Contractor - Scrum Master (ETS)

Basic Purpose: To provide Project and Scrum Master Leadership and execution to ensure application development projects are delivered on time and budget with outcomes that meet business and quarterly PI objectives. Projects vary in size and complexity with team sizes typically of 10 - 20, consisting of developers, architect, technical process analyst(s) and quality tester(s). Current projects in scope, involve the transformation of legacy applications to cloud platform The Scrum Master facilitates and drives the team and all Agile ceremonies. Major Responsibilities: 1. Project and Scrum Master Leadership • Manages the full life cycle of Agile projects • Leads cross-functionally Agile project teams through the software delivery lifecycle. • Acts as a mentor and continually guides project team(s) to adhere to Agile/Scrum best practices and values • Guides scrum teams to implement Lean processes in order to increase quality output • Facilitates all scrum ceremonies (daily stand-up, sprint planning, backlog grooming, retrospectives, and demo's) • Applies work effort estimation techniques to forecast and report project performance • Identifies, removes and escalates impediments • Works well in cross functional teams consisting of on-site, remote and matrixed project team members • Applies project management skills and best practices/tools to define and execute: o Scope Management o Schedule Management o Cost Management o Resource Management o Issue/Risk Management o Procurement Management o Communications Management o Change Management o Quality Management • Change Leadership - Manages the transition to ensure adoption of change, builds strong partnerships and communication plans with all project stakeholders and project team members. • Adheres to the project delivery controls and processes and actively prepares for/participates in all structured project reviews • Functions independently under broad guidelines from a resource manager 2. Leading Projects • Leads and engages single or cross-functional project teams, which are accountable for design, development and implementation of application solutions • Ensures alignment of all project roles and responsibilities and they are articulated to each team member, modified as required, and accomplished throughout the project • Provides clear feedback - both routine feedback (ad hoc discussions based on project activities) and formal feedback (reviews at key phases of the project or related to Performance Reviews and Development Plans • Monitors and measures staff / resource assignment results against project / task goals and accountabilities 3. Capability Development • Evaluates emerging methods, industry best practices and lessons learned to develop most current and innovative project delivery practices and standards • Drives continuous improvements to improve speed to production release(s) • Builds a community for growing the capability within ISD through personal development, mentoring and teaching opportunities with ISD team • May participate in the interview process and engages in successful onboarding of new employees or contractors • Acts as a mentor to less senior employees or contractors 5. Communication • Provides consistent, concise, relevant, reliable and timely information to all appropriate internal and external audiences/stakeholders through a variety of media • Ensures accuracy of information to enable effective business decisions • Frames communications in line with audience experience, background, and expectations; uses terms, examples, and analogies that are meaningful to the audience • Seeks input from audience; confirms understanding; presents message in different ways to enhance understanding 6. Performs other related duties as assigned. Qualifications (all required unless otherwise noted) • Previous project leadership and execution, including initiatives with technology, processes, cross-functional teams and external partner team members • Experience with cross-functional teams that include third party expertise. Aptitude to build strategic and execution-focused plans and alliances with partner leadership • Demonstrated ability to apply Project Management industry best practice processes and tools regarding effective management of projects, including, but not limited to, scope, schedule, cost, risk, resource, and issue management • Experience in leading, guiding and coaching professional staff • Bachelor's Degree in a related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience • Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills • Strong problem solving and negotiation skills • Ability to exercise initiative, produce desired results and achieve objectives • Ability to work and collaborate with all levels of management, staff and vendors • Ability to present findings and conclusions clearly and concisely • Clear understanding of the Systems Development • Ability to apply Project Management industry best practices, processes, and tools to effectively lead projects • Clear understanding of the systems development life cycle • Ability to exercise initiative, produced desired results, and achieve objectives • Possesses good relationship, team building and facilitation skills • Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills • Ability to work and collaborate with all levels of management, staff, and vendors • Works with resource managers and external staffing vendors to ensure steady availability of high quality resources from vendors • Ability to present project status, issues, and risks clearly and concisely to a varied audience (stakeholders, senior management, and resource managers) • Ability to negotiate project scope with stakeholders, governance committees, and senior management • Experience leading, guiding, and coaching professional staff • Partners with the Technical Product Owner and business area to plan the scope and timeline of the project. Desired: • Knowledge of client operations, processes and procedures • Certification as a Scrum Professional (CSP) and Scrum Master (CSM) is an asset • PMP Certification preferred • Experience working in banking/financial technology.