Associate, Scrum Master

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

The Associate, Scrum Master is a servant leader who coaches and mentors IT development teams to self-organize, self-manage, and deliver value via effective Lean-Agile practices in the Scaled Agile Framework. This role supports and enforces Scrum and quality processes, assists the team in coordinating with other teams on the Agile Release Train (ART), and effectively tracks and communicates status while influencing team progress. 

What You'll Do

• Provide basic Scrum Master support to the Scrum Master organization while preparing to take on full Scrum Master duties for designated team(s).

• Work with 1 to 2 agile teams with a team complexity level of low to medium 

• Helps agile teams embrace SAFe Core Values, adopt and apply SAFe Principles, and implement SAFe practices.

• Coach teams on agile methodologies and processes.

• Lead standard SCRUM ceremonies (Team Sync, Retrospectives, Sprint Planning, etc).

• Address impediments to keep the team focused on achieving their objectives.

• Assist the team in managing interpersonal and cross-team conflicts, adapting to changing circumstances, and identifying opportunities for growth.

• Use established team metrics, dashboards, and analytical reports to drive improvement and team behaviors.

• Understand impacts that may adversely affect the successful delivery of the business objectives.

• Facilitate preparation and readiness for ART events.

• Obtain/maintain Scaled Agile certification and continually references the framework to define and adopt effective and appropriate processes.

• Promote and reinforce Sallie Mae's implementation of SAFe, with particular attention to compliance requirements.

• Collaborates with Team Members, Product Owners, Product Managers, and stakeholders across all levels of the organization.

• Participate and contribute to Communities of Practice, SoS, and other enterprise initiatives that share and advance practical knowledge.

• Coordinate with other teams (e.g. System Team, User Experience, Architecture) and maintains open communication to and from the team.

• Prepare and share meaningful and appropriate information to outside groups, including senior management.

• Proactively identify and manage cross-team dependencies, risks, and impediments; effectively communicates with impacted parties and escalates immediately if objectives are not being met.

• Protect the team and builds trust with stakeholders.
  ​

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

What You Have

Minimum education, skills and experience required.

• Prior experience in a Scrum Master role.

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines.

• Detail-oriented mindset with excellent documenta