Agile Coach

IZAR Associates, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in New York, NY is seeking an experienced Enterprise Agile Coach to lead its Agile transformation initiatives. This pivotal role requires strong coaching and change management skills to guide teams through their Agile adoption journey. Candidates should have a deep understanding of Agile principles, at least 8 years in coaching roles, and proven experience in large-scale Agile transformations. The position offers a collaborative environment, driving innovation and continuous improvement in Agile practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of software development experience.
• At least 8 years in Agile coaching roles.
• Proven experience coaching Agile transformations in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Support large-scale Agile Product transformation initiatives.
• Design and deliver interactive Agile workshops and training sessions.
• Facilitate collaboration among teams and stakeholders for Agile adoption.

Skills

Agile transformation coaching

Change Management

Advanced Communication Skills

Business Case Development

Project Management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Align

Job description

We are looking to hire a dynamic and experienced Enterprise Agile Coach to join the Agile Center of Excellence (CoE). As we lead the IT organization through its Agile Product Transformation, these critical consulting roles will require a blend of technical expertise, coaching and change management skills, and deep knowledge of Agile principles and practices.

The role involves hands-on coaching, mentoring, and guiding product teams, product leaders, and stakeholders in their Agile adoption journey. This role will be expected to coach with a strong emphasis on adopting Agile methodologies, fostering collaboration, and driving continuous improvement and alignment with organizational goals.

Reporting to the Deputy CTO and/or the Director of the Center of Excellence, this role is pivotal in driving Agile practices while ensuring alignment with the broader transformation strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Agile Transformation Coaching

• Support and provide coaching to large-scale Agile Product transformation initiatives, aligning with the organization’s strategic objectives and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Collaborate with CoE leadership to create and execute a tailored Agile transformation coaching roadmap.
• Coach teams, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and other stakeholders on Agile frameworks (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) to foster Agile maturity.
• Partner with product teams to adopt Agile and product-focused practices, enhancing delivery and business value.
• Act as a trusted advisor to teams and mid-level leadership, reinforcing Agile principles and practices.

Training and Facilitation

• Design and deliver interactive workshops, training sessions, and hands-on labs to upskill teams and leaders on Agile principles, tools, and practices.
• Educate teams on technical best practices, including DevOps, XP engineering practices (TDD, CI/CD, pairing), and Lean principles.
• Promote a culture of learning and adaptation by embedding effective retrospectives and metrics-driven decision-making.
• Analyze team performance data to identify areas for improvement and recommend & implement actionable strategies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify challenges in Agile adoption and provide tailored coaching support.
• Facilitate alignment and collaboration among teams and stakeholders to ensure a smooth Agile transformation journey.

Best Practices Implementation and Tools

• Standardize Agile practices, ceremonies, and workflows across teams.
• Leverage Jira, Confluence, Align and other Atlassian tools to enhance Agile process optimization, workflow streamlining and optimize reporting.
• Standardize and monitor metrics for team health, velocity, and overall transformation progress.

Qualifications & Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of software development experience.
• At least 8 years in Agile coaching roles.
• Proven experience coaching for Agile product transformations in large, complex environments.
• Certifications:
• Certified Agile Coach (ICP-ACC, ICP-ATF), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), or equivalent credentials.
• Technical Proficiency:
• Comprehensive expertise in Agile frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, and LeSS.
• Strong systems thinking and ability to navigate complex organizational structures.
• Deep understanding of technical practices, including CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and DevOps.

Additional Skills Required

• Change Management (4–6 years)
• Advanced Communication Skills (4–6 years)
• Business Case Development (4–6 years)
• Project Management – advisory and coaching context (4–6 years)
• Project Planning – coaching and alignment context (4–6 years)