Snr Scrum Master at Bizmod Consulting

Bizmod Consulting is looking for senior Scrum Master candidates for contract work in a corporate, telecoms environment. A minimum of 4+ years’ experience as a Scrum Master for major, complex, transformation and change initiatives, is imperative, as well as a minimum of 2+ years’ Project Management experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• 4+ years’ experience as a Scrum Master for major, complex, transformation and change initiatives
• 2+ years’ Project Management experience
• 5+ years’ experience managing software development projects with agile methodology in a structured environment
• 3-5+ years’ experience in taking products to market is essential
• Extensive experience with executive engagement
• Experience in digital execution. Working in digital Agile environments where the delivery is around building digital capabilities and delivering on a digital agenda.
• Good presenter with facilitation and negotiation skills
• Telecommunications experience will be beneficial, but is not compulsory
• Prior experience as an Agile Coach would be beneficial

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Qualified scrum master certification with a recognized organisation
• Additional Agile certification(s) would be beneficial

BEHAVIOURAL SKILLS:

• Building and maintaining relationships
• Collaborative mindset
• Contribute to the success of the team; co-operate with other employees to improve personal and team performance
• Share knowledge
• Team player & ability to work closely with others
• Problem solver / solution provider
• Committed, self-driven & highly motivated individual
• Adaptable; be able to handle change effectively
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Scrum Master works in a particular business area, and is responsible for the successful delivery of epics, features and user stories, end to end, that could have work-streams in many business areas. 
• The Scrum Master is accountable to the Project Sponsor for the successful delivery of the epic and feature objectives.
• The Scrum Master leads the agile scrum/squad which will often include Managers for specific Work streams (often, one of the Work stream Managers in the Project Team will be the IS project manager). The squads will include product owners, developers, testers, designers and business analysts.
• The Scrum Master will manage the deliverables for those squads/scrums within the overall Theme.
• The epics will often be part of a wider theme. The scrum master will have a direct reporting relationship to the Programme Manager[s] and the Senior Manager Business Project Programme Capability.
• External Scrum Masters (i.e. those that are not MTN permanent staff) will have an explicit objective for skills transfer, and measurable targets for the support of MTN’s own development of a scrum master and broader agile capability.
• Problem solving skills and an ability to handle pressure whilst getting results is key for success in this role. A background in traditional project management will be an added advantage especially if it helps with some structure.

Delivery:

• Guiding the team on how to use Agile/Scrum practices and values to delight customers.
• Guiding the team on how to get the most of out self-organisation.
• Coach the matrix team and individual team members in the use of Agile methods, practices and tools
• Facilitate planning, daily stand-ups, sprint/iteration reviews including demos, and retrospectives for each project
• Removing impediments or guiding the team to remove impediments by finding the right personnel to remove the impediment.
• Manage dependencies between project teams, third parties and other internal teams
• Building a trusting and safe environment where problems can be raised without fear of blame, retribution, or being judged, with an emphasis on healing and problem-solving.
• Enable the removal of obstacles to project delivery
• Facilitating discussion, decision making, and conflict resolution.
• Escalate delivery issues and risks as they arise
• Assisting with internal and external communication, improving transparency, and radiating information.
• Supporting and educating the Product Owner, especially on grooming and maintaining the product backlog.
• Providing all support to the team using a servant leadership style whenever possible, and leading by example.
• Validate the use of standard testing practices by project teams to ensure quality

Team Management:

• Facilitate daily scrums, stand-ups and meetings to monitor project progress and resolve issues the team may be experiencing.
• Influence team behavior through excellent management via Agile methodologies.
• Facilitating getting the work done without coercion, assigning, or dictating the work.
• Undertake reviews with software development team members.
• Document progress and communicate to management and stakeholders.
• Ensure milestones are achieved and deadlines are met throughout project life-cycle
• Assist with internal communication and improving transparency
• Influencer
• Support and educate the Product Owner, especially with respect to grooming and maintaining the product backlog
• Guide the team on how to use Agile/Scrum practices for competitive advantage.
• Facilitate discussions, decision making and conflict resolution
• Contribute to the standardisation of Agile methodology within MTN.
• Ability to lead and influence people in a matrix organization.

Governance:

• Ensure relevant project governance is identified and communicated on the projects
• Adhere to Programme Management Office governance frameworks are adhered to.

Reporting:

• Compile relevant project & portfolio reporting
• Ensure Project & Portfolio management tool is updated as and when require

Leadership:

• Removing impediments or guiding the team to remove impediments by finding the right personnel to remove the impediment.
• Building a trusting and safe environment where problems can be raised without fear of blame, retribution, or being judged, with an emphasis on healing and problem solving.
• Facilitating discussion, decision making, and conflict resolution.
• Assisting with internal and external communication, improving transparency, and radiating information.
• Providing all support to the team using a servant leadership style whenever possible and leading by example.
• Manage Risks for which s/he is identified as the Risk Owner
• Resolve Issues for which s/he is identified as the Issue Owner
• Approve (or Reject) Change Requests that are within his/her Delegation of Authority
• Provide recommendations to the Project Sponsor (and Programme Manager where relevant) as to readiness for epic, feature and user story launches, and work with the Business Owner to develop and implement transition plans for the adoption of agile deliverables by the business
• Support the Programme Manager (where relevant) in his/her management of the Programme
• Ensure that the retrospectives and lessons learned are carried out after each sprint launch and that lessons learned are fed back into the Programme (where relevant) and disseminated to those in MTN who need to know.

Encourage and support skills development:

• Actively contribute to the company's agile management community by running internal training on the agile way of work
• Develop and mentor talent and those participating in any programmes as identified programme