14325-1 Senior Expert Project Manager – Senior Scrum Master- New York, NY

Canon Recruiting Group•New York, NY

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Senior Scrum Master to lead our agile teams focused on developing innovative technology solutions with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning initiatives. This role is crucial for ensuring effective project delivery, optimizing team performance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in a fast-paced, complex environment. The Senior Scrum Master will guide cross-functional teams through the Scrum framework, manage product timelines, and facilitate effective communication among stakeholders. Drives forward the business's strategic agenda to ensure the project portfolio is identified and delivered. Directs the conversion of high-level business requirements and use cases into detailed functional specifications and project plans for projects of the highest complexity, including multi-year projects. Develops and implements long-term goals and objectives to achieve the successful outcome of large scale, complex projects, and recommends appropriate solutions based on the business value. Oversees the progress of programs and projects (through project plans and regular status meetings) to ensure that stakeholder, sponsor, and/or client expectations are being met, and conducts an annual evaluation according to the program evaluation framework. Develops project budgets and manages all project funds according to established accounting policies and procedures. Oversees the presentation of reports and communications to senior management and stakeholders on project status, schedule, and costs. Reviews the results of audits conducted during and after project implementation and identifies new methods to assure compliance with proposed standards. Identifies areas of process improvement to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. Serves as the leading authority and is the subject matter expert on ad hoc projects to solve issues of the highest magnitude of complexity. Identifies application for improvement in project management protocols, standards, methodology, and procedures, aligned with best practices. Leads project management methods, serving as a center of excellence for program management and change delivery. Leads cross functional teams and directs and assigns work activities and priorities to professional and support staff, ensuring adherence to departmental standards and procedures. Ensures all staff members receive orientation and appropriate training in accordance with organizational standards, and mentors and coaches’ lower level professional and support staff.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Information Technology, Finance) or equivalent work experience.
Minimum of 5-9 years of experience in a Scrum Master role, preferably within a technology team.
Proven experience as a Senior Scrum Master or Agile Project Manager in a software development or technology-driven environment.
Strong understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.) and experience in agile transformation.
Experience specifically managing IT delivery in medium-to-large complex environments, particularly within the Banking/Finance sector.
Familiarity with Cloud Platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Azure, AWS) and exposure to Big Data tools (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and AI frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow) is a distinct advantage (conceptual understanding required, not coding).
Proficiency with project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, or Azure DevOps.
Expertise in Agile methodologies, Scrum framework, and experience with project management tools.
Basic understanding of SQL queries and database structures is a plus.
Strong knowledge of AI environments and data.
Excellent leadership, communication, and facilitation skills.
Ability to lead and influence teams in a dynamic environment.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex problems and articulate strategy to stakeholders.
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills to address challenges and optimize project outcomes.
Proven ability to coach and mentor team members on agile principles and practices.
Adaptability and flexibility to navigate changing project requirements and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Previous experience in the financial technology and AI applications.

Nice To Haves

Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), or equivalent Agile certification.
PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is also a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage cross-functional agile teams as a Scrum Master, ensuring adherence to agile methodologies and practices.
Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, to promote transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
Collaborate closely with Product Owners, stakeholders, and team members to define project scope, goals, and deliverables for finance technology and AI projects.
Track project milestones and deliverables, identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
Proactively identify and elevate issues to stakeholders in a timely manner.
Coach and mentor team members on agile principles and practices, fostering a culture of self-organization, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Remove impediments and shield the team from external distractions to ensure focus on sprint goals.
Support the Product Owner in maintaining a well-groomed and prioritized product backlog.
Ensure the team works collaboratively and efficiently to deliver high-quality products.
Communicate project status, risks, and issues to stakeholders and senior management, providing high-quality status reports.
Foster a culture of collaboration and transparency within the team and across stakeholders.
Track team progress and performance metrics, leveraging AI tools to support requirements elicitation, user story creation, and refinement.