Scrum Master

Are you ready to drive agile change at one of the UK's leading universities?

The University of Manchester invites applications for the position of Scrum Master for the One Research Facility (ORF) project, an initiative delivering innovation and new capability in how the University supports its extensive research portfolio. This full-time role is vital to ensuring the successful delivery outcomes by implementing agile frameworks, tools, and techniques to optimise workflows through ongoing improvement cycles.

We are seeking someone with a proven track record of excelling in dynamic environments, embracing complex challenges, and achieving significant results. The successful candidate will collaborate effectively with staff, contractors, and consultants, pragmatically applying agile practices while adapting to shifting priorities and diverse working styles. While sprints, retrospectives, and ceremonies form part of the methodology, the emphasis remains on flexibility, facilitation, and achieving outcome-focused delivery.

Who We’re Looking For

• You excel in dynamic and complex environments. You demonstrate the ability to adapt effectively and facilitate change.
• You possess an understanding of agile frameworks (e.g. Scrum) and know how to apply them with pragmatism and purpose.
• You work well with both people and processes, focusing on mentoring, clear communication, and removing obstacles. Your role goes beyond standard routines to empower teams and deliver value efficiently. When working with stakeholders unfamiliar with agile, you provide guidance and ongoing support to keep projects moving forward.
• Your approach prioritises practical outcomes, rapid learning, and continuous improvement over rigid adherence to process frameworks.
• You efficiently identify potential obstacles and take proactive measures to address them.
• You possess the ability to analyse key metrics, identify trends, and promptly deliver insightful reports.
  
  
  

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who thrives in complexity and who has:

Experience leading mixed teams (staff, contractors, consultants) in complex projects.

Proven ability to adapt agile practices to fit real-world delivery, not just theory.

Confidence engaging stakeholders who may be new to agile, building understanding and alignment.

Coached mixed teams and building buy-in with non-technical stakeholders.

Confident with agile tools (e.g. Jira, Confluence).

Experience of UK Higher Education sector or equivalent research-intensive environment (essential).

A pragmatic, outcome-focused mindset

Campus presence: you must commit to being on-site at least 2 days a week, enabling high-touch collaboration and team cohesion. If you’re excited by complexity, thrive on experimentation, and want to shape agile delivery in a transformative University programme, this is the role for you.

Why join us?

Be part of a world-class university with bold digital ambitions. Work on projects that have real impact on teaching, research, and student experience. Join a collaborative IT culture where your ideas and growth are valued.

What you’ll get in return:

Generous holiday allowance, excellent pension scheme, and staff wellbeing support.

Inclusion matters here

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity of thought and background, and we know teams are stronger when they reflect the communities we serve. If you’re excited by this opportunity but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries About The Role, Shortlisting And Interviews

Name: Andrew Richards

Email: [email protected]

General enquiries and administrative support

[email protected]

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.