Senior Agile Coach

The Senior Agile Coach at Helprise is responsible for driving Agile transformation and mentoring teams, working closely with Scrum Masters and Product Owners to instill Agile practices. The role includes implementing best practices, facilitating continuous improvement, guiding teams through workshops and retrospectives, and removing impediments to enhance productivity. Additionally, this role requires collaboration with leadership to promote servant leadership principles, ensuring alignment with business goals.

To be considered for the Senior Agile Coach role at Helprise, candidates should have over 8 years of experience in Agile roles, with a proven track record of leading Agile transformations within mid-size to large organizations. Essential qualifications include certifications such as Certified Scrum Master (CSM or PSM I) and experience with frameworks like Scrum and Kanban. Advanced Agile certifications, while highly desirable, will give candidates an edge in the selection process.

Essential skills for the Senior Agile Coach position at Helprise include strong expertise in Agile methodologies, exceptional coaching and mentoring skills, and the ability to influence teams and leadership positively. Candidates should have excellent communication skills, an analytical mindset, and experience in problem-solving. Additionally, fostering a collaborative culture that respects diverse perspectives is a vital aspect of this role.

Helprise values work-life balance, which is why we offer flexible work arrangements for the Senior Agile Coach role. Employees have the freedom to work remotely from any location and can choose adaptable schedules that fit their personal and professional lives. We also support various contract models, providing options that meet individual preferences, ensuring our team is happy and productive.

At Helprise, we provide an attractive rewards system that recognizes commitment and effort. Our Senior Agile Coach benefits from access to private medical care, life insurance, and a sport card program that promotes wellness. Additionally, our employee referral program rewards contributions to talent acquisition, making us a great place for professionals to thrive both personally and professionally.

When asked how to drive Agile transformation, focus on your ability to assess the current state of Agile practices within the organization. Discuss how you would collaborate with leadership, mentor teams, and address impediments to create a culture that embraces Agile values. Providing examples of past successful transformations adds credibility.

In mentoring Scrum Masters and Product Owners, it's vital to adopt a personalized approach. Discuss specific frameworks or techniques you use to empower them, such as coaching them through their roles, providing feedback, and observing their interactions with teams. Highlight any successful mentoring experiences that showcase your impact.

When asked to provide an example of implementing Agile best practices, highlight a specific situation where you customized frameworks like Scrum or Kanban to meet the team's needs. Discuss the challenges faced, the actions taken, and the results achieved to demonstrate your ability to create tailored solutions.

To facilitate continuous improvement, explain how you utilize retrospectives, workshops, and planned sessions to encourage feedback and identify areas for growth. Share experiences where you've guided teams to set measurable improvement goals, track progress, and celebrate successes, showcasing your commitment to an evolving Agile practice.

Measuring the impact of Agile practices requires establishing relevant metrics, like team velocity, cycle time, and customer satisfaction. Discuss how you track these metrics over time and provide insights to leadership for informed decisions. Highlight any tools or methodologies you've used to collect and analyze this data effectively.

When discussing servant leadership, emphasize your belief in creating an environment where teams feel valued and empowered. Share how you promote servant leadership principles among management and teams, encouraging leaders to support their teams' growth and foster collaboration over traditional authoritative approaches.

Handling resistance requires empathy and understanding. Discuss tactics you employ, such as active listening to concerns, addressing misconceptions about Agile, and providing education and training to alleviate fears. Share examples of how you've transformed resistance into buy-in through compelling communication and real-world success stories.

Discuss your hands-on experience with Agile tools such as Jira or Confluence, explaining how you leverage them to facilitate teamwork and transparency. Highlight specific features you find particularly beneficial for Agile teams, such as backlog management and sprint planning capabilities, to demonstrate your proficiency and value in using these tools.

Fostering collaboration and inclusivity is crucial in an Agile environment. Describe how you create opportunities for team members to share their insights and experiences, value diverse perspectives, and encourage open communication. Discuss strategies you've implemented to ensure everyone feels heard and included in the process.

Discussing your biggest challenges as an Agile Coach can provide insight into your resilience and problem-solving abilities. Share a specific challenge you've encountered, how you navigated through it, and what lessons you learned that helped you grow as a coach, showing your capability to handle complexities in Agile environments.