Scrum Master (GUIDEWIRE)

MSIG North America continues to grow! 

We are seeking an experienced Scrum Master to play a crucial role in our Agile development process to facilitate the roll out and ongoing maintenance of the Guidewire InsuranceSuite to enhance our core business operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Agile methodologies and experience in the property and casualty insurance industry. This role requires strong leadership skills. Experience with the Guidewire platform is preferred. As a Scrum Master, you will facilitate Agile practices, ensure the smooth functioning of development teams, and drive continuous improvement in our software development processes.

Essential Functions:

Facilitate Agile Processes: Lead and facilitate all Scrum ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.

Backlog Refinement: Partner with product owners to organize and prioritize sprint and release backlogs.

Guidewire Expertise (preferred, not required): Utilize in-depth knowledge of the Guidewire InsuranceSuite to support and guide development teams in implementing and enhancing Guidewire applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams via Scrum of Scrums sessions ensuring alignment with business goals and requirements. Experience with other P&C software would be considered.

Team Collaboration: Work closely with teams comprised of developers, QA, business analysts, and product owners, to ensure effective communication. Foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment, promoting transparency and accountability. Empower teams to be self-organized. Remove Obstacles: Identify and address any impediments or blockers that may hinder the team’s progress and productivity. Proactively work to resolve issues and keep projects on track.

Continuous Improvement: Encourage and facilitate a culture of continuous improvement within the team by promoting Agile best practices and seeking opportunities for process enhancements.

Stakeholder Communication: Maintain clear and effective communication with stakeholders, providing regular updates on project status, risks, and accomplishments. Engage with stakeholders to understand their needs and manage expectations.

Mentorship and Coaching: Mentor and coach team members on Agile principles, Scrum practices, and effective teamwork. Provide guidance on Guidewire best practices.

Performance Tracking: Monitor team performance using relevant metrics and provide feedback to drive improvement and achieve sprint, release, and project goals. Escalate issues as needed to ensure project goals are on target to be completed.

Compliance and Quality: Ensure that all development processes adhere to project standards, regulatory requirements, and company quality guidelines. Manage Production Releases: conduct release planning sessions and readiness reviews to ensure steps are properly identified and recorded in preparation for go-live.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 3+ years Commercial Property & Casualty insurance products and processes experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree (relevant to insurance, IT or MIS) or comparable work experience.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience as a Scrum Master in an Agile software development environment.
• Experience with any of the Guidewire InsuranceSuite applications or other P&C packages on the market.
• Exposure managing both configuration and integration teams is a plus. Strong facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills to manage scrum teams.
• Negotiation skills needed to effectively remove blockers that prevent teams from delivering.
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies and frameworks, particularly Scrum and Kanban.
• Experience managing Agile teams compromised of FTE’s and offshore consultants.
• Superior attention to detail while operating in a fast-paced environment. Proven ability to effectively organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and strategically.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or equivalent Agile certification is required. Advanced certifications (e.g., CSP, SAFe) are a plus. Prior completion of Guidewire Training Modules and/or certifications is a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Word) as well as project management tools (Rally, ADO, etc.) is required.
• Requested travel is infrequent but visits to Home Office or other office locations for meetings, seminars, or training may be necessary. We currently employ a hybrid work environment where staff are required to physically work in their assigned office three days per week.

It's an exciting time for our company and a great opportunity to join a financially sound and growing global insurance group!
It is the policy of MSIG-NA to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, MSIG-NA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.