Scrum Master Job Descriptions for Hiring Managers and HR

What Does a Scrum Master Do?

Scrum masters facilitate software and product development projects while adhering to Agile best practices and Scrum framework values. They help software development teams adopt the practices and principles and practices of the Agile methodology, which includes creating user stories, breaking down tasks into smaller chunks, and continuously delivering value. They also lead sprints, which create a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement among the development team.

While a degree isn’t a strict requirement, a Scrum certification is vital for the role, as is a deep understanding of Agile methodology. Success in the role requires excellent communication and leadership skills, as they will be required to inspire collaboration, facilitate team meetings, and effectively resolve conflicts.

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National Average Salary

Scrum master salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.

Scrum Master salary data

The average U.S. salary for a Scrum Master is:

$105,860

Scrum Master Job Descriptions

The first step when hiring a great scrum master is a well-crafted job description. Below are real-world examples to help give you the best chance of success on your recruiting journey.

Example 1

In this role, team members are responsible for facilitating the scrum process on self-contained scrum teams. You will be responsible to guide the scrum team(s) and the organization to follow generally accepted Agile/Scrum practices and daily activities to actively promote prioritization practices, team readiness, and commitments for each Sprint. This will be executed using empirical data to help the team(s) assess their scrum maturity and optimize scrum team velocity. The scrum master will manage organizational KPIs, and identify improvement opportunities to achieve higher levels of team performance.

Typical duties and responsibilities

Lead the scrum team by applying Agile methodology and scrum practices
Help the product owner and development team to achieve customer satisfaction
Lead the scrum and development teams in self-organization
Coach the scrum team to reach a consensus
Help the scrum and development teams to identify and enhance the Agile framework
Resolve conflicts and issues
Plan deliverables and monitor performance

Education and experience

Degree in computer science, business or related field
Scrum Master certification is a plus
3+ years of product development experience on an Agile team or equivalent experience

Required skills and qualifications

Excellent problem solving and conflict resolution skills
Good working knowledge of scrum techniques
Leadership skills
Exceptional communication, interpersonal and mentoring skills
Ability to adapt to a changing environment
Self-motivated
Familiar with software development
Outstanding organizational skills

Preferred qualifications

Experience with successful Agile techniques
2+ years experience in a scrum master role
Experience facilitating meetings and understanding facilitation techniques
Intermediate working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
Knowledge of other Agile approaches: XP, Kanban, Crystal, FDD, etc.

Example 2

We support teamwork, thinking big, and taking risks in a blame-free environment. We promote self-direction to work on relevant projects while building an environment that provides the support and mentorship needed to learn and grow. We’re excited to see what you’ll bring to our team.

Responsibilities

Works with the Product owner to align team with the product vision, sprint goals, and other necessary information
Creates an environment of collaboration within the teams that allows for open dialogue and productive solutions for resolving conflicts
Champions continuous improvement activities to reduce waste and increase productivity
Coaches teams to conduct continuous improvement events
Seeks opportunities for improvement to the overall effectiveness of teams and the organization
Communicates organizational impediments to leadership and clears impediments for the team
Embraces the concept of continuous learning in your own journey and instills the same in the team(s) you coach

Strengths and capabilities

BS/BA degree or equivalent experience
Strong familiarity and adherence to core Agile values and principles
Experience as a practicing Scrum Master on a team
Exposure to modern engineering practices like Unit Test-Driven Development, Acceptance Test-Driven Development, and Continuous Integration
A mindset of servant leadership
An Agile mindset
Expert with Agile and Scrum framework and its application in Product Development and delivery organization
Ability to coach and mentor
Ability to collaborate with and influence people at various levels
Sound understanding of Scaling framework such as LeSS
Leverage skills from coaching, facilitation, conflict resolution, and more to serve the team(s)

Example 3

The Scrum Master must have strong knowledge in Agile methodology and has the ability to educate others. They provide a path for resolving impediments and help keep the team focused and achieve the goals. They also coordinate all aspects of releases from versioning to production deployment

Responsibilities

Coordinating and managing scrum ceremonies including Sprint Planning, Stand Ups, Refinement, Sprint Review, and Retrospective
Removing impediments or guiding the team to remove impediments through coordination and creative thinking
Analyzing sprint data to determine potential risks of meeting sprint goals
Assisting with internal communication, improving transparency, and radiating information
Facilitating discussion, decision making, and conflict resolution
Contributing to the advancement and improvement of Agile practices within the organization
Coordinating and managing application releases/versioning processes

Minimum qualifications

4 years minimum of relevant work experience
Bachelor Degree
Experience in playing the Scrum Master role for at least two years for a software development team
Excellent communication, facilitation, and coaching skills

Qualifications preferred

Good data analytical skills
Scrum Master Certification
Experience working during an organization Agile transformation
Knowledge of other Agile approaches: XP, Kanban, etc.
Awareness and experience with widely successful Agile techniques including User Stories, Continuous Integration, Pairing, Automated Testing, Agile Games

Example 4

The Scrum Master is responsible for empowering delivery teams to effectively deliver business results. A scrum expert, the scrum master leads the team to understand and apply the scrum framework to the work that they do and aids the team in eliminating, reducing or avoiding challenges that may prevent effectiveness. Scrum masters work closely with the Product Owner, Delivery teams, Program Manager, and other Scrum masters and Support teams.

Responsibilities

Champion and drive the Lean Agile mindset, helping the team embrace core values, principles, and agile processes/practices
Remove and manage team impediments to enable the team to deliver value
Be a voice and advocate for the team so the team can focus on delivering value
Bring visibility to the work, impediments, risks, and other areas of importance
Foster a healthy flow of work that eliminates waste as the team moves through the delivery cycle
Responsible for ensuring that the Scrum Team adheres to Scrum values, practices, tools and rules
Assists Product Owner with planning, change management, risk management, and product backlog maintenance
Monitors Scrum Team execution against iteration plan
Work with teams to coordinate cross team dependencies and risks
Enables the team to execute iteration planning, iteration demonstrations and retrospectives, and making certain each results in productive output for the team and project
Ensures Scrum Team is leveraging standard tools
Actively participates in product planning sessions, risk management processes and change management/communication
Tracks team burn-down throughout Sprint execution and works with team to maximize efficiency
Partners with shared service Scrum Masters, Delivery Managers, and other like roles
Ensure dependent teams are delivering end to end solutions
Ensure Transparency to Teams via Jira and executive status reporting
Ensure that all representatives have an environment conducive to openly and honestly sharing information
Be a trusted advisor to New York Life Direct clients for project delivery
Facilitate project activities; be a voice of reason and authority, while enabling the delivery team to self-organize and innovate

Skills

Highly collaborative with good conflict resolution skills
Excellent team player
Strong leadership skill
Ability to work directly with technical and product teams
Strong command of Scrum framework, Kanban framework, and Agile values and principles
Experience with end to end software development and delivery process
Knowledge of modern Agile development techniques such as Dev Ops, test driven development, and test automation
Sound problem solving skills
Understanding of SDLC/TDLC type practices
Strong work ethic to help team meet commitments
Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
Effective communication skills, with ability to flex style and interaction across diverse stakeholder groups
Energetic, enthusiastic and a proven ability to work and lead in a team-based environment

Qualifications

Experience with agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.)
CSM, SSM or PSM certification required
SPC or other advanced certification preferred
Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent professional experience but not required
Prior experience in software development as an analyst, tester, developer, or project manager

Candidate Certifications to Look For

Certified Professional Secretary (CPS). A certified professional secretary is a professional secretary who has met certain educational, training, and examination requirements set by the International Administration for Administrative Professionals (IAAP). This certification was designed to recognize secretaries that have taken the extra steps to increase their knowledge and skills to better perform at their jobs.
Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Office 365). Many employers find it beneficial for their employees to understand the basics of Microsoft programs. The Microsoft Office Specialist certification allows candidates to get the most out of Office 365 by learning to easily navigate through programs and use the special features. Earning this certificate will demonstrate to employers that candidates possess advanced skills in these key office programs.
Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE). This certificate is great to earn for candidates looking for a job that requires administrative duties. The PACE certification will help them strengthen their management, computer and technology, and interpersonal communication skills. Earning this certification won’t only make someone a better secretary, it will provide credibility and confidence to their future employers that they know how to complete various tasks while dealing with customers in a professional manner.