Senior Scrum Master (Finance Tech & AI)

Software Guidance & Assistance, Inc., (SGA), is searching for a Senior Scrum Master (Finance Tech & AI) for a CONTRACT assignment with one of our premier financial/professional services clients in NY, NY (hybrid).

Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Senior Scrum Master to lead our agile teams focused on developing innovative technology solutions within the finance sector, with a particular emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning initiatives. This role is crucial for ensuring effective project delivery, optimizing team performance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in a fast-paced, complex environment. The Senior Scrum Master will guide cross-functional teams through the Scrum framework, manage product timelines, and facilitate effective communication among stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage multiple cross-functional agile teams as a Scrum Master, ensuring adherence to agile methodologies and practices.
• Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, to promote transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, stakeholders, and team members to define project scope, goals, and deliverables for finance technology and AI projects.
• Track project milestones and deliverables, identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies. Proactively identify and elevate issues to stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Coach and mentor team members on agile principles and practices, fostering a culture of self-organization, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize team efficiency and delivery outcomes, leveraging data and KPIs to optimize existing capabilities and innovate for the future.
• Remove impediments and shield the team from external distractions to ensure focus on sprint goals.
• Support the Product Owner in maintaining a well-groomed and prioritized product backlog.
• Ensure the team works collaboratively and efficiently to deliver high-quality products.
• Communicate project status, risks, and issues to stakeholders and senior management, providing high-quality status reports.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and transparency within the team and across stakeholders.
• Track team progress and performance metrics, leveraging AI tools to support requirements elicitation, user story creation, and refinement.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Information Technology, Finance) or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 5-9 years of experience in a Scrum Master role, preferably within a technology team.
• Proven experience as a Senior Scrum Master or Agile Project Manager in a software development or technology-driven environment.
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.) and experience in agile transformation.
• Experience specifically managing IT delivery in medium-to-large complex environments, particularly within the Banking/Finance sector.
• Familiarity with Cloud Platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform), Azure, AWS) and exposure to Big Data tools (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and AI frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow) is a distinct advantage (conceptual understanding required, not coding).
• Proficiency with project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, or Azure DevOps.

Technical Skills: Expertise in Agile methodologies, Scrum framework, and experience with project management tools. Basic understanding of SQL queries and database structures is a plus. Strong knowledge of AI environments and data.
Leadership & Facilitation: Excellent leadership, communication, and facilitation skills. Ability to lead and influence teams in a dynamic environment.
Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex problems and articulate strategy to stakeholders.
Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills to address challenges and optimize project outcomes.
Coaching & Mentoring: Proven ability to coach and mentor team members on agile principles and practices.
Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility to navigate changing project requirements and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Domain Knowledge: Previous experience in the Banking/Finance sector is highly preferred. Domain knowledge in financial technology and AI applications.

Preferred Skills:

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), or equivalent Agile certification.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is also a plus.

SGA is a technology and resource solutions provider driven to stand out. We are a women-owned business. Our mission: to solve big IT problems with a more personal, boutique approach. Each year, we match consultants like you to more than 1,000 engagements. When we say let's work better together, we mean it. You'll join a diverse team built on these core values: customer service, employee development, and quality and integrity in everything we do. Be yourself, love what you do and find your passion at work. Please find us at .

SGA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of Race, Color, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Religion, National Origin, Disability, Veteran Status, Age, Marital Status, Pregnancy, Genetic Information, or Other Legally Protected Status. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, and our services, programs, and activities. Please visit our company to request an accommodation or assistance regarding our policy.

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