Scrum Master - NC, IA, AZ

Job#: 3025132

Job Description:

Client: Financial Services

Team: TBA

Job Title: Scrum Master 3 – Contingent (Team‑Level Scrum Master)

Location: Zone 2 – Phoenix, AZ | Charlotte, NC | Des Moines, IA

Contract Length: 24mo

Pay Rate: $61-$65

• 4+ years of Scrum or Agile experience, or equivalent via work, consulting, military, or education.
• Strong experience leading and facilitating Agile ceremonies.
• Ability to coach teams, Product Owners, and Engineering partners to strengthen Agile behaviors.
• Solid Jira proficiency — managing impediments, dashboards, tracking flows, automations.
• Demonstrated ability to reduce scope creep, validate acceptance criteria, and ensure adherence to DoR/DoD.
• Strong communication skills, ability to think creatively, and skilled at facilitating cross‑team events.

• Training or professional experience in education or coaching — “manipulating through influence.”
• Experience resolving team conflict quickly using facilitation methods.
• Comfort presenting metrics-driven insights to partners and leadership.

This contingent Scrum Master supports moderately complex Agile delivery efforts, coaching teams to improve flow, predictability, quality, and alignment.

The role requires strong facilitation, communication, and Jira expertise to help deliver consistent business outcomes while reinforcing Agile maturity.

As a team‑level Scrum Master
, this person leads ceremonies, manages dependencies and impediments, supports backlog alignment, and ensures the team follows Agile best practices.

The Scrum Master also collaborates with Product and Engineering partners to monitor team maturity, reduce unplanned work, improve Agile metrics, and strengthen overall delivery performance.

• Lead and facilitate Agile ceremonies, ensuring clarity, focus, and predictable delivery outcomes.
• Coach the team, Product Owner, and Engineering partners on Agile practices, work habits, and delivery alignment.
• Maintain deep understanding of backlog, dependencies, and team priorities.
• Guard team focus by managing sprint goals, scope creep, and unplanned work.
• Use Agile metrics (cycle time, throughput, WIP, rollover) to drive continuous improvement.
• Create and maintain Jira dashboards; build lightweight automations; manage impediment backlog.
• Identify impediments within 24 hours; drive resolution within the sprint.
• Conduct retrospectives, coaching plans, and monthly maturity assessments.
• Facilitate conflict resolution within one sprint by applying structured techniques.
• Validate acceptance criteria, ensure effective story refinement, and ensure DoR/DoD are met.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to manage multi‑team dependencies and surface risks early.
• Role‑model calm communication and respond to feedback within 48 hours.

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.