Senior Scrum Master #5436

Department: Chief Information Officer
Work Hours: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Pay Band: SAA-10 - $98000-$146992
Remote Work Status: Remote / FLSA Status: Exempt
Posting Date Range: 6/2/2023-6/16/2023
This vacancy announcement closes at 7pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

Link to apply: https://saa.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/151?c=saa 

Job Description
This is a professional position facilitating Agile teams working in various Agile methodologies and coaching software development teams and the broader organization to understand and apply Agile project management theory and practice. The individual in this position acts as a servant-leader to help Agile teams work more effectively by ensuring teams adhere to Agile practices and values and removes obstacles and distractions that may impede the team from meeting the established goals of a given project. Work in this classification is distinguished from the Principal Scrum Master by the scope, complexity, criticality of assignments, level of expertise, and project management responsibilities. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the System Design Development and Implementation Branch Manager.

Examples of Work
Serves as an Agile coach for Agile teams during software development cycles. Educates the Senate at large about Agile and the impact of impediments to the team for purposes of garnering buy-in for supporting the team’s focus on the project. Collaborates and assists product owners and other stakeholders in defining the product goals and improving project backlog management; creates and refines user stories to ensure the delivery of value to customers as efficiently as possible; identifies and negotiates the removal of impediments the progress of Agile teams. Leads and/or facilitates all Agile project meetings including planning, daily standups, reviews and other product demos, and retrospectives.

Minimum Qualifications

The U.S. Senate, Sergeant at Arms (SAA), Chief Information Office (CIO), Process Management and Innovation (PMI) department is looking to hire one (1) senior-level scrum master for Agile software projects. Qualification details are in the ‘Required Minimum Qualifications’ section below.

PMI’s Systems Design, Development, and Implementation (SDDI) team develops and maintains 50+ custom software applications built to support business operations of offices (e.g., members, committees, leadership) inside the U.S. Senate. The team includes approximately 20 total staff comprised of software engineers, user experience designers, product owners, and quality assurance analysts who work together using Agile methods to develop software. Currently, these staff also perform Scrum Master duties on projects, and we are looking to hire a Senior Scrum Master to focus full-time on this work.

This is a new position in the organization and the successful candidate will work with the Senior IT Manager and project teams to help shape the role in the way that is most beneficial to projects and the organization’s mission. Successful candidates will have a keen focus on helping teams deliver value to customers, sharing and learning new skills and improving existing skills by working with experienced development teams and by taking advantage of generous training opportunities. The successful candidate enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, has a learning mindset, is an effective problem solver, is open to receiving constructive feedback and generous with offering it, learns from mistakes/failures, and commits to making improvements.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Certified Scrum Master
• Training and experience in facilitation, mediation, negotiation, or similar.
• Training and experience in coaching, mentoring, or similar.
• Experience facilitating Scrum ceremonies
• Proven, skilled facilitator of medium and small groups to reach agreement, e.g., mediation, negotiating, key performance indicators (KPI) establishment, coaching, and mentoring.
• Knowledge of trends in Agile software development.
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely verbally and in writing.
• Experience working in Agile teams to identify the most valuable product (MVP) and re-evaluating priorities routinely.
• Ability to work with multiple project teams at the same time.
• Senior Scrum Master minimum qualifications (Pay Band 10: $98,000 - $146,992)
• Minimum 3 years of experience in multiple Agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)
• In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, 5+ years of experience with Product, Business, Technical, or related fields.

Desired Additional Qualifications (Not Required)

• Certified Facilitator
• Additional Agile certifications, e.g., Product Owner, Agile Certified Practitioner
• Experience working with teams that develop web-based software applications

Bachelor’s degree with five to eight years of experience or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Agile project management experience.
• Experience with Agile software development specifically and with software development processes.
• Working knowledge of and experience with various Agile frameworks and methodologies.
• Skill in facilitating discussion in small groups to reach agreement, e.g., negotiating, key performance indicators (KPI) establishment, coaching, mentoring.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

Work is performed in a remote environment with no exceptional physical demands.

Licenses, Certification and Other Requirements
This position requires that the applicant obtain and maintain an applicable U.S. Government secret security clearance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens in order for the SAA to submit an application for a security clearance. For education requirements please see Minimum Qualifications.

Conditions of Employment
To be employed by a Senate employing office in a paid position in the continental United States an individual must:
1. Be a U.S. citizen;
2. Be lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B);
3. Be (i) admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157 or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158 and (ii) have filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or
4. Owe allegiance to the U.S. (i.e., qualify as a non-citizen U.S. national under federal law).

Employment is contingent on background / security investigation results.  

BENEFITS AT-A-GLANCE

The SAA provides a highly competitive benefits package for all SAA staff. Our benefits extend beyond health care coverage to help provide employees with student loan reimbursement, professional development, transportation subsidy, TSP/retirement savings, access to our Employee Assistance Program, and more! For more information regarding SAA’s benefits, please visit https://sen.gov/OPPW .

ACCOMMODATIONS

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the SAA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAA and need special assistance or an accommodation to complete the application process, please submit your request to employment@saa.senate.gov email with “Accommodation” in the subject line.

VOLUNTARY SELF-IDENTIFICATION FOR VETERANS' PREFERENCE

If you are identifying as veterans' preference eligible under the VEOA, please use this link  to complete your application for Veterans' Preference AFTER you apply for this position. The link will also be available on the "Thank You" page after you have submitted your job application.

Candidates only need to apply one time for veterans’ preference to be considered for all future veterans’ preference positions within the Senate Sergeant at Arms. 

• All supporting documents must ONLY be provided within the Veterans’ Preference Application and within the stated deadline of the job announcement.
• Late applications for veterans’ preference will not be considered.
• Documentation to obtain veterans’ preference will not be considered if attached to the job application.
• If you need to revise or resubmit your Application for Veterans' Preference/documents, please withdraw your previous Application for Veterans' Preference and resubmit. If you require assistance, please email employment@saa.senate.gov.
• To view additional information regarding the VEOA, please click here .

An applicant who declines to self-identify as a disabled veteran and/or to provide information and documentation regarding his/her disabled veteran’s status will not be subjected to an adverse employment action, but the individual may be ruled ineligible for veterans’ preference.