At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Agile teams to deliver high-quality software and foster collaboration.
- Company: Join NEC Software Solutions, a diverse and inclusive tech leader.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, private medical cover, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Flexible benefits and access to over 15,000 LinkedIn Learning courses.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enabling teams to thrive in an Agile environment.
- Qualifications: Certified ScrumMaster preferred; strong Agile knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Come join us and make a difference in the world! As a Senior Scrum Master, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful implementation of Agile frameworks, facilitating the Scrum process, and enabling cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software products efficiently. You will work closely with development teams, product owners, and stakeholders to foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement. You will provide line management to a small team of Scrum Masters, Business Analysts, and Product Owners, ensuring a consistent approach across different development projects and facilitating a structured development path for your team members.
Key Responsibilities
- Coach teams and leaders to embed Agile values, principles, and ways of working in day-to-day delivery and decision-making.
- Enable teams to run their own events including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives.
- Facilitate high-performing, self-managing teams by fostering psychological safety, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Identify team dynamics, systemic impediments, and organisational constraints, coaching others to address root causes effectively to enable self-managing teams.
- Analyse systems of work and promote a culture of continuous improvement by helping the team and organisation identify areas for enhancement.
- Collaborate with teams to establish methods to manage product backlogs which align with product and business goals.
- Foster open communication and collaboration between team members, product owners, and stakeholders.
- Educate team members and stakeholders on Agile principles and processes, ensuring a shared understanding of Agile values.
- Monitor and report on team progress, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to management and stakeholders and to also establish an evidence based, data approach to provide insights for team improvement.
- Actively seek opportunities to expand Agile and Scrum knowledge and promote Agile best practices within the organisation.
- Be responsible for the line management of Scrum Masters, Business Analysts, and Product Owners in your team and formulate personal development plans to ensure a structured career progression.
- Document scrum processes and ways of working and ensure such documentation is kept up to date and relevant.
- Establish a community of practice(s) to encourage knowledge sharing and problem solving across teams.
- Support leadership to create a framework for product development to flourish across digital studio, encompassing Product Management, software engineering and User Centred Design.
- Use a range of coaching techniques, facilitation methods, and feedback models to unlock team and organisational performance.
- Adapt a coaching and mentoring style to suit different levels of Agile maturity, team contexts, and leadership needs.
- Influence leaders and stakeholders at all levels to enable cultural change, agility, and outcome-focused delivery.
- Promote a learning culture through experimentation, reflective practice, and evidence-based improvement.
- Empathetic and emotionally intelligent, with the ability to build trust and strong working relationships.
- Curious and growth-oriented, encouraging learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
- Calm and resilient under pressure, helping teams navigate ambiguity, conflict, and change effectively.
- Influential without relying on authority, using collaboration and coaching to drive alignment and action.
- Self-aware and reflective, actively seeking feedback and modelling continuous personal development.
- Patient and supportive, enabling teams and individuals to develop confidence and autonomy over time.
- Adaptable and pragmatic, tailoring approaches to different people, teams, and organisational environments.
- Confident facilitator and communicator, able to challenge constructively while maintaining psychological safety.
- Servant-leader minded, focused on enabling others to succeed rather than directing solutions.
- Positive and motivating, creating energy, engagement, and momentum within teams and across organisations.
Qualifications
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification is strongly preferred.
- Deep understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.) and their application.
- Strong understanding of the Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework.
- Understanding of User Centred Design and how this practice integrates with software engineering.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Results-driven with a focus on delivering value to customers.
- Experience working with distributed or remote teams is a plus.
- Excellent working knowledge of Jira/Confluence including the setting up and administration of projects, workflows and Kanban boards.
- Must be eligible for Security Clearance or higher.
Benefits
- Above-average pension scheme.
- Private medical cover funded by NEC for employees (with the option to add family members at an additional cost).
- 25 days paid holiday with the option to buy/sell (FTE).
- 4 x basic salary life assurance cover funded by NEC (with the option to increase cover at an additional cost).
- A Group Pension Plan with employer contributions up to a maximum of 8.5%.
- A selection of flexible benefits to suit individual needs.
- Free access to LinkedIn Learning; over 15,000 courses covering a wide breadth of subjects.
Other Information
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate a pre-existing right to work and travel within the UK. Documentary evidence will be required.
- All offers are subject to satisfactory vetting, references and occupational health checks.
- Depending on the nature of the role, a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check may also be required.
NEC Software Solutions is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all communities. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have specific accessibility needs during the recruitment or interview process, please feel free to share these with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accommodating experience for all candidates.
Senior Scrum Master employer: NECSWS
At NEC Software Solutions, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and personal growth. As a Senior Scrum Master, you will benefit from an above-average pension scheme, private medical cover, and access to over 15,000 courses through LinkedIn Learning, all while working in a supportive environment that values your contributions and encourages professional development. Join us in our mission to make a difference, where your role will not only impact our teams but also contribute to meaningful software solutions for our clients.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Scrum Master
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common Scrum Master scenarios. Think about how you’d handle team dynamics or facilitate a Sprint Retrospective. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your Agile knowledge! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've implemented Agile principles in past roles. This will demonstrate your expertise and passion for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Scrum Master
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with Agile methodologies and Scrum practices. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Show Your Passion for Agile:In your written application, let your enthusiasm for Agile and Scrum shine through! Share examples of how you've fostered collaboration and continuous improvement in past roles. We love candidates who are genuinely excited about making a difference.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your writing clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your experiences and qualifications. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively, so show us you can do that right from the start!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do – just follow the prompts and you’ll be all set!
How to prepare for a job interview at NECSWS
✨Know Your Agile Stuff
Make sure you brush up on Agile methodologies, especially Scrum and Kanban. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these frameworks in past roles and how they can be adapted to different team dynamics.
✨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
Prepare examples of how you've coached teams to embrace Agile values and improve their processes. Highlight specific situations where your coaching led to measurable improvements in team performance or morale.
✨Be a Communication Pro
Since you'll be facilitating collaboration between various stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to foster open communication and psychological safety within teams.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Come equipped with ideas on how to promote a culture of continuous improvement. Share examples of how you've identified areas for enhancement in previous projects and the impact those changes had on team efficiency and product quality.