Agile Coach
- Program/Project Management
- Remote
- Permanent / Full Time
Job Description:
Position: Agile Coach
Location: Canada
Employment Type: Full Time
Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Agile Coach to guide our teams and organization in the process of value chain mapping, identifying inefficiencies, and driving continuous process improvement. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Agile methodologies, Lean thinking, and experience in helping organizations streamline workflows to maximize value delivery. This role will work closely with cross-functional teams to identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and create a culture of continuous improvement to achieve operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
1 Facilitate Value Stream Mapping:
- Lead workshops and coaching sessions to map the end-to-end value stream, identifying all activities that contribute to customer value from ideation to delivery.
- Help teams visualize the flow of work, resources, and information, identifying key areas for improvement.
- Guide teams in distinguishing value-adding from non-value-adding activities, with a focus on eliminating waste and optimizing workflow.
- Analyze value stream maps to identify bottlenecks, delays, and inefficiencies that impact delivery times and quality.
- Lead teams through root cause analysis techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams) to uncover the underlying causes of inefficiencies.
- Work with teams to implement targeted improvements to streamline the flow of work and reduce cycle time.
- Support teams in adopting Lean and Agile principles to drive ongoing process improvement.
- Encourage an experimental mindset, where teams iterate and test small changes to optimize their workflows.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, helping teams and the organization learn from each improvement cycle.
4 Enhance Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work with cross-functional teams to break down silos and ensure smooth communication and collaboration across departments.
- Help teams align around common goals, ensuring that all stakeholders are working towards delivering value to the customer.
- Facilitate transparent communication and the sharing of information to streamline decision-making and reduce handoffs.
- Ensure teams are using Agile ceremonies (e.g., daily standups, retrospectives, sprint planning) effectively to reflect on and improve their processes.
- Guide teams in adopting Agile frameworks (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) that improve flow and reduce waste.
- Coach teams in using tools such as Kanban boards and other Agile practices to track progress and manage work-in-progress.
6 Mentorship and Coaching:
- Mentor Agile teams, leaders, and stakeholders in adopting Agile and Lean principles to enhance their process capabilities.
- Provide guidance on how to improve the team’s self-organization, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Offer personalized coaching to individuals and teams, helping them build Agile maturity and align with best practices.
- Act as a change agent, fostering a mindset of continuous improvement across the organization.
- Support the organization in adopting and sustaining Agile transformations, aligning Agile practices with the company's broader business goals.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to drive strategic initiatives and ensure that Agile practices align with the company’s vision and objectives.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience as an Agile Coach or Scrum Master, with a strong track record in facilitating value stream mapping, process improvement, and Lean thinking.
- In-depth understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, Lean) and experience in coaching teams on Agile best practices.
- Experience in mapping and optimizing value streams, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing solutions that enhance flow and reduce waste.
- Strong facilitation, communication, and coaching skills, with the ability to work with diverse, cross-functional teams.
- Ability to drive cultural change and foster a mindset of continuous improvement at all levels of the organization.
- Knowledge of Agile tools (e.g., Jira, Miro, Trello) and proficiency in using them to support process management and improvement efforts.
- Certifications such as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), or similar are a plus.
- Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on root cause analysis.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to influence and guide teams and stakeholders effectively.
- A passion for fostering self-organizing teams and creating environments where individuals thrive.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and helping teams clarify their goals and processes.
