Senior Scrum Master

Required: All applicants must live in DC/MD/VA. Position is NOT remote – Work location is downtown Washington, DC.

Overview:

Akumen is seeking a Senior Scrum Master to lead Agile delivery across complex, multi-team environments within the Federal Government workspace. This role goes beyond team facilitation—serving as a strategic advisor, Agile coach, and transformation leader. The Senior Scrum Master will drive enterprise Agile maturity, mentor other Scrum Masters, and collaborate with senior stakeholders to align Agile practices with organizational goals.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate: 

·       Strategic problem-solving?with a proactive and adaptable approach to complex challenges.

·       Advanced analytical capabilities?and a data-driven mindset for decision-making.

·       Executive-level communication skills, engaging both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

·       Vision and initiative?in driving Agile transformation and overcoming organizational obstacles. 

·       Leadership in continuous improvement, Agile maturity, and team empowerment. 

·       Ability to operate independently and collaboratively?across enterprise environments. 

·       Experience navigating complex regulatory, operational, and compliance landscapes?in federal settings. 

 Responsibilities: 

·       Lead Agile adoption and transformation efforts across multiple teams or departments. 

·       Mentor and coach Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Agile teams to elevate Agile maturity. 

·       Facilitate cross-team coordination and dependency management in scaled Agile environments (e.g., SAFe). 

·       Partner with senior leadership to align Agile delivery with strategic objectives. 

·       Develop and implement Agile best practices, frameworks, and governance models. 

·       Analyze and present Agile metrics to executive stakeholders for decision-making. 

·       Champion a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and servant leadership. 

·       Lead Agile workshops, training sessions, and community-of-practice initiatives. 

·       Ensure compliance with federal IT governance, documentation, and security protocols. 

·       Support Product Owners, Stakeholders, & team members in backlog refinement and prioritization. 

·       Track and communicate team performance metrics (e.g., velocity, burndown charts). 

 Soft Skills & Leadership Traits: 

·       Strategic Thinking: Aligns Agile practices with long-term organizational goals. 

·       Enterprise Influence: Drives change across teams and departments without direct authority. 

·       Advanced Facilitation: Leads workshops, transformation initiatives, and executive-level discussions. 

·       Agile Evangelism: Promotes Agile values and principles across the organization. 

·       Mentorship: Coaches junior Scrum Masters and team members to build Agile capability. 

·       Servant Leadership: Demonstrates humility and a commitment to empowering the team. 

·       Emotional Intelligence: Recognizes and responds to team dynamics and individual needs. 

·       Strong Communication: Clearly conveys ideas and facilitates open dialogue across technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

·       Conflict Resolution: Navigates interpersonal challenges with diplomacy and tact. 

·       Adaptability: Thrives in dynamic environments and adjusts to evolving priorities. 

·       Influence Without Authority: Builds trust and drives change through collaboration and credibility. 

·       Resilience: Maintains focus and composure under pressure or during periods of uncertainty. 

 Required Qualifications: 

·       Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field. 

·       7 years of experience as a Scrum Master, including leading Agile teams in complex or regulated environments. 

·       Proven experience in enterprise Agile frameworks such as SAFe, LeSS, or Nexus. 

·       Demonstrated success in Agile transformation initiatives and coaching at scale. 

·       Strong experience with Agile metrics, reporting, and executive-level communication. 

·       Familiarity with Agile portfolio management and governance. 

·       Experience working with major cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, ServiceNow). 

·       Familiarity with tools such as Jira Align, Azure DevOps, Rally, or similar platforms. 

·       Excellent facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills. 

 Preferred Qualifications: 

·       Certified Scrum Professional (CSP-SM) 

·       SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) 

·       ICAgile Certified Expert in Agile Coaching (ICE-AC) 

·       PMI Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) 

·       Experience leading Agile in cloud-native environments (AWS, Azure, ServiceNow). 

·       Experience with Agile tooling at scale (Jira Align, Azure DevOps, Rally). 

·       Knowledge of federal acquisition, compliance, and governance frameworks. 

Clearance Requirement:

• Must have an Active Secret clearance or higher to apply