Scrum Master at Ascend Learning, Inc. in Leawood, Kansas

Job Description:

Ascend Learning is a national leader in data driven, online educational solutions for learners, educators and employers in high-growth, licensure-driven professions spanning healthcare, fitness and wellness, skilled trades, insurance and financial services. We are passionate about accelerating learning while impacting job readiness, employment success and employee retention with the belief that our work changes lives.

Our culture is intentionally results-driven and selfless with a relentless focus on our customers. We believe in trust, transparency, freedom and responsibility with a commitment to meritocracy, inclusion and diversity of thought. Continual investment in our over 1400 employees is also a core principle realized through ongoing professional development and providing opportunities to grow, develop and lead. Ascend Learning is headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and remote workers in cities across the U.S. and in the U.K.

Job Overview

Ascend Learning is seeking a motivated, energetic, and experienced servant leader with strong communication skills for the Scrum Master position in our Leawood, KS office.  As part of the Enterprise Applications organization within Tech & Ops, the Scrum Master will be responsible for the agile delivery of one or more products partnering with various Business Units at Ascend. They will also work with a Release Train Engineer and other Scrum Masters to manage dependencies and cooperate more effectively across teams. 

The Scrum Master will facilitate planning and execution of iterations for multiple distributed agile teams. They will work to establish a trusting and safe team environment where problems can be addressed without blame or judgment with a focus on problem solving and will foster a "learn by doing" environment. 

Job Responsibilities

• Servant leader and coach to multiple Scrum teams


• Responsible for facilitating agile sprint ceremonies for multiple scrum teams (Backlog Grooming, Sprint Planning, Retrospectives, Demo, Daily Standups)


• Ensure stories and tasks are properly groomed and estimated


• Promote SAFe quality practices


• Facilitate preparation and readiness for ART events


• Support the Product Owner in their role managing the backlog


• Shield the team from outside distractions and remove impediments


• Help coordinate inter-team cooperation and communication for both onshore and offshore teams


• Promote healthy team dynamic with focus on building high performing teams


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across all roles in the organization


• Provide day-to-day coordination, support, and coaching to the team to encourage adoption of agile practices best-practices


• Track and manage project execution in accordance with Ascend’s solution delivery roadmap and financial management practices


• Build trust and work collaboratively with all levels of the organization, including Engineering, Product, Program, and Leadership


• Communicate frequently and transparently with key cross functional stakeholders and business owners


• Accurately report on delivery progress relative to schedule, scope, budget, forecast, and quality


• Champion support of evolving processes with focus on relentless improvement


• Leverage expertise to provide constructive input and support of program management


• Serve as the primary contact and escalation point for issues

Skills and Abilities 

• Strong knowledge and belief in the Agile mindset and methodology


• Ability and willingness to lead teams to self-organization


• General knowledge and technical aptitude of software development and technology stacks


• Ability to facilitate discussion at the team level and facilitate alternatives or different approaches


• Analytical thinker and problem solver


• Ability to bring the creative ideas of others to market


• Ability to function effectively during ambiguous tasks


• Ability to own tasks outside of immediate scope of responsibility


• Ensure project governance processes are followed, collaborate with stakeholders and ensure there is cross-functional representation; partner with product owners for appropriate prioritization; cross-functional partnership to remove impediments


• Strong influencing, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills 
  


• Desire to bring disclosure and transparency to both business and IT and grow trust among partners


• Ability to handle multiple high priority tasks and projects simultaneously; able to work under pressure; ability to lead teams and gain trust


• Strong written communication skills

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent industry experience


• Required 3+ years of experience as a Scrum Master or Agile Coach


• Required 5+ years of total experience working on an Agile team


• Scrum Master certification preferred


• SAFe experience or certification preferred


• JIRA and Confluence experience preferred

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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Technology