Agile Coach - Apex Systems : Job Details

Agile Coach

Remote w/ Travel to Chicago, IL

2 month contract + option to convert to FTE

Job Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Agile Coach with expertise in Azure DevOps. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of Agile principles and practices and will be responsible for coaching and mentoring teams to achieve high performance and continuous improvement. This role will involve working closely with Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Developers, and other stakeholders to iteratively assess and improve the agile maturity of an IT Delivery Organization which consists of up to 7 teams at various stages of agility, in partnership with our Lead Coach and BI Developer/Analyst.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct discovery sessions to understand the current state, define gaps, and develop action plans or roadmaps for achieving desired outcomes.
• Perform assessments of current processes, tools, roles, and responsibilities within designated teams to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
• Create detailed Coaching Plans for in-scope teams and provide regular reporting on coaching activities performed and observed changes.
• Train and coach teams on Agile principles and practices, including Scrum, Kanban, and XP, to enhance their agility and performance.
• Mentor Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Developers, Quality Assurance Testers, and other stakeholders to leverage Agile methodologies effectively.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions to build Agile capabilities and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Engage with business teams and related stakeholders to educate and set expectations for collaborative work with Agile teams.
• Guide teams in the effective use of Azure DevOps for Agile project management, including boards, work items, backlogs, sprints, dashboards, and retrospectives.
• Assist in the setup and configuration of Azure DevOps to align with Agile practices and support team collaboration.
• Develop and deliver training materials on Azure DevOps best practices to ensure teams can leverage the platform to its full potential.
• Be a hands-on contributor to the design of Agile artifacts (templates, playbooks, etc.) that outline expectations, practices, and ceremonies for teams and programs.
• Collaborate with Lead Coach to optimize coaching efforts, share feedback, and identify gaps.
• Suggest key team and sprint/iteration health metrics to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
• Employ various techniques to increase collaboration, transparency, predictability, and value delivery.
• Provide feedback to leaders and stakeholders to improve efficacy and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in information technology or a related field.
• 8+ years of overall experience working within large IT organizations.
• 3+ years of experience coaching teams in a scaled Agile environment.
• Deep practical experience with Scrum, Kanban, and other Agile frameworks.
• Expertise in Azure DevOps, including setup, configuration, and best practices.
• Experience with launching Waterfall teams into Agile methodologies.
• Strong understanding of the product management lifecycle and Agile project management methodologies.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and mentoring skills.
• Agile certifications from IC-Agile, Scrum Alliance, Scrum.org, and/or SAFe are preferred.

EEO Employer

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at [email protected] or 844-###-#### .