. We collect and use this information for human resources and business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating candidates for employment or future contract opportunities, and maintaining recruiting and hiring records.

Need Accessibility Assistance?

Applicants who require accessibility assistance to submit an employment application may email View email address on click.appcast.io. A member of our Talent team will respond as soon as reasonably possible. This email address is only for individuals seeking reasonable accommodation when applying for a career at Lids.