We work with Hybrid Agile as methodology (Agile + Prince 2 based). In our Hybrid Agile context: Development is done in iterative sprints, other phases are still very much in a waterfall approach.

The Scrum Master will focus on delivery, achieving results with the team. The team has intermediate experience with scrum, the goal is to shift with the team to a more end2end agile Way of Working and bring the team’s scrum maturity to a higher level. A hands-on and pragmatic approach is crucial, while maintaining focus on delivering according to agreed scope and milestones.

Both a relevant functional- and technical background (design/development/testing) can help to better understand the context of the initiatives and the expected delivery.

Key responsibilities

1. Coordination

• Lead, coordinate and monitor the daily activities of the NL & Claims Guidewire IT team on initiatives and on Production Maintenance.
• Ability to develop both delivery and resource plans when delivering bugfixes in Production, acting here in Production Maintenance mode.
• Take on the role of test coordinator for the team and coordinate that the appropriate tests are executed qualitatively as quality gate for release.
• Take on the role of release coordinator for the team and liaise closely with IT Release Management to agree on the steps of ‘delivery to production’ (Implementation Plan).
• Supports the team’s delivery of the implementation plans.
• Is present and follow up the releases to production according to the implementation plans.
• Regular contact with the Product Owners (PO’s) & Project Managers (PM’s) to align on the correct priorities.
• Help the PO’s & PM’s to describe work packages and identify the teams needed to deliver them.
• Regular contact with his/her (Delegated) Service Manager regarding team capacity management and needs.
• Regular contact with his/her (Delegated) Service Manager regarding any escalation he/she would deem as necessary e.g. resource behaviour, resource capacity shortcomings, team competences, ...
• Coordinate with other Scrum Masters to synchronise a timely delivery of activities related to transversal initiatives.
• Create dashboards or other follow-up tools to provide transparency & follow up.
• Help the team where appropriate to become more effective, efficient, and productive.
• Act as a facilitator to increase collaboration - break down silos.
• Regularly report information such as velocity, the operational costs (man-days) & PM reporting.
• Organize and conduct the Agile Ceremonies, such as:
• daily’s, retro’s, backlog refinements, demo’s, planning, estimates, retrospectives.

2. SPOC and communication

• Act as a sounding board when questions or problems arise around analysis, development, testing, releases, resource capacity and resource availability in close collaboration with the competence manager.
• Representation of the team towards Management & Business (e.g. Sprint reviews).
• Answer questions & solve impediments, building bridges between the different stakeholders within IT & Business.
• Act as a SPOC for important initiative alignment meetings such as the "Scrum of scrums”.
• Discuss things that are considered crucial to get to results.

3. Continuous Improvement

• Continuously improve the way of working of the teams by using the input of the grooming’s, planning’s & retros on a regular basis.
• Align well with other Scrum Masters on the way of working within the company and come with new ideas to work together and with the team.
• Attend the community sessions & scrum meetings with Scrum Master colleagues regularly.

Ideal Profile

Must have:

• Language: 3-lingual NL - FR - EN: Good communication skills in Dutch AND French, with excellent verbal and written communication in English!
  Proven experience as Scrum Master (at least 5 years)
• Knowledge of JIRA
• Knowledge of Agile methodology and experience with working in a (Hybrid) Agile way.
• Knowledge of Prince 2 principles to understand our Hybrid Agile methodology (Prince 2 + Agile)
• Can work in a flexible way, with different methodologies, various nationalities, partners, ...
• Able to make the link where necessary between team actors such as developers, testers, analysts
• Solution mindset
• Committed
• Able to get to know the organization and the culture rapidly
• Proactive personality
• Open mindset and being able to work with different personalities
• Strong communication skills
• Strong reporting skills
• A supportive servant leader: strong in people management, being a part of the team while strengthening the team
• Support on setting priorities for the team, ability to challenge the work priorities, discuss delivery and proposed deadlines when needed, assertive yet diplomatic approach

Nice to have:

• Experience with Enterprise Architecture
• Experience in the insurance industry
• Experience as Project Manager