Scrum Master

New Zealand Defence Force; Wellington; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life cover (fully funded)

Critical illness protection

Discounted insurances

Will services

Savings schemes for Defence community

Financial guidance

Job summary

New Zealand Defence Force in Wellington seeks an experienced Scrum Master to establish and lead a new COAT, delivering secure, resilient cyber capabilities. You will foster Agile maturity, coach teams to peak performance, remove delivery barriers and partner with Product Owners, engineers and stakeholders to ensure timely, reliable outcomes.

Applicants should bring proven Scrum mastery, CS/PSM or equivalent, and SAFe exposure.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Scrum, Agile principles and modern delivery practices.
• Experience coaching teams to achieve high performance and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to facilitate delivery across complex technical environments.
• Experience identifying and removing barriers to successful delivery.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience supporting Product Owners with planning and backlog management.
• A focus on building team capability, collaboration and delivery excellence.
• Scrum Master certification (CSM, PSM or equivalent).
• SAFe certification or experience working in scaled Agile environments desirable.
• Cyber security, infrastructure or technical delivery experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Facilitating Agile ceremonies and promoting Scrum best practice.
• Coaching teams in Agile ways of working and continuous improvement.
• Removing barriers and resolving issues that impact delivery outcomes.
• Supporting Product Owners with planning, prioritisation and delivery.
• Building strong relationships across NZDF, government and industry partners.
• Coordinating technical and testing activities to support delivery success.

Skills

Scrum Master

Agile coaching

Delivery facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

SAFe experience

Communication skills

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

New Zealand Defence Force – Wellington, North Island

We're establishing a new Cyber Operations Application Team (COAT) that will help protect and strengthen critical NZDF digital capabilities. As Scrum Master, you'll play a key role in building a high performing Agile delivery environment, enabling teams to deliver secure, resilient and mission critical cyber capabilities.

This is a rare opportunity to help establish a brand new team, influence ways of working, and support the delivery of technology solutions that directly contribute to NZDF's operational effectiveness and New Zealand's security.

You will be responsible for fostering Agile delivery excellence, coaching teams to achieve their full potential, removing obstacles to delivery, and promoting continuous improvement across cyber initiatives. Working closely with Product Owners, engineers and stakeholders, you'll help ensure the successful delivery of secure and reliable cyber capabilities.

This will include:

• Facilitating Agile ceremonies and promoting Scrum best practice.
• Coaching teams in Agile ways of working and continuous improvement.
• Removing barriers and resolving issues that impact delivery outcomes.
• Supporting Product Owners with planning, prioritisation and delivery.
• Building strong relationships across NZDF, government and industry partners.
• Coordinating technical and testing activities to support delivery success.

Applications may be reviewed upon receipt. It is advised to apply early to avoid disappointment, as this role may close ahead of time due to a high volume of applicants.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Scrum Master to help further develop NZDF's cyber capability while contributing to work of national significance.

You will be a collaborative and influential leader with a track record of enabling high performing teams, fostering Agile maturity, and delivering complex technology outcomes in evolving environments.

You will bring:

• Strong knowledge of Scrum, Agile principles and modern delivery practices.
• Experience coaching teams to achieve high performance and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to facilitate delivery across complex technical environments.
• Experience identifying and removing barriers to successful delivery.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience supporting Product Owners with planning and backlog management.
• A focus on building team capability, collaboration and delivery excellence.
• Scrum Master certification (CSM, PSM or equivalent).
• SAFe certification or experience working in scaled Agile environments desirable.
• Cyber security, infrastructure or technical delivery experience advantageous.

No candidate is expected to meet every desired skill / experience listed. If your background differs from what we've outlined but you believe you can contribute to the role, we encourage you to apply.

This role may require travel to support operational and business requirements.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Your skills and dedication deserve recognition, and NZDF delivers with competitive pay matched to your experience.

• Fully funded life cover of up to $300,000
• Critical illness protection
• Discounted additional insurances
• Free will services
• Savings schemes for the Defence community
• Get expert financial guidance
• Mortgage broker services

Find all our benefits and more on the Force 4 Families website.

NZDF champions diversity and inclusivity, valuing every member and fuelling their success. We embrace uniqueness, understanding that diverse teams drive creativity, innovation, and excellence. With an open door to all – irrespective of gender, ethnicity, ability, age, or family dynamics – NZDF offers a flexible, empowering work environment. Join us in shaping a brighter future, where everyone thrives.

To be eligible for the required level of government security clearance with the NZ Defence Force, you need to meet certain citizenship and residency criteria. Here's what you need to know:

Higher Level Security Clearance

• You must be a New Zealand citizen or you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa.
• At minimum, you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa, and you must be a citizen of and have lived in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America or New Zealand continuously for the last ten (10) years.
• You must have a ten (10) year background history that can be verified and assessed appropriately by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to determine if you are suitable for a security clearance at this level.

If you do not meet the minimum criteria, unfortunately, your application will not be accepted. We do welcome your application at a time when you will meet the requirements.