Scrum Master

About Zinkworks

Zinkworks partners with leading Telecommunications and Financial Services organizations to modernize legacy systems, migrate mission-critical platforms to the cloud, and engineer AI-driven automation. From OSS transformation to rApp development and network intelligence, our teams simplify complexity and turn it into competitive advantage. Based in Ireland and operating across the EU, UK, and US, Zinkworks combines deep domain expertise with delivery excellence to help clients modernize faster and operate smarter.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Scrum Master to help our agile teams, working directly with clients in telecoms and financial services, achieve better business outcomes. This role is about improving the delivery system and the team, not managing delivery through it. You build trust quickly with teams, Product Owners and clients, and you are comfortable challenging the status quo when it gets in the way of good outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Primary Responsibility

Enable the Scrum Team and surrounding organisation to consistently deliver small, valuable, Done increments each Sprint by improving team practices, engineering flow, backlog quality, collaboration and the organisational conditions needed to make that possible.

Supporting Responsibilities

• Coach self-management: Help teams take ownership of their planning, commitments and ways of working, so they depend less on the Scrum Master over time.
• Improve flow: Make work visible, limit WIP, help slice Product Backlog Items smaller, and reduce carryover and long-lived items.
• Strengthen the Definition of Done: Work with the team to build quality and testing into the sprint, so work is genuinely Done and defects are found early rather than late.
• Reduce hand-offs: Grow cross-functional skills and collaboration so work does not queue between specialists.
• Remove systemic impediments: Look beyond day-to-day blockers to their recurring causes, and work with leadership to address organisational constraints teams cannot resolve alone.
• Make Scrum events effective: Ensure Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review and Retrospective happen consistently and are used to inspect and adapt, not as status meetings.
• Coach Product Owners: Help Product Owners set clear Sprint Goals, keep a well-ordered Product Backlog and focus decisions on value.
• Partner with clients: Work closely with client stakeholders to build transparency, use Sprint Reviews to gather feedback and align on outcomes.

Measuring Success

The real measure of success is whether the team becomes better at delivering usable value frequently and predictably. Running the Scrum events is a baseline, not the measure. Progress is shown by:

• Sprint Goal achievement: Sprint Goals are met more consistently.
• Work reaching Done: More work meets the Definition of Done within the sprint.
• Lower carryover and WIP: Fewer items roll over between sprints and fewer long-lived PBIs.
• Fewer late defects: Testing happens within the sprint, so fewer defects are found late.
• Stronger predictability: Teams forecast reliably and clients can plan with confidence.

Team Support Model

Capacity is based on team maturity, not a fixed number of teams, and is reviewed as teams mature:

• New or less mature teams: Dedicated Scrum Master support to build good practice and flow.
• Mature, self-managing teams: May share a Scrum Master, focused on coaching and systemic improvement.

Skills & Requirements

Essential

• 5+ years as a Scrum Master in software delivery ■
• Track record of measurably improving team outcomes such as predictability, flow and quality Experience coaching teams towards self-management, including supporting more than one team
• Proven client-facing experience with senior stakeholders
• Strong facilitation, coaching and conflict-resolution skills
• Confident influencing leadership and addressing organisational constraints
• Practical knowledge of flow practices and metrics such as WIP limits and cycle time
• Hands-on with Jira and Confluence
• Familiarity with CI/CD and DevOps
• PSM I/II, CSM or SAFe Scrum Master certification

Desirable

• Financial services experience
• Scaled agile experience: SAFe or Scrum of Scrums
• Experience mentoring agile practitioners

Inclusion & Diversity at Zinkworks

At Zinkworks, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We believe that our strength lies in the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our team members. By embracing an inclusive environment, we empower innovation and collaboration across all levels of our organisation. Based in Ireland, we are proud to support and engage with our local communities through meaningful initiatives that promote equity and opportunity. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, as we actively contribute to creating a more inclusive and connected society for all.