Scrum Master

Scrum Master

• Job Title: Scrum Master
• Location: Onsite – New York, NY
• Duration: 1 Year+ Contract

Job Summary

We are seeking a Scrum Master with over 7 years of IT experience to lead Agile teams within a fast-paced, regulated financial services environment. This role is responsible for facilitating all Scrum ceremonies, removing technical and organizational impediments, and coaching teams to improve velocity and predictability. You will partner closely with Product Owners and Engineering leads at American Express to ensure backlog health, define clear sprint goals, and drive the continuous delivery of high-quality software.

Key Responsibilities & Required Skills

Agile Ceremony Facilitation

• Ceremony Mastery: Lead and facilitate Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Planning, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives to ensure team alignment and continuous improvement.
• Backlog Health: Work with Product Owners on backlog grooming, ensuring user stories meet the "Definition of Ready" and align with overarching product goals.
• Velocity & Predictability: Analyze team metrics (Burndown charts, Velocity) to improve delivery predictability and ensure the team meets commitment goals.

Impediment Removal & Coaching

• Obstacle Resolution: Proactively identify, track, and remove blockers that hinder team progress, managing complex dependencies across multiple enterprise teams.
• Agile Coaching: Mentor teams on Agile principles and Scrum discipline, fostering a high-performance culture within a regulated setting.
• Tooling Proficiency: Expertly utilize JIRA and Confluence to manage boards, track tickets, and maintain comprehensive documentation.

Stakeholder & Delivery Management

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the bridge between Product, Engineering, and Stakeholders to maintain transparency throughout the SDLC.
• Compliance & Standards: Ensure all Agile processes adhere to enterprise standards and regulatory requirements typical of the financial services industry.

Mandatory Technical Requirements

1. Experience: 7+ years of IT experience with at least 3–5 years as a dedicated Scrum Master.
2. Agile Tools: Expert proficiency in JIRA and Confluence.
3. SDLC Knowledge: Strong understanding of software development lifecycles in an enterprise environment.
4. Financial Services: Prior experience in large financial organizations (specifically Amex) is highly preferred.
5. Certification: CSM, PSM, or SAFe certification is a strong plus.