Scrum Master

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The Small Business IT organization is seeking a dedicated Agile Scrum Master (SM) to support our Underwriting Transformation Agile Release Train. This role focuses on execution while applying Agile practices, including adherence to metrics, leadership skills to drive key roadmap initiatives, and risk management. The SM will be part of 1-2 Agile teams and play a critical role in delivering business capabilities and customer value in alignment with the portfolio strategic roadmap.

Responsibilities:

• Supports Release Train Engineer along with IT and business teams to drive strategic agendas.
• Partners with Release Train Engineer on financials and time management for Agile Release Train.
• Supports and facilitates one or more Scrum Teams in various functions by fostering Agile values and practices.
• Accountable for orchestrating planning and delivery for their standing team(s).
• Servant leader to their team(s), leveraging SAFe/Agile, and business & technical knowledge to remove impediments and facilitate assignments.
• Drives continuous improvement based on team retrospectives and appropriately influences RTEs, business and technology leaders when needed.
• Effectively manages and communicates sprint status including risks, issues and dependencies to stakeholders.
• Partners with Release Train Engineer and Agile Product Owners to lead teams through PI Planning and team ceremonies.
• The Scrum Master ensures the Scrum team adheres to Scrum Principles and best practices.
• Partners with the Release Train Engineer, Product Owner, IT Delivery Lead and Business leadership to form execution delivery plans, manage progress and facilitate release planning.
• Ensures team adherence to SAFe/Agile principles. Provides coaching to the Scrum Team(s) on how to execute the Scrum framework.
• Acts as a role model for servant leadership. Organizes and facilitates ceremonies, identifies improvement opportunities to optimize velocity and quality while mitigating risk.
• Tracks and communicates the overall team progress providing visibility to stakeholders. (Retrospectives, Sprint Planning, etc.)
• Serves as a filter to remove impediments to progress as identified by the team.
• Protects the team from outside influences to ensure the team remains focused on Scrum Team priorities.
• Partners with the Product Owner to ensure the backlog items are prioritized based on business value and ready for the team.
• Facilitate team for better creativity, drive innovation, and tries to improve the efficiency of the development team.
• Arranges daily stand-up meetings, facilitates/schedules meetings, demo and decision-making processes in order to ensure quick inspection and proper use of adaptation process.
• No direct managerial accountability
• Matrixed reporting, provides coaching/feedback to ensure team success

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 4+ years applicable experience or exposure to an Agile Methodology
• Knowledge of agile frameworks like SAFe, Scrum, Kanban , etc.
• First level Scrum Master certification (CSM, PSM I)
• Experience with Rally to analyze data and identify insights related to metrics is strongly preferred, but equivalent substitutes (Rally, JIRA, etc.) used in an Agile operating mode would be acceptable.
• Knowledge of Scrum / Kanban theory, rules and practices
• Knowledge of software engineering processes and procedures to understand team needs such as fundamentals of iterative and incremental development, strong knowledge about Agile techniques: User Stories, Continuous Integration, Behavior / Test Driven Development, Continuous Testing, Automated Testing, Burn Down Metrics, Velocity etc.
• Resource Management Skills- ability to determine supply and demand and obtain necessary resources across a matrix organization to complete the work successfully
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to understand audiences, tailor messages, provide effective coaching, and influence outcomes
• Possess skills for Active Listening Builds Strong Partnerships across Segments and Functions Gains business Acumen with each team supporting with a goal for continuous and broadening Hartford business knowledge
• A strategic thinker who can look beyond the sprint / release, beyond the PI, with a focus on ensuring teams are focused on providing the higher business value to our customers
• Self-motivated individual with demonstrated ability to handle multiple high-priority demands, manage expectations and achieve objectives
• Familiarity with mentoring other SMs and contributing to a Community of Practice (CoP)
• Knowledge of AI tools such as MS Co Pilot and AI techniques for improving team performance and productivity is preferred.

Compensation

The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition. The annualized base pay range for this role is:

Equal Opportunity Employer/Sex/Race/Color/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity or Expression/Religion/Age

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