Scrum Master

oldmutual; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Old Mutual in Johannesburg seeks an experienced Scrum Master to enable Agile teams to deliver high‑value outcomes predictably. You will lead ceremonies, coach teams in Scrum and SAFe, remove impediments, and strengthen cross‑team coordination for better delivery.

The role requires a matric, a relevant IT/Business diploma or degree, and foundational Agile certification, plus at least six years’ Scrum Master experience guiding complex technology initiatives across multiple teams.

Qualifications

• Facilitate agile ceremonies and coaching across teams.
• Promote SAFe/Scrum practices and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Product Owners to manage backlogs and deliver value.

Responsibilities

• Lead Scrum ceremonies and enable effective delivery across small projects.
• Remove obstacles and facilitate problem‑solving, collaboration, and constructive conflict resolution.
• Plan and replan software releases and PI planning for delivery objectives.
• Track metrics and improve predictability, quality and team performance.

Skills

Facilitation

Coaching

SAFe knowledge

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Backlog refinement

Scrum ceremonies

Team leadership

Education

Diploma/degree in IT/Business

Agile certification

Job description

Let's Write Africa's Story Together!Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

Enable Agile teams to deliver high-value outcomes predictably and sustainably. The Scrum Master leads, facilitates and coaches teams in Agile, Scrum and SAFe practices, removes delivery impediments, strengthens cross-team coordination and continuously improves team maturity and delivery performance.

IMPACT: Delivery that makes a demonstrable difference to customers, advisers and the business.

OUTCOMES: Predictable, sustainable delivery of committed value.

MATURITY: Empowered, self-managing teams with a culture of continuous improvement.

Agile Development Team Facilitation - Lead Scrum ceremonies and enable effective delivery across small projects. Remove obstacles and facilitate problem‑solving, collaboration, and constructive conflict resolution. Core ceremonies include backlog refinement, sprint planning, story writing, sizing and prioritisation, daily stand‑ups, sprint reviews and sprint retrospectives.

Agile Release Planning - Plan and replan software releases for medium‑sized projects as delivery evolves, supporting timely updates and the earliest practical realisation of planned benefits. Enable sprint and programme increment planning against agreed objectives and business outcomes.

Agile Backlog Management - Review and help reprioritise the backlog for small projects to optimise the use of project resources, reduce avoidable cost and increase business value. Partner with Product Owners to maintain a clear, prioritised and delivery‑ready backlog with well‑defined user stories and acceptance criteria.

Culture of Innovation - Promote a culture of innovation, creativity and collaboration through practical mechanisms such as idea‑generation platforms, jam sessions and structured continuous improvement activities.

Digital Strategy and Transformational Project Execution - Execute and deliver assigned elements of the digital roadmap, applying Agile and design‑thinking principles to support sustainable implementation and measurable business outcomes.

Project Risk, Issue and Dependency Management - Identify and evaluate project risks, issues, dependencies and constraints. Escalate matters appropriately and, where necessary, facilitate agreement and implementation of practical solutions. Maintain transparent visibility of commitments, decisions and progress.

Data Collection, Analysis and Team Metrics - Collate and analyse delivery data using agreed tools, methods and formats, working independently where required. Track meaningful team and flow metrics, make work visible and use evidence to improve predictability, quality and team performance.

Work Scheduling and Allocation - Assign short‑term work schedules to team members or subordinates, where applicable, to achieve agreed expectations within established timelines. Monitor progress, rebalance work when necessary and protect sustainable delivery.

Project Resource Management - Carry out delegated activities that support the deployment and effective utilisation of project resources across workstreams and teams.

Project Planning - Support the production and maintenance of workstream and project plans that identify and organise the activities required to deliver project objectives in line with the organisation's project management framework.

Performance Management - Respond to personal objectives and use performance management systems to improve individual performance. Where team oversight forms part of the role, monitor delivery, allocate work, review completion and take appropriate corrective action to ensure timeliness and quality, while contributing to formal performance management and appraisal processes.

Personal Capability Building - Develop own capability through assessment, development planning, formal and informal learning, coaching and relevant professional accreditation. Maintain current knowledge of technology, external regulation and industry best practice through ongoing education, conferences and specialist media.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Matric certificate.
• Relevant IT / Business related diploma or degree.
• Foundational Agile certification.
• Minimum of six years' experience working as a Scrum Master, including practical experience leading Agile teams and facilitating delivery across complex technology or software initiatives.
• Strong practical knowledge of Agile methods and frameworks, including Scrum, Kanban and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), with the ability to explain and apply alternative approaches when they better support the team.
• Professional facilitation and coaching skills that empower teams, encourage self‑management and strengthen accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate backlog refinement, sprint planning, story writing, sizing, prioritisation, daily stand‑ups, sprint reviews, sprint retrospectives, PI planning and Scrum forums.
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation