ServiceNow Scrum Master

ServiceNow Scrum Master

Hybrid- 2-3 days on-site, Walnut Creek - Local Candidates only, please

W2 - Contract to hire

Rate: $80. - 90/hr. _Please let me know what you seek.

W2 ONLY - No C2C, 1099, or Sponsorship

Required Experience:

• 8+ of experience in Agile delivery, project, or program management
• 3+ years of knowledge of ServiceNow platform architecture, core features, and applications.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating teams specifically working with the ServiceNow platform (e.g., ITSM, ITOM, HAM, SecOps).
• Exposure to Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM)
• Familiarity with ServiceNow platform implementations, deployments, upgrades, and configuration best practices.
• Experience leading delivery in mixed operational (KTLO) and project environments
• 8+ years of overall IT experience, with a strong focus on software development, service management or a related field
• 3+ years of experience as a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or similar role, with direct experience supporting both Scrum and Kanban methodologies.

The ServiceNow Scrum Master is a dedicated Agile professional responsible for guiding our delivery on the ServiceNow platform. This servant-leader role involves facilitating both Scrum development teams and Kanban operational teams. The ideal candidate will have extensive ServiceNow and Scrum experience, excelling at fostering team self-organization, actively removing impediments, and driving continuous improvement. In addition to team facilitation, this role requires strong organizational skills to support the Platform Owner/Product Manager with release planning and to coordinate deployment execution across development and operations teams, ensuring predictable, high-quality and smooth delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Agile Team Facilitation and Support (60%)

• Agile Leadership: Foster an environment of continuous flow, self-organization and continuous improvement.
• Scrum Mastery:
• Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Retrospective) for Scrum teams
• Collaborate with the Product Owner to ensure the product backlog is refined, prioritized, and ready for future sprints.
• Facilitate backlog refinement discussions to clarify user stories, break down epics, and estimate work.
• Kanban Facilitation:
• Coach Kanban teams on managing their flow, visualizing work, and enforcing Work In Progress (WIP) limits to optimize throughput and predictability.
• Facilitate key Kanban events, such as Replenishment and Service Delivery Reviews, to manage demand and prioritize effectively.
• Impediment Removal: Proactively identify, track, and remove organizational and team-level roadblocks and dependencies that impede team progress or degrade flow. Shield the development team from external disruptions and distractions, enabling focused productivity and high-quality output.
• Metrics & Improvement: Drive continuous improvement by gathering, analyzing, and presenting team metrics (velocity, cycle time, quality, throughput) and translating retrospective insights into actionable process changes.
• Agile Tool Administration: Manage and maintain the team's work management boards (Scrum and Kanban) to ensure transparency and accurate reporting

Release and Project Coordination Support (30%)

• Release Planning Support: Assist the Platform Owner/Product Manager with release planning activities, including dependency identification and feature alignment.
• Deployment Coordination: Coordinate deployment logistics for the agile teams under management, collaborating with developers, testers, and operations/release management to ensure the Change Request (CR) is prepared and executed smoothly.
• Release Readiness: Ensure all code, configurations, test results, and necessary documentation are complete and approved prior to the scheduled deployment window.
• Documentation: Ensure all stories and tasks are clearly documented in the backlog tool and that definition of done is met.
• Project Coordination Support: Provide hands-on coordination support as needed, assisting with dependency tracking, risk management, and project status reporting.

Other activities as assigned (10%)

Qualifications

Knowledge & Skills:

• Agile Expertise
• Strong understanding and experience with the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including requirements analysis, design, technology evaluation, development, release and version control, testing methodologies, and deployment management.
• Strong understanding and practical application of Scrum and Kanban methodologies.
• Proven experience driving both Scrum and Kanban development teams effectively.
• Skilled in facilitating Agile ceremonies, including stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives
• Experience removing impediments, driving continuous improvement, and aligning delivery with evolving business priorities
• Ability to translate business requirements into user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Experience managing product backlogs
• Experienced in using Agile management tools
• Certifications (strongly preferred): Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), or equivalent Agile certification.

ServiceNow Platform Expertise:

• 3+ years of knowledge of ServiceNow platform architecture, core features, and applications.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating teams specifically working with the ServiceNow platform (e.g., ITSM, ITOM, HAM, SecOps).
• Familiarity with ServiceNow platform implementations, deployments, upgrades, and configuration best practices.
• Familiarity with ServiceNow development life cycle and workflow
• Practical experience coordinating ServiceNow software deployments and operating within a formal Change Management (ITIL) framework.
• Certifications (desirable): Certified System Administrator (CSA) or Certified Implementation Specialist (CIS).
• ServiceNow Expertise: Utilize strong working knowledge of the ServiceNow platform's capabilities and architecture to effectively coach teams on technical challenges and dependencies, and ensure adherence to platform best practices.
• Soft Skills & Leadership
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Ability to facilitate and coach Agile team members
• Ability to resolve conflicts and remove obstacles
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong planning, organizational and time management skills

Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent work experience
• 8+ years of overall IT experience, with a strong focus on software development, service management or a related field
• 3+ years of experience as a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or similar role, with direct experience supporting both Scrum and Kanban methodologies.