Senior Scrum Master - Remote (WFH)

Cognitive is seeking a Senior Scrum Master to support the VA T4NG Consolidated Corporate Support Services (CCSS) program serving our Department of Veterans Affairs Corporate Portfolio clients across the entire U.S. The ideal candidate will play a pivotal role in guiding our teams through the intricacies of SAFe, ensuring successful implementation and delivery of large-scale projects. As a Senior Scrum Master, you will bring your expertise in SAFe ceremonies, particularly in the context of PI (Program Increment) Planning, to drive efficiency, collaboration, and innovation within our organization.

Responsibilities Include:

• Actively participate in SAFe Communities of Practice and stay abreast of the latest developments and updates in the SAFe framework.
• Collaborate with other SAFe practitioners to share best practices, lessons learned, and contribute to the continuous improvement of SAFe within the organization.
• Champion the principles of Lean-Agile thinking and help foster a Lean-Agile mindset across the organization.
• Conduct regular Agile and SAFe training sessions for teams and stakeholders to promote a shared understanding of SAFe concepts and principles.
• Work closely with Product Owners and Agile teams to ensure the effective management of the Program and Team Backlogs, fostering a culture of transparency and alignment.
• Proactively address and resolve impediments, conflicts, and issues to ensure smooth project delivery.
• Collaborate with Product Management and System Architects to assist in the identification and prioritization of features and enablers for upcoming Program Increments.
• Guide teams in estimating, prioritizing, and sequencing the work to be accomplished during the PI.
• Ensure that PI objectives and priorities align with the overall business strategy and roadmap.
• Lead and facilitate Release Planning events, coordinating the planning and delivery of value across multiple Agile Release Trains.
• Work closely with Release Train Engineers (RTEs) to facilitate alignment and synchronization across ARTs.
• Encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration among teams, promoting a culture of collective ownership and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Agile teams to conduct regular retrospectives, identifying improvement opportunities and tracking action items to closure.
• Implement and maintain relevant metrics and reporting mechanisms to assess and communicate the health and performance of Agile Release Trains.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including executives, to ensure alignment between business goals and Agile delivery.
• Communicate progress, dependencies, and impediments effectively to stakeholders, fostering a culture of transparency and trust. 

Required Skills: 

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Scrum Master, with a significant portion focused on SAFe methodologies.
• SAFe certification (SAFe SSM, SAFe SASM, or equivalent) is required.
• Proven experience facilitating PI Planning and other SAFe ceremonies.
• In-depth knowledge of Agile principles and practices, with a strong emphasis on SAFe.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proven ability to balance multiple, concurrent/parallel activities
• Strong knowledge and experience in software development in an Agile delivery environment

Required Education, Experience, and Clearance:

• Bachelors and Five (5) years or more of related experience, - OR –
• RTE experience within value streams at the product/product line/program/portfolio levels
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification or equivalent
• SAFe Program Consultant (SPC4) certification or equivalent 
• Ability to obtain a VA Position of Public Trust – Medium Background Investigation (MBI)