Scrum Master/Coach

This is a contract position based in Seattle, WA, with a fully remote work arrangement.

About the role

We help organizations transition from project-based delivery to value-driven product delivery models by coaching teams in product backlog design, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Promote product-oriented thinking and outcome-based planning.
• Help organizations transition from project-based delivery to value-driven product delivery models.
• Identify and address backlog anti-patterns that impact planning and execution effectiveness.
• Coach teams in creating and maintaining outcome-focused product backlogs.
• Guide the development of Epics, Features, Product Backlog Items (PBIs), and Tasks aligned to business and customer value.
• Help establish backlog hierarchy, planning horizons, and quality standards.
• Facilitate backlog-building workshops, story mapping sessions, backlog refinement activities, and planning discussions.
• Mentor Product Owners and Agile delivery teams on backlog management best practices.
• Enable teams to build sustainable backlog management capabilities and self-sufficiency.
• Partner with business leaders, Product Owners, and key stakeholders to align priorities with strategic objectives.
• Facilitate consensus around prioritization decisions and expected outcomes.
• Establish governance practices, accountability, and escalation paths where needed.
• Assess backlog health and team maturity.
• Recommend and implement improvements to backlog management practices.
• Reinforce organizational standards and continuous learning initiatives.

Requirements

• Proven experience coaching Product Owners, product teams, and Agile delivery teams.
• Strong workshop facilitation skills, including:
  • User story mapping
  • Backlog creation and refinement
  • Prioritization workshops
  • Planning and review sessions
• Deep expertise in:
  • Product backlog design
  • Backlog decomposition
  • Epic and Feature development
  • User story mapping
  • Value-based planning
• Strong understanding of product operating models and outcome-focused delivery practices.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience influencing leaders and teams without direct authority.
• Demonstrated success driving adoption of new ways of working within transformation initiatives.

Skills

• Azure DevOps (ADO)
• Agile planning and collaboration tools
• Backlog management and reporting platforms

Success Measures

• Adoption of consistent backlog management practices.
• Strong alignment between strategy, roadmaps, and delivery activities.
• Improved backlog quality and prioritization clarity.
• Reduced backlog anti-patterns and delivery inefficiencies.
• Increased stakeholder alignment and planning effectiveness.
• Sustainable product-centric backlog management practices across teams.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $70.00 per hour. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short- and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation, or Sick Leave)