Sr Scrum Master

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

Responsible for facilitating work of a Scrum Team(s) (cross-functional self-organizing collaborative team using effective application of the Agile principles and frameworks including Scrum, Kanban Method, and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) to deliver high value outcome addressing complex problems such as technology development) including: Coaching the team to understand the Scrum framework and practices, guiding the team through execution of the Scrum practices to deliver outcomes prioritized by the Scrum Product Owner, helping ensure that goals and scope are clear for the team, identifying tools for Product Backlog (product requirements) management, supporting team’s efforts to create high value product, removing impediments that hinder project progress, facilitating the Scrum Events (Daily Scrum, Sprint Planning, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective), promoting continuous communication. Monitoring and helping improve team dynamics, motivating and acting as the glue that holds the team together, managing external interference to secure team effectiveness and sharing accountability for project success with the team. Recommends improvements to Empower Agile principles and encourages adoption across the enterprise.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform the role of Scrum Master for one or more teams, leading multiple, simultaneous initiatives
• Manages release planning principles by engaging with key stakeholders to understand MMF, priorities and dependencies.
• Create and manage scrum team release plans
• Represent teams in release planning event to slot work for the next two releases
• Implements sprint planning principles by supporting teams to develop Sprint plans that align to team velocity and to the release plan
• Ensure backlog grooming takes place on a regular cadence
• Work with team to identify capacity to ensure they can meet the sprint commitment
• Works within Agile execution principles with daily standup facilitation and impediment tracking/escalation Reviews/Approvals – Design, Legal, Risk, Compliance Risk and Change Management Major release support
• Uses continuous improvement and progress tracking principles to ensure teams are prepared for product showcases
• Report on Sprint metrics for teams
• Participant in cross team Scrum of Scrums
• Hold team retrospectives and ensure impediments that are outside of the teams’ control are appropriately escalated
• Participant in project Scrum of Scrums or status meetings to report progress of team Governance, including regular updates and maintenance of Jira
• Facilitate the scrum process with cross functional impact that involve moderately complex projects, non-projects, or maintenance work
• Guides scrum teams to follow Agile and Scrum practices to actively promote prioritization, team readiness, and commitment for each Sprint
• Provides guidance and support to less experienced Scrum Masters, as well, team members who are new to the Agile Methodology.
• Assists Value Steam Owner and Delivery Lead with incremental planning and long-term capacity planning.
• Acts as an Agile Coach, promoting and coaching the Agile mindset and principles, empowering the team to become self-managing and fulfill their cross-functional potential

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Scrum Master Certification PMI-ACP Certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience with demonstrated successful track record.
• 10+ years practicing Scrum in a software business
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, multi-tasking, project and timeline planning, leadership, judgment, and negotiation skills.
• Strong pro-active, positive leadership experience.
• Ability to set goals and work with little direction.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Results Driven (Prioritizing, Taking Initiative, and Taking Ownership) Outstanding soft skills including communication, mentoring, conflict resolution, facilitation, leading by example, work ethic, and emotional intelligence
• Strong Communication skills and ability to collaborate across multiple departments
• Strong knowledge of agile principles and techniques (ex. Scrum / XP / Kanban) and scaled agile frameworks such as the Scaled Agile Framework for the Enterprise (SAFe), Experience in Kanban
• Proficient in JIRA
• Proven experience as a Project Manager planning, organizing, and leading multiple projects

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills.
 
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job.  The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time.   You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description.   You may be required to perform other duties that are not included on this job description.  The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity.  All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law.