ENVIRONMENT:

A provider of cutting-edge Tech Applications seeks to fill the dual role of a Scrum Master / Project Manager who will play a vital role in facilitating Agile processes and ensuring the Development team remains productive, focused, and aligned with the project goals. You will lead and facilitate sprint ceremonies, including planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives while also providing hands-on project support. The successful incumbent will require proven work experience as a Scrum Master, Project Planner, or in a similar role within a startup or scale-up environment. You will need a solid understanding of Agile principles and methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.) & have hands-on experience in project planning, backlog management, and process improvement. You must be proficient with project tools such as Jira, Asana, Confluence, Slack.

DUTIES:

Sprint Management & Facilitation -

• Lead and facilitate sprint ceremonies, including planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Define and manage sprint goals and ensure alignment with product priorities and business needs.
• Monitor sprint progress, remove blockers, and support team productivity.

Backlog Development & Prioritization -

• Work with the Product team to establish, refine, and prioritize the backlog, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Drive backlog grooming sessions to clarify tasks, estimates, and dependencies.
• Develop processes for managing unplanned work, backlog maintenance, and technical debt prioritization.

Project Planning & Process Establishment -

• Establish and document sprint processes, ensure team members follow these standards, and improve the sprint cycle for efficiency.
• Assist in creating, maintaining, and scheduling project timelines and milestones, including epics and larger initiatives.
• Ensure key stakeholders stay informed of project status, potential risks, and adjustments.

Team Communication & Accountability -

• Maintain open, transparent communication across teams and functions to keep everyone aligned.
• Proactively manage and set expectations, calling out instances where processes are not followed.
• Foster a culture of accountability by constructively addressing challenges and promoting process adherence.

Adaptability & Hands-On Project Support -

• Embrace the dynamic nature of startup environments, proactively resolving issues as they arise.
• Assist in identifying and implementing new tools or methodologies to improve Project Management and team performance.
• Encourage continuous improvement, learning, and growth within the team.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven experience as a Scrum Master, Project Planner, or in a similar role within a startup or scale-up environment.
• Strong understanding of Agile principles and methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.).
• Hands-on experience in project planning, backlog management, and process improvement.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Confluence, Slack).

Advantageous –

• Basic understanding of cloud-based video analytics or a related tech field is beneficial but not required.
• Some basic knowledge of Machine Learning Development because certain aspects (like researching some techniques) may not strictly conform to the general software development agile style. Basically, know how to fit the uncertainty involved with some aspects of ML development into the Agile mechanism.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Comfortable in high-paced, evolving environments with minimal structure; ability to establish order amidst chaos.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to set expectations, push back diplomatically, and hold team members accountable.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive with a "go-getter" attitude.
• Strong problem-solver with a bias toward action and a keen ability to manage cross-functional teams.
• Startup experience or an appreciation for agile and nimble work environments.

While we would really like to respond to every application, should you not be contacted for this position within 10 working days please consider your application unsuccessful.

COMMENTS:

When applying for jobs, ensure that you have the minimum job requirements. OnlySA Citizens will be considered for this role. If you are not in the mentioned location of any of the jobs, please note your relocation plans in all applications for jobs and correspondence. Apply here https://www.datafin.com/job/scrum-master-project-manager-remote/ OR e-mail a Word copy of your CV to taryn@datafin.com and mention the reference number of the job.