Scrum Master - Office of the Provost - Simon Initiative

Carnegie Mellon University’s Simon Initiative accelerates the success of the university’s educational technology ecosystem. Central to this work is an approach called Learning Engineering: the use of learning research and the affordances of technology to design and deliver innovative, instrumented educational practices. These innovations improve outcomes while simultaneously generating data to refine and advance theory, fueling a virtuous cycle of research and practice. The Torus project is an important component of this ecosystem. Torus is the Simon Initiative’s next generation adaptive learning platform.

We are looking for a Scrum Master to increase the efficiency of our software development team and coach them in Scrum practice. While we will consider remote candidates, we have a strong preference for candidates who can report to our Pittsburgh offices in person.

Inclusion, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity are valued competencies at CMU; advancing equity is a key part of our agenda in developing Torus. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Coaching: Improve our development team’s Scrum practice and increase velocity.
• Leadership: Lead Scrum ceremonies for teams distributed across a number of time zones and countries. This includes sprint planning, daily scrums, sprint retrospectives, and backlog grooming.
• Jira administration: Act as our primary Jira administrator, including managing projects, boards, workflows, user permissions, and automation.
• Sprint management: Ensure that sprints are correctly sized and that roadblocks are cleared so that issues are implemented, tested, and deployed in a timely manner.
• Backlog grooming: Work with stakeholders and developers to elicit clear acceptance criteria for Jira issues.

Qualifications:

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification preferred, but not required for consideration. Applicants must be willing to acquire a CSM certification within the first year of employment.
• At least two years of experience working on Scrum teams as a Scrum master, developer, QA engineer, product owner, or other role.
• A deep working knowledge of the agile SDLC and Scrum practices and principles.
• Familiarity with Jira as well as GitHub or other git-based software.
• Exceptional problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Clear writing and communication skills. Experience writing software development requirements, test cases, and acceptance criteria is a plus.
• Empathy and the ability to foster and lead collaboration.

Preferred:

• An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.
• Experience with Jira administration.
• Experience writing code in a professional or educational environment.
• Experience with educational technologies, particularly course delivery software.

Requirements:

• Successful background check

Joining our team in this position opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits, available to all full-time Carnegie Mellon University employees. Experience the full spectrum of advantages, from comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance to enticing retirement savings programs. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, and take well-deserved breaks with generous paid time off and holidays. Rest easy knowing you're covered by life and accidental death and disability insurance. For a comprehensive overview of the benefits awaiting you, explore: https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/benefits-at-a-glance .

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond just credentials, we consider the role's responsibilities, your invaluable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We acknowledge and appreciate your unique key skills and the diverse perspectives you bring. Our commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment means we also account for geographic differentials. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it's about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in this exciting opportunity?! Apply today!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: 

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon ” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

• Statement of Assurance