What Does a Scrum Master Do?
A Scrum Master is a key facilitator in agile project management, ensuring that teams follow Scrum principles to deliver high-quality work efficiently. They are responsible for guiding development teams through agile ceremonies, such as daily standups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. By serving as a coach and servant-leader, Scrum Masters foster a collaborative environment where teams can focus on achieving their goals and delivering value to the business.
Beyond facilitating ceremonies, Scrum Masters play an important role in removing impediments that slow progress and ensuring alignment between teams and stakeholders. They encourage continuous improvement, promote transparency, and help resolve conflicts that may arise within the team. Their goal is not only to keep projects on track but also to help teams mature in their agile practices, ultimately improving productivity and delivering better outcomes for the organization.
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Scrum Master Core Responsibilities
- Facilitate daily standups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives
- Guide teams in understanding and applying Scrum principles and agile best practices
- Remove obstacles that may impede team progress
- Foster collaboration between team members, product owners, and stakeholders
- Track and report on sprint progress and team performance
- Support the product owner with backlog management and prioritization
- Encourage continuous improvement and coach teams on agile maturity
- Ensure alignment with organizational goals and agile frameworks
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Proficiency in agile methodologies and Scrum frameworks
- Experience with project management tools such as Jira, Trello, or Confluence
- Strong understanding of software development life cycles
- Knowledge of agile metrics, reporting, and team performance tracking
Soft skills
- Strong facilitation and conflict-resolution skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
- Ability to coach and mentor team members
- Adaptability and problem-solving skills
- Collaborative mindset with servant-leadership qualities
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, business, or related field
Certifications
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM) required
- Advanced certifications such as A-CSM, SAFe Scrum Master (SSM), or PMI-ACP recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 3–5 years of experience in agile or Scrum environments
- Background in software development or IT project management
- Experience working with multiple Scrum teams or scaled agile frameworks
- Familiarity with DevOps practices and continuous integration/delivery pipelines
- Strong presentation and workshop facilitation skills
National Average Salary
Scrum Master salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Scrum Master is:
$109,868
Sample Job Description Templates for Scrum Masters
Junior Scrum Master
Position Overview
We are seeking a junior Scrum Master to support agile teams in delivering high-quality projects while learning the principles of Scrum and agile frameworks. This role is ideal for early-career professionals who are eager to grow into a leadership position within agile environments.
Responsibilities
- Assist in facilitating daily standups, sprint planning, and retrospectives
- Support the Scrum Master in removing impediments and resolving conflicts
- Help track team performance metrics and progress toward sprint goals
- Work with product owners to maintain and prioritize backlogs
- Encourage team members to adopt agile practices
- Document meeting outcomes and share updates with stakeholders
Requirements
Hard skills
- Basic knowledge of agile and Scrum frameworks
- Familiarity with project management tools such as Jira or Trello
- Ability to prepare and track simple project reports
- Understanding of software development basics
Soft skills
- Strong communication and collaboration abilities
- Eagerness to learn and grow in agile environments
- Problem-solving and organizational skills
- Attention to detail and reliability
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in business, IT, or related field preferred
Certifications
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) encouraged within first year
Preferred Qualifications
- Internship or 1–2 years of experience in project coordination or software development
- Exposure to agile teams or IT projects
Mid-Level Scrum Master
Position Overview
We are hiring a mid-level Scrum Master to guide agile teams through the Scrum process and ensure smooth delivery of projects. This role requires hands-on experience facilitating Scrum ceremonies and coaching team members on agile principles.
Responsibilities
- Facilitate daily standups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives
- Work with product owners to prioritize and refine backlogs
- Identify and remove impediments that impact team performance
- Track and report on sprint metrics and delivery outcomes
- Coach teams on agile practices and help improve processes
- Foster collaboration across cross-functional teams
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency in agile methodologies and Scrum practices
- Experience with tools such as Jira, Confluence, or Azure DevOps
- Knowledge of agile metrics and reporting techniques
- Familiarity with continuous integration and delivery concepts
Soft skills
- Strong facilitation and conflict-resolution abilities
- Effective communication and coaching skills
- Ability to build trust and foster collaboration
- Analytical thinking and adaptability
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, or related field
Certifications
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) required
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–4 years of experience as a Scrum Master or in agile environments
- Background in IT or software development projects
Senior Scrum Master
Position Overview
We are looking for a senior Scrum Master to lead multiple agile teams, mentor junior Scrum Masters, and ensure alignment with organizational objectives. This role requires advanced knowledge of agile frameworks and the ability to support complex, high-visibility projects.
Responsibilities
- Facilitate Scrum practices across multiple agile teams
- Mentor and coach junior Scrum Masters and team members
- Partner with leadership to align agile practices with business goals
- Track and report on team performance at a program level
- Resolve escalated impediments and facilitate cross-team collaboration
- Advocate for agile transformation and continuous improvement initiatives
Requirements
Hard skills
- Advanced knowledge of Scrum, Kanban, and scaled agile frameworks
- Expertise with agile project management and reporting tools
- Strong understanding of software development lifecycles
- Experience with enterprise-level agile metrics
Soft skills
- Leadership and mentoring abilities
- Strong negotiation and influence skills
- Ability to communicate with executives and technical staff
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s preferred
Certifications
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM II) required
- Advanced certifications such as A-CSM or SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) preferred
Preferred Qualifications
- 5–7 years of Scrum Master or agile coaching experience
- Experience managing agile delivery in complex, multi-team environments
Lead Scrum Master
Position Overview
We are hiring a lead Scrum Master to oversee multiple Scrum teams and establish best practices for agile delivery across the organization. This role combines servant-leadership with strategic planning to ensure consistency and success across projects.
Responsibilities
- Supervise and mentor Scrum Masters across departments
- Standardize Scrum practices and establish organizational guidelines
- Collaborate with product management on backlog alignment
- Facilitate program-level ceremonies such as PI planning or cross-team reviews
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across all agile teams
- Provide progress and performance updates to senior leadership
Requirements
Hard skills
- Expertise in Scrum, SAFe, and other scaled agile frameworks
- Strong facilitation of program-level agile events
- Knowledge of agile portfolio management tools
- Experience implementing organizational agile transformations
Soft skills
- Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities
- Excellent executive communication skills
- Ability to influence cultural change toward agile adoption
- High-level organizational and strategic planning abilities
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or master’s degree preferred
Certifications
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or PSM II required
- SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) or A-CSM highly recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 7–10 years of experience in Scrum Master and agile leadership roles
- Proven success leading enterprise-wide agile initiatives
Agile Program Manager
Position Overview
We are seeking an agile program manager to oversee large-scale agile initiatives, coordinate multiple teams, and ensure delivery aligns with business objectives. This role requires program-level leadership and the ability to balance strategy with execution.
Responsibilities
- Lead program-level planning and execution of agile initiatives
- Coordinate work across multiple Scrum and agile teams
- Ensure alignment between program delivery and organizational strategy
- Track and manage program-level risks, dependencies, and metrics
- Partner with executives and stakeholders on roadmaps and priorities
- Support change management efforts during agile transformations
Requirements
Hard skills
- Expertise in scaled agile frameworks such as SAFe or LeSS
- Proficiency in agile portfolio and program management tools
- Strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and reporting
- Ability to manage cross-team dependencies and risks
Soft skills
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Excellent facilitation and negotiation abilities
- Ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
Certifications
- SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) or PMI-ACP strongly preferred
- CSM or PSM is also valued
Preferred Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience managing agile programs or portfolios
- Background in enterprise agile transformations
Director of Agile Delivery
Position Overview
We are hiring a director of agile delivery to provide executive leadership over all agile practices and ensure organizational alignment with agile principles. This role drives transformation, oversees program and portfolio-level initiatives, and ensures consistent value delivery across the enterprise.
Responsibilities
- Define the vision and strategy for agile delivery across the organization
- Lead and mentor agile program managers, Scrum Masters, and coaches
- Collaborate with executives to align agile delivery with business goals
- Oversee enterprise agile transformations and continuous improvement efforts
- Manage budgets, resources, and metrics for agile delivery functions
- Represent agile delivery in executive and board-level discussions
Requirements
Hard skills
- Mastery of agile frameworks including Scrum, SAFe, and enterprise-level models
- Experience scaling agile practices across large organizations
- Strong financial acumen for budgeting and resource planning
- Expertise in organizational change management
Soft skills
- Executive-level leadership and communication abilities
- Ability to influence organizational culture and drive transformation
- Strategic vision with focus on continuous value delivery
- Strong decision-making under pressure
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
Certifications
- Advanced agile certifications such as SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) or Certified Enterprise Coach (CEC) highly valued
Preferred Qualifications
- 12+ years of agile leadership experience
- Proven track record of leading enterprise-level agile transformations