Scrum Master Position Description
Position:
Scrum Master
Position Holder:
Reports to:
Location:
Division:
Projects
Hours of work
Full time, 40 hours per week
Key Relationships
Who
 External
 Internal
Direct Reports



Customers
Key suppliers and partners
Scrum Teams



Product Owners
Innovation Team
Marketing Manager


General Manager and Other Managers
Project Managers
None
Position Contribution
The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring Scrum is understood and enacted. Scrum Masters
do this by ensuring that the Scrum Team adheres to Scrum theory, practices, and rules. They are
responsible for the coaching/mentoring of team members and other staff on the application of
Scrum to a range of projects.
The Scrum Master is considered a Scrum subject-matter expert, with excellent logic and problem
solving skills and a drive to make a difference. They put the team before themselves and work in
a “servant leader” manner. They are responsible for ensuring the Scrum rules are understood
and followed, while promoting self-organisation and constantly improving work standards.
The role is pivotal to the long term success of <YOUR COMPANY>.
Developed by Edwin Dando and released under the Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0). You are welcome to share (copy and
redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially under the
following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any
reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
1
Key Accountabilities
Support the
Development Team
turn product backlog
items into done
increments of
software
Primary Tasks

Organize and facilitate the Scrum process as required. This may
include, at first, arrange the key Scrum meetings, but a strong
focus should be placed on helping the development team take
ownership of these meetings themselves, as part of their journey
to self-organisation.

Help those outside the Scrum Team understand which of their
interactions with the Scrum Team are helpful and which aren’t.
The Scrum Master helps everyone change these interactions to
maximize the value created by the Scrum Team.

Help the Development Team ensure all the Scrum artefacts
(Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment) are at all times
transparent. This may include coaching the team find the
appropriate tools and techniques for this, such as burndown
charts, information radiators etc.

Coach the development team to understand the importance of
the
Scrum
values;
respect,
courage,
openness,
focus,
commitment.

Assist team forecast what may be possible and help them avoid
making promises or hard commitments.
Provide a Service to
the Product Owner

Find techniques for effective Product Backlog management

Helping the Scrum Team understand the need for clear and
concise Product Backlog items

Understanding product planning in an empirical environment

Ensuring the Product Owner knows how to arrange the Product
Backlog to maximize value
Provide a Service to
the Development
Team

Understanding and practicing agility

Facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed

Coaching the Development Team in self-organization and crossfunctionality

Helping the Development Team to create high-value products

Removing impediments to the Development Team’s progress
Developed by Edwin Dando and released under the Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0). You are welcome to share (copy and
redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially under the
following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any
reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
2

Facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed

Coaching the Development Team in organizational environments
in which Scrum is not yet fully adopted and understood

Facilitate discussion and conflict resolution for the Development
Team.

Help the team understand the importance of ensuring they
deliver completed, working software that complies to the agreed
Definition of Done
Provide a Service to
the Organisation

Leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption

Planning Scrum implementations within the organization

Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact
Scrum and empirical product development

Causing change that increases the productivity of the Scrum
Team

Working with other Scrum Masters to increase the effectiveness
of the application of Scrum in the organization
Developed by Edwin Dando and released under the Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0). You are welcome to share (copy and
redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially under the
following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any
reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
3
Qualifications, Technical Skills, Knowledge and Ability

Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work with diverse personality types.

Thorough understanding of the trade-offs between velocity and quality.

The ability to facilitate effectively.

The ability to help a team galvanise and fine their own identity.

Ability to coach the team to reach their highest potential.

Thorough understanding of the challenges and idiosyncrasies of software
development.

Must be "self-motivated" as well as creative and efficient in proposing
approaches to complex problems.

Proven ability to work independently with limited supervision and with other
department personnel.

Must have exceptional communication, organization, and time management skills

Thorough understanding of agile software development methodologies, values,
and procedures

Ability to understand technical issues at a high level
Personal Characteristics:

Passion to proactively seek ways to improve processes.

Self-confidence to be assertive when taking a position and can constructively
resolve problems.

Creative, resourceful and innovative at tackling complex challenges (in a timely
matter).

Self-taught and self-teaching, with a demonstrated aptitude for acquiring
knowledge and skills and new technologies readily.

Organized and self-directing with the ability to identify priorities and mobilize
projects in an orderly fashion to achieve desired results.

Respectful, professional interpersonal working style.

Uncompromising honesty and integrity.

Approachable and willing to offer helpful solutions.

Should handle constructive feedback well.
Developed by Edwin Dando and released under the Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0). You are welcome to share (copy and
redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially under the
following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any
reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
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Behaviours

Innovative - feeling comfortable in fast-changing environments; being willing to take risks
and to consider new and untested approaches.

Strategic - taking a long range, broad approach to problem solving and decision making
through objective analysis, thinking ahead, and planning.

Excitement - operating with a good deal of energy, intensity, and emotional expression;
having a capacity for keeping others enthusiastic and involved.

Tactical - emphasizing the production of immediate results by focusing on short range,
hands-on, practical strategies.

Delegation — enlisting the talents of others to help meet objectives by giving them
important activities and sufficient autonomy to exercise their own judgment.

Communication - stating clearly what you want and expect from others - clearly expressing
your thoughts and ideas; maintaining a precise and constant flow of information.

Production - adopting a strong orientation toward achievement; holding high expectations
for yourself and others - pushing yourself and others to achieve at high levels.

Consensual - valuing the ideas and opinions of others and collecting their input as part of
your decision-making process.

Change focused - Identify themselves as change agents constantly challenge the way
things are take advantage of opportunities for change understand that people are the key
to change and work actively to gain trust before they introduce change.
I have read and understood the above position description and accept all the above
responsibilities incorporated herein.
_________________________________
___________________________
Scrum Master
Date
Developed by Edwin Dando and released under the Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0). You are welcome to share (copy and
redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially under the
following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any
reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
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__________________________________
____________________________
General Manager
Date
Developed by Edwin Dando and released under the Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0). You are welcome to share (copy and
redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially under the
following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any
reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
6