Agile Leader

Mainframe systems are at the heart of the digital economy, with 80% of the world’s structured corporate data residing or originating on mainframes, and 55% of all enterprise applications hitting the mainframe to complete transactions. Our industry-leading products are critical to many Fortune 1000 companies. 

This role is responsible for leading and supporting software development teams in delivering continuous value. It requires a deep understanding of Agile methodologies, change management, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will drive continuous improvement, foster collaboration, and guide teams toward becoming self-organizing, high-performing units. 

The role requires a strong ability to coach others and to effectively fulfill the Scrum Master role, enabling teams and individuals to grow in both mindset and practice. Building strong relationships with key stakeholders and applying a data-driven approach to team performance are essential for success in this role.  

This is an in-person position. Remote work is not an option. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Lead and Coach Teams:  

Facilitate the growth of software development teams, empowering them to become self-organized, high-performing, and sustainable. Promote a healthy and collaborative work environment. 

Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the teams by identifying areas for enhancement, facilitating feedback loops, and guiding the implementation of changes. 

Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders such as Product Managers, Engineering Managers, and other team leaders to ensure alignment of goals and priorities. 

Remove Roadblocks: Actively identify and remove obstacles that hinder team progress, ensuring that teams remain focused on delivering value. 

Agile Metrics and Data-Driven Decisions: Monitor and track key performance metrics (e.g., flow metrics, velocity, cycle time) to drive actionable improvements in team performance, efficiency, and delivery. 

Facilitate Agile Ceremonies: Facilitate essential Scrum ceremonies such as sprint planning, retrospectives, and daily stand-ups, fostering open communication, collaboration, and transparency. 

Champion Agile Practices: Advocate for and implement Agile best practices across teams and the organization. Contribute to the development of cross-team collaboration.

Skills:

Agile Expertise: Solid understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), with the ability to adapt practices to the needs of different teams. 

Collaboration & Facilitation: Excellent collaboration, facilitation, and coaching skills, capable of building trust and alignment within remote, multicultural teams. 

Problem-Solving Mindset: Proactive, solution-oriented thinker with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and overcome challenges effectively. 

Leadership & Mentorship: Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop high-performing, self-organizing teams. 

Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong capability in using Agile metrics (e.g., flow metrics, velocity, cycle time) to optimize performance and decision-making. 

Communication Skills: Excellent communication, problem-solving, and facilitation skills, with the ability to manage expectations and influence stakeholders. 

Change Management: Solid experience in guiding teams through change and fostering a growth mindset that embraces continuous improvement. 

Qualifications & Requirements: 

Bachelors and 5+ years of related experience or Masters degree and 3+ years of related experience

Subject matter expert in scrum, kanban, and lean principles 

Experience working and coaching in an agile environment 

Strong written and verbal communication skills