Sr. Scrum Master

We are seeking a strong Sr. Scrum Master who can help with an organizations SAFe Agile Transformation, supporting global technology and business teams. As an Sr. Scrum Master, you will play a critical role in driving the adoption and implementation of SAFe Agile methodologies across the organization. You will work closely with teams and stakeholders to foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and high performance. Your expertise will help us accelerate our product development cycles, improve quality, and deliver innovative solutions.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for Product Team motivation and innovation.  Must have the ability and experience to push, drive, and motivate the product teams for completing all work according to the business value. Must continuously be two steps ahead of the team, and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Scrum Facilitation:

• Guide and coach multiple Scrum teams on the adoption and implementation of Agile/Scrum practices.
• Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Ensure that Scrum practices are followed, and team members understand and adhere to Agile principles.

Team Support and Development:

• Serve as a mentor and coach to Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and team members.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging teams to experiment, learn, and adapt their processes.
• Support the development of team members by providing feedback, identifying growth opportunities, and promoting professional development.

Impediment Removal:

• Identify and address any impediments that may hinder the team's progress.
• Collaborate with team members and stakeholders to remove obstacles and ensure smooth project execution.
• Escalate issues when necessary to ensure timely resolution.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Work closely with Product Owners and other stakeholders to ensure alignment on project goals, priorities, and deliverables.
• Facilitate effective communication between the development team and stakeholders.
• Assist in the development and management of product backlogs, ensuring they are well-groomed and prioritized.

Process Improvement:

• Identify and remove impediments that hinder Agile adoption and team productivity.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging teams to experiment, learn, and adapt their processes.
• Ensure teams maintain compliance with pharma regulatory requirements, including GxPwhere applicable.

Metrics and Reporting:

• Track and analyze key performance metrics to assess team performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide regular reports on team progress, sprint outcomes, and overall project status to stakeholders.
• Utilize data-driven insights to recommend and implement process improvements.

Agile Advocacy:

• Promote Agile principles and practices across the organization.
• Lead training sessions and workshops to educate teams and stakeholders on Agile methodologies.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and emerging Agile practices and introduce new ideas to the organization.

Ceremonies/Events:

• Daily Stand-up
• Backlog Refinement (Grooming)
• Sprint Planning
• Sprint Retrospectives
• Demo's
• UAT's

Tools

• Jira / Jira Align
• Smartsheet
• Confluence
• MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• OneNote
• WebEx
• Miro

Qualifications:

• 8-12 years of experience working with Agile methodologies, including Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe.
• Demonstrated success as a Scrum Master for newly forming teams, guiding them from startup to maturity.
• Experience working in large-scale organizations with global, multi-geographic team structures.
• Proficiency in Agile collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps, or Rally.
• Advanced communication and facilitation skills with ability to influence and collaborate across organizational levels.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional dependencies and navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Pharma or life sciences experience preferred, particularly in regulated environments (e.g., GxP).
• PI Planning (Quarterly Planning) experience required.
• Agile certifications such as SAFe Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or equivalent certification are required.
• Familiarity with pharma-specific projects and product delivery lifecycles.