Scrum Master - Guidewire Delivery

Job Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated Scrum Master – Guidewire Delivery to drive successful delivery in alignment with organizational mandates and goals. The ideal candidate is strong in agile project management practices, with a balance of business and technical acumen. You will support and guide your team to achieve results within the defined constraints of budget, schedule, and scope. You are an influencer, team player, and collaborator.

Key Responsibilities:

• Facilitate Scrum Events: Lead all core Scrum ceremonies—sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives—ensuring they are efficient, focused, and time-bound.
• Remove Impediments: Proactively identify and resolve blockers—technical, organizational, or interpersonal—to maintain team momentum.
• Coach and Mentor: Guide the team on Scrum principles and Agile practices to foster a self-organizing, high-performing environment.
• Promote Collaboration: Strengthen communication across the team and with stakeholders to ensure alignment, transparency, and shared ownership.
• Ensure Process Adherence: Drive adherence to Scrum values and the organization’s established Change Governance framework.
• Manage Expectations: Set and communicate clear expectations around deliverables, timelines, and team responsibilities.
• Resolve Conflicts: Address and resolve team or stakeholder conflicts constructively to maintain a productive working environment.

Delivery Focus Areas:

• Scrum Discipline: Ensure strict adherence to Agile principles and Scrum practices.
• Sprint Planning: Lead estimation and user story splitting across BA, Development, and QA roles.
• Sprint Reporting: Monitor and report on sprint burndown, spillover, and deliverables tied to the Integrated Plan.
• Retrospectives: Capture actionable feedback on what went well and areas for improvement.
• Capacity & Velocity Management: Plan team capacity and track velocity for predictable delivery.
• User Story Quality: Maintain clarity and completeness of user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Backlog Grooming: Collaborate with the Product Owner to groom and prioritize the backlog.
• Risk Management: Identify and escalate risks early to avoid delivery impact.
• Dependency Management: Track and link dependencies across JIRA and SharePoint at the user story level.
• Scrum Facilitation: Ensure ceremonies are structured, purposeful, and outcome-driven.
• Blocker Resolution: Drive resolution of blockers within a 24-hour window.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Scrum Certification: PSM, CSM, or equivalent preferred.
• Guidewire Experience: Mandatory.
• Agile Delivery Experience in Insurance: Preferred.
• Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Proficient in conflict resolution and facilitation.
• Leadership Abilities: Proven ability to lead and influence without authority.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify and resolve issues rapidly.
• Agile Mindset: Deep understanding of Agile principles and values.