At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead agile teams to deliver value through effective Scrum practices and continuous improvement.
- Company: Global consulting firm focused on digital transformation and agile delivery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team that values collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Be a key player in driving agile success and making a real impact on projects.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Scrum Master with strong knowledge of agile principles.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About the Client
Our client is a leading global consulting organisation delivering complex digital, data, cloud, and infrastructure programmes across multiple industries.
The client is committed to building high-performing agile delivery teams that consistently deliver value predictably and sustainably, powered by Scrum, SAFe, and Lean ways of working.
Role Purpose
The Scrum Master enables one or more cross-functional teams to deliver valuable outcomes predictably and sustainably.
Acting as a servant leader, facilitator, and agile coach, the role establishes effective Scrum and SAFe ways of working, removes impediments, strengthens collaboration, and helps teams become self-managing and continuously improve.
- Key Accountabilities
- The Scrum Master will take ownership of team facilitation, leading effective Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Retrospective, and backlog refinement sessions.
They will ensure each event remains focused, inclusive, timeboxed, and outcome-led, driving disciplined agile ceremonies that deliver measurable value.
- A key aspect of the role will be Program Increment (PI) Planning.
The Scrum Master will prepare teams for PI Planning, facilitate team breakouts, support the creation of clear PI objectives, and coordinate plans, risks, and dependencies across the Agile Release Train.
- The role also includes shaping delivery flow - helping teams establish realistic Sprint Goals, manage work in progress, improve predictability, and maintain focus on delivering value that meets the agreed Definition of Done.
- Impediment management is central to the role.
The Scrum Master will identify, track, and remove delivery blockers, escalating systemic issues promptly and coordinating resolution with the Release Train Engineer, Product Owner, architects, and other teams.
- Through agile coaching, the Scrum Master will coach team members and the client's stakeholders in Scrum, SAFe, Lean, and agile principles - building capability in self-management, cross-functionality, transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
- A strong product partnership with the Product Owner is essential.
The Scrum Master will work closely with the Product Owner to maintain a clear, prioritised, and ready backlog, improve story quality, and align delivery with product goals and business value.
- The Scrum Master will drive continuous improvement by translating retrospective insights and delivery data into practical improvements, tracking agreed actions, and embedding learning across future iterations.
- Dependency and risk management will require the Scrum Master to make cross-team dependencies, risks, and assumptions visible, and drive timely actions with clear ownership.
- Through stakeholder engagement, the Scrum Master will provide concise and transparent updates on progress, outcomes, risks, and delivery confidence - without creating unnecessary administration for the team.
- Finally, the Scrum Master will champion engineering excellence, promoting quality, Dev Ops practices, automation, and movement towards a reliable Continuous Delivery Pipeline.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Proven experience as a Scrum Master supporting one or more multidisciplinary delivery teams.
- Strong practical knowledge of Scrum, agile, and Lean principles, with experience working in a SAFe or other scaled agile environment.
- Demonstrated ability to facilitate complex discussions, resolve conflict, and influence without formal authority.
- Experience preparing teams for PI Planning and managing risks, dependencies, and objectives across an Agile Release Train.
- Strong coaching skills and a track record of improving team maturity, accountability, and delivery flow.
- Experience using Jira, Azure Dev Ops, or equivalent tools for backlog management, delivery tracking, and reporting.
- Ability to interpret delivery measures such as throughput, cycle time, velocity, predictability, and cumulative flow - without using metrics to assess individuals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience working with distributed, offshore, or multi-vendor teams.
Desirable Qualifications
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), or equivalent certification.
- SAFe Scrum Master, SAFe Advanced Scrum Master, or SAFe Agilist certification.
- Experience in digital, data, cloud, infrastructure, or regulated industry delivery.
- Working knowledge of Kanban, Dev Ops, continuous integration, and continuous delivery.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- Key Behaviours
- Servant leadership and a team-first mindset.
- Calm, pragmatic, and confident in ambiguous environments.
- Curious, objective, and willing to challenge constructively.
- Inclusive and skilled at creating psychological safety.
- Outcome-focused, organised, and accountable for follow-through.
- Measures of Success
- Teams consistently achieve clear Sprint and PI objectives with improving delivery confidence.
- Impediments and dependencies are visible, owned, and resolved promptly.
- Agile events produce decisions, alignment, and actionable outcomes.
- Quality, flow, and predictability improve over time.
- Teams demonstrate stronger self-management, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Product Owners and the client's stakeholders have clear visibility of value, progress, and risk.
- Cog WW901
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Scrum Master employer: Cognizant
Cognizant is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking to excel in their careers. With a strong emphasis on employee growth and development, you will have access to mentorship opportunities and the chance to lead transformative projects in a dynamic environment. Located in a vibrant area, Cognizant offers unique advantages such as a diverse team and a commitment to work-life balance, ensuring that your contributions are both meaningful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Scrum Master
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Cognizant or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Cognizant.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Cognizant.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Cognizant that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Scrum Master
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Cognizant.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Cognizant and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cognizant
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Cognizant uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
