Scrum Master

AQA; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An education-focused organization in Milton Keynes seeks a Scrum Master to facilitate Agile practices and drive efficiency in their Scanning & Marking department. The role offers a fixed 18-month contract with a salary between £45,200 and £50,000, along with hybrid working options. Candidates should have a Certified Scrum Master qualification and at least 3 years of relevant experience, particularly with Azure DevOps. Comprehensive benefits and a commitment to diversity are key to this role.

Benefits

Generous Annual Leave

Flexible Working

Competitive Pension Scheme

Private medical insurance

Gym membership

Life assurance

Enhanced maternity/paternity scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a Scrum Master role.
• Knowledge of Essential SAFe and Agile Release Train.
• Expertise in Azure DevOps for work management.

Responsibilities

• Coaching scrum teams in Scrum and Scaled Agile practices.
• Facilitating ART events and Scrum ceremonies.
• Removing impediments and managing risks.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Passion for continuous improvement

Proven experience facilitating scrum teams

Education

Certified Scrum Master

Tools

Azure DevOps

Job description

Overview

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Scrum Master

Fixed Term Contract: 18 months

Milton Keynes: £45,200 - £50,000

Hybrid – minimum 2 days per week in office

Imagine a role where you transform education by ensuring millions of students receive their GCSE and A-level results seamlessly. Join us in the Assessment Technology group and make a real impact!

Are you passionate about Agile and Scrum methodologies? Ready to drive efficiency and foster a culture of continuous improvement? If you thrive in a dynamic environment and want to be at the forefront of educational technology, we want you on our team.

As a Scrum Master in our Scanning & Marking department, you'll be coaching and mentoring teams, facilitating key events, and driving strategic product changes. With at least 3 years of experience and a Certified Scrum Master qualification, you’ll leverage and improve your knowledge of Essential SAFe, PI Planning, and Agile Release Train. Your role will include:

• Coaching scrum teams in Scrum and Scaled Agile practices
• Experience using Azure DevOps for work management
• Promoting continuous process improvement for greater efficiency
• Facilitating ART events and Scrum ceremonies
• Assisting Product Owners in backlog prioritisation and PI planning
• Monitoring performance and tracking progress
• Attending Scrum of Scrums meetings for alignment
• Removing impediments and managing risks
• Creating a trusting environment for problem-solving

You’ll report to the Lead Scrum Master and be integral to our mission of delivering operational excellence. Expert knowledge of Azure DevOps and a high standard of communication, organisational, and relationship-building skills are essential.

What’s in it for you?

• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus all Bank Holidays and additional Christmas office closure.
• Flexible Working: A 35-hour week with the empowerment to deliver requirements of your role when it suits everyone.
• Competitive Pension Scheme: Excellent contributory pension plan (6% - 11.5% based on your contribution).
• Your health and wellbeing: BUPA private medical insurance, gym membership/ access and free access to the Headspace app.
• Other benefits: Life assurance, salary sacrifice and an enhanced maternity/paternity scheme.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong communication skills for effective collaboration with scrum teams and the management team.
• Passion for continuous improvement and innovation.
• Proven experience facilitating scrum teams

Ready to apply?

If the role looks of interest and you would like to apply, please do so via our portal. Every application will be provided with a written response!

Closing date for applications will be Sunday 5th October. We are reviewing applications as they come through and reserve the right to close this role early.

#PRO22

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose: Responsible for facilitation of Scaled Agile and Scrum events and ceremonies. Responsible for ensuring our Scrum & Essential Scaled Agile processes are followed by scrum teams you facilitate. Inspiring a culture of trust, learning, innovation, continuous improvement, and collective ownership.

Landscape: Responsible for facilitation of Scaled Agile and Scrum events and ceremonies. Responsible for ensuring our Scrum & Essential Scaled Agile processes are followed by scrum teams you facilitate. Inspiring a culture of trust, learning, innovation, continuous improvement, and collective ownership.

Activities:

• Coach members of scrum teams you facilitate in the use of Scrum and Essential Scaled Agile practices & values and be an evangelist in these areas.
• Create efficiency through promotion of continuous process improvement.
• Facilitate events and meetings for Agile Release Train (ART) events and Scrum ceremonies.
• Facilitate Product Increment (PI) planning to ensure that the near-term roadmap is clearly defined.
• Driving PI execution, managing performance, tracking and communicating progress.
• Engaging in Scrum of Scrums meetings to ensure all product delivery teams are aligned.
• Escalating impediments, managing risk, and driving delivery improvement.
• Remove impediments, and act as a safeguard for the scrum teams you facilitate.
• Regularly assess the Scrum Maturity of the teams you facilitate and coach them to higher levels of maturity at a sustainable pace.
• Build a trusting and safe environment where problems can be raised without fear of blame, retribution, or being judged, with an emphasis on healing and problem-solving.
• Report upward to the Lead Scrum Master as required.

To be successful in this role, you will need to know:

• Have a minimum of 1 year experience as a Scrum Master
• Knowledge of Essential SAFe; PI Planning, and Agile Release Train.
• Certified Scrum Master (essential)
• Expert knowledge of Azure DevOps; work item management, backlog refinement, creating Azure DevOps queries, maintaining dashboards, setting up sprints and running Scrum Ceremonies.
• Software development lifecycle
• High standard of written and oral communication.
• Excellent organisational skills
• Relationship building skills
• Assertiveness