Backlog Elaboration Team Lead

Roche • Tucson, AZ

5d • Onsite

About The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche. As an accomplished Systems Engineer with a strong background in end-to-end new product development programs and successful launches, you will play the role of Backlog Elaboration Team Lead being at the forefront of leading Roche Tissue Diagnostics’ design & development programs. Using the Agile method of development, you will primarily focus on the prioritization, definition, estimation, tracking and continuous maintenance of solution level backlog by heavily collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.

Requirements

• An Agile & SAFe expert with strong understanding of Agile principles including backlog elaboration, just-in-time planning, and rolling-wave planning. You must know how to apply these concepts to maintain a healthy and predictive backlog.
• An expert at organizational & planning skills to effectively manage complex backlogs, track dependencies across multiple teams (SW, Assay, System, etc.), and maintain the Project Backlog Elaboration wiki. The ability to sequence work and ensure a high-level project schedule will be a direct outcome of this skill.
• While not a developer, you must have a solid grasp of the development lifecycle and key milestone deliverables. This technical acumen & understanding is crucial for effective communication and for ensuring that backlog items are well-defined and feasible.
• Expert in using Azure DevOps and Lucid tools is essential. You'll be responsible for driving tool improvements and using these platforms to manage and visualize the backlog, dependencies, and project flow.
• An excellent facilitator & communicator. This role requires strong skills in facilitating meetings and communicating with diverse stakeholders, from team members to senior leadership. You must be able to drive different groups toward a single goal and clearly articulate progress, challenges, and dependencies.
• A cross-functional collaborator who has the ability to build relationships and work effectively with various teams—including ART leads, Solution Train leads, and the Business leads is paramount. Your success depends on your ability to gather information, influence others, and ensure alignment across the organization.
• Having a strategic mindset & being a growth oriented member of the Lighthouse Crew, you must be focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence. The role is a stepping stone to technical leadership and co-facilitating PI Planning, so a desire to grow beyond an individual contributor role is vital.
• Problem solver: The ability to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the backlog elaboration process and propose solutions is key. This proactive approach will be critical for driving the improvements that are central to the role's mission.
• You have a PhD in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, or a closely related discipline with 7+ years of relevant industry experience; OR a Master's degree in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biophysics, Molecular Biology or closely related discipline with 8+ years of relevant industry experience; OR a Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biophysics, Molecular Biology or closely related discipline with 10+ years of relevant industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and improve Backlog Elaboration by leading backlog elaboration meetings, ensuring they are productive and owning the project’s backlog elaboration WiKi site.
• Collaborate and seek guidance from the program’s Solution Train Engineer to continuously iterate and refine processes with a goal to have backlogs sequenced, defined & estimated for confident predictability and project schedule tracking.
• Manage interdependencies by developing a deep understanding of System, Software, Assay, Consumables and Hardware teams & the Agile Release Trains (ARTs) to ensure that all Epics, Capabilities & Features are clearly defined & documented in the backlog.
• Continually look for ways of enhancing tools (such as Azure DevOps and Lucid) and communication by streamlining our workflow, be the central point of contact for backlog-related communications & engaging with a wide range of stakeholders (including Product Managers, ART leads, and senior leadership) to align everyone towards a unified goal.
• Strategize and plan for the future by developing and communicating yearly backlog goals that provide clear direction for the teams. This includes implementing Agile SAFe's rolling-wave planning approach involving detailed planning for upcoming Program Increments while keeping a high-level view of future PIs.
• Over time, this role can grow into co-facilitating PI Planning with the Solution Train Engineer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees