Deputy Project Manager / Scrum Master

SAIC is currently seeking a highly organized and proactive Deputy Project Manager / Scrum Master to join our team. This role is critical in ensuring the successful execution of project objectives while fostering a high-performing Agile environment. The successful candidate will support the Project Manager in daily operations, risk management, and resource coordination, while simultaneously serving as a Scrum Master to facilitate team ceremonies, remove impediments, and drive continuous improvement.

Position Responsibilities

• Project Support: Assist the Project Manager in the planning, execution, and monitoring of project timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Agile Leadership: Serve as the Scrum Master for one or more teams, facilitating all Scrum ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives).
• Team Coaching: Coach the team on Agile principles, ensuring adherence to the Definition of Ready and Definition of Done.
• Impediment Removal: Proactively identify, track, and resolve roadblocks that hinder team velocity or project progress.
• Backlog Management: Facilitate backlog refinement sessions, ensuring user stories are well-defined, prioritized, and contain clear acceptance criteria.
• Stakeholder Liaison: Act as a primary point of contact between stakeholders, engineering teams, and project leadership to ensure transparent communication regarding project status, risks, and dependencies.
• Program Alignment: Collaborate with clients and leadership to support Program Increment (PI) planning, ensuring team objectives are aligned with broader program goals.
• Tooling & Reporting: Maintain project health and progress tracking within Atlassian Jira and Confluence; generate reports on sprint metrics, team velocity, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Process Improvement: Identify inefficiencies in team workflows and implement process improvements to enhance productivity and quality.
• Documentation: Ensure project documentation, including business processes and technical expectations, is accurate, scalable, and up-to-date.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DHS Public Trust security clearance.
• Experience: Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 9 years of experience in a Project Management, Scrum Master, or relevant role, with a proven track record of managing Agile teams.
• Agile Expertise: Deep understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and experience facilitating ceremonies in a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Atlassian Jira and Confluence, including board configuration, reporting, and workflow management.
• Communication: Exceptional facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to identify risks, manage dependencies, and mitigate roadblocks effectively.
• Leadership: Ability to support the Project Manager in day-to-day operations and provide guidance to team members.
• Collaboration: A team-oriented mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across diverse disciplines.

Preferred Skills and Certifications

• Professional certifications, such as Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), SAFe Scrum Master (SSM), or Project Management Professional (PMP), are highly desirable.
• Experience working within a government or federal contracting environment is a plus.