Agile Team Lead (Defence Sector)

Kainos; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Birmingham seeks a Team Lead to guide an agile team delivering high-quality solutions in the UK defence sector. The ideal candidate has a minimum of 3 years in a similar role and holds active SC clearance. Responsibilities include empowering team performance, managing risks, and collaborating with stakeholders. The role emphasizes strong managerial, interpersonal, and commercial awareness skills. Opportunities for continuous improvement and effective relationship-building with clients are key aspects of this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a similar role with UK defence sector organisations.
• Proven experience as a senior scrum master or a combined role of project manager.
• Strong commercial awareness – working with financial teams and understanding project costs.

Responsibilities

• Lead an agile team to deliver high-quality solutions.
• Oversee and remove blockers, manage risks and issues.
• Work closely with other Agile Team Leads and stakeholders.

Skills

Active SC clearance

Agile methodologies

Customer-facing experience

Interpersonal skills

Strong managerial skills

Job description

Overview

Join Kainos and shape the future. At Kainos, we’re problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators, driven by a shared mission to create real impact. Whether we’re transforming digital services for millions, delivering cutting‑edge Workday solutions, or pushing the boundaries of technology, we do it together.

We believe in a people‑first culture where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of a diverse, ambitious team that celebrates creativity and collaboration.

Ready to make your mark? Join us and be part of something bigger.

Responsibilities

As a Team Lead at Kainos, you will lead an agile team to deliver high‑quality solutions that meet client and user needs. You will create a positive and creative culture and a productive working environment, empowering and supporting your team to perform well and grow in line with Kainos values. You will foresee and remove blockers, effectively manage risks and issues at the team level, and work closely with other Agile Team Leads and stakeholders to ensure the right work is done at the right time under the guidance of a Delivery Manager. You will also take on broader management responsibilities beyond the agile team as required and contribute to organisational management capability.

Minimum requirements

• Active SC clearance is mandatory.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a similar role with UK defence sector organisations.
• Proven experience as a senior scrum master or a combined role of project manager who is also a hands‑on scrum master for UK defence sector organisations.
• Minimum 3 years of demonstrable success delivering bespoke software projects from scratch using agile methodologies (Kanban, Scrum, SAFe, etc.) for external customers.
• Strong experience in customer‑facing projects with UK defence sector organisations – syncs and reporting, presentations, board meetings, workshops, upscaling opportunities.
• Strong managerial skills, both direct and indirect.
• Strong commercial awareness – working with financial teams, understanding and basic reporting of costs, preferably under a budget plan of £5 M or more.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly flexible, including willingness to work away from home base.

Other requirements

• Persuasive and effective communicator with strong negotiating skills.
• Solid understanding and strong practical experience of agile delivery in software development projects.
• Evidence of leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to manage, coach and develop members of your team and wider community.
• Experience facilitating workshops and discussions.
• Ability to forge effective working relationships with stakeholders.
• Considerable experience in a relevant technical environment.
• Maintain effective and efficient delivery from your team during periods of remote working.

Desirable

• Good understanding of technology, digital services and trends.
• Experience of working with user research, design and data analytics expertise.
• Ability to demonstrate commercial awareness, particularly in client‑supplier and multi‑supplier environments, and an appreciation of project‑level financials.
• Understanding of a range of planning and reporting methods common to project delivery.
• Scrum Master or similar Agile delivery certification.

Embracing our differences

At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive. We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are. We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field.

Accommodations

Our talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way. If you require any accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out. We understand that everyone's journey is different, and by having a private conversation we can ensure that our recruitment process is tailored to your needs.