Software Development Scrum Master

Ngozi Nmezi

P: 301-***-****

E: ad0dp7@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Certified Scrum Master with 8+ years of experience in servant leadership helping various co-located and distributed Agile teams focus on delivering success in complex environments. Adept at coaching, mentoring, and motivating teams toward full-buy in of Agile practices/delivery methods. Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills. Solid Agile mindset with professional experience as a policy advisor, stakeholder/relationship manager, risk manager, and in business development functions. Passionate about driving continuous improvement and operational optimization.

Specialties: Scrum, LeSS, SAFe, KanBan, Agile Methodologies/Best Practices, Lean Product Development, SDLC, PI Planning, Release Planning, Engineering Practices - ATDD, BDD, TDD, CICD; Impediment Identification & Resolution, Coaching & Training, Workflow Analysis, Leadership, Consulting, Project/Program Management, Performance & Process Improvement, Metrics/Trend Analysis & Reporting, Policy Analysis, Risk Management, External Affairs: Intergov. Affairs, Partnerships & Relationship Management.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Lead Scrum Master, Wells Fargo, Summit, NJ January 2022 - Present

Steering two multi-geo teams from Waterfall to Agile methodologies using best practices and delivery methods (LeSS, Scrum) to influence adaptation while leveraging the Wells Fargo Agile playbook to ensure alignment and adherence to Wells Fargo Agile practices. Coordinated Product Scrum of Scrums, including 14 geographically distributed teams across three requirement areas, to bolster inter-team coordination and keep a thumb on cross-team dependencies on Digital Onboarding Product. Serve as an Agile Champion/mentor conducting training to Scrum Masters, POs, and Delivery Teams, within and outside of product area, to drive teams towards the highest performance level. Manage the cycle of assessing and improving team’s processes and maturity.

Responsible for 100% improvement in transparency and full buy-in for Agile methodologies.

Brought Agile teams to stabilize 90% sprint predictability. Improved sprint churn limitations by 70%, keeping sprint churn below 20% consistently.

Lead agile events of 16+ team members: sprint planning, daily stand-up, backlog refinement, sprint review/demo, and retrospective to gain business knowledge, achieve Agile delivery success, and influence outcomes, i.e., stakeholder satisfaction, team satisfaction, and business value measurements; communicate relevant details in events to POs, Engineering Managers, Delivery Coordinators, Agile Coaches, and various stakeholders.

Utilize Tableau and Jira sprint metrics to promote effective information-backed decision-making and transparency.

Use experience in planning and estimating to accurately determine sprint scope based on team velocity and capabilities while partnering with the PO on prioritization and refinements.

Perform and share regular Agile team health, enabling teams to incorporate targets into continuous improvement goals. i.e., predictability, sprint churn, cycle time, lead time, burn-up/down chart, and velocity.

Ensure active engagement and appropriate inputs/outputs for all applicable planning &execution events, including measurable goals: consistency in events, defining escalation paths and the number of sprints planned.

Proactively address systemic impediments to team agility by identifying appropriate escalation paths and encouraging alternative solutions/problem solving – to prevent challenges from becoming blockers -- while delivering expected results. i.e., team formation and composition, dedication, maturity lead time, cycle time, and reduced defects.

Scrum Master, World Bank Group, Washington, DC. January 2015 – December 2021

Led 1-3 co-located and geographically distributed teams non-software development and software development teams using Agile best practices and delivery methods (Scrum, KanBan, SAFe) to ensure incremental release delivery on time and within budget. Serve as heart and soul of agile teams, keeping them enthusiastic and zeroed in on sprint goals/deliverables while guiding inter-team coordination, cross-team dependencies, and various stakeholder engagements. Facilitate problem-solving efforts amongst teams of software engineers, data analytics, testers, and UI/UX designers to support the inventive, functional, cost effect solutions to requirements while mitigating technical risk. Led support of digital products such as centralized Partner/Development Portal and internal digital systems AND data products such as metric insights and actionable analytics to drive decision making and business outcomes.

Exhibit an expert-level understanding of all SDLC elements, including planning, development, requirement management, testing, and release management.

Lead Scrum events: sprint planning, daily stand-up, backlog refinement/grooming, sprint review, and retrospective meetings.

Facilitated identification and removal of impediments; escalated to leadership as needed to achieve sprint goals/deliverables.

Utilize Jira; track and report team progress and improvement to management leveraging metrics such as sprint burndown charts, predictability, sprint churn, velocity, backlog health, WIP, and throughput.

Create Jira projects, dashboards, reports, user management, workflows, Confluence spaces for support issues.

Conduct Agile best practice training sessions regarding Scrum and other Agile delivery methods to drive teams toward highest performance level.

Assist Product Owner in writing user stories, breaking down epics and establishing acceptance criteria to ensure sprint readiness (DoR).

Support Product Owner and Development Team in maintaining Product Backlog and adequately facilitating transparency to reduce risks and mitigate loss.

Facilitated inspect and adapt meetings with organization leadership to better support Scrum methodologies

Utilized Scrum of Scrums (SOS) forum to coordinate with Scrum teams and manage cross-team dependencies.

Attended PI planning workshops and facilitated system demo, inspect and adapt workshops for future PIs and Release Management meetings.

Executive Director, Executive Office of the Mayor, Office on African Affairs, Washington, DC.

January 2011 – January 2015

Top advisor and project manager of the city's African Affairs portfolio, including external and intergovernmental affairs; strategic communications and partnerships; African diaspora affairs (policy analysis, advocacy, stakeholder outreach & engagement) and program and grant management. Responsible for translating Mayor’s legislative policy priorities into strategic plans and objectives that support digital inclusion, financial inclusion, business, health, workforce development, human rights, public safety, and language access of Washington, DC residents. Structured and managed a $500,000 grant program with the purpose of funding 20+ nonprofit organizations that served 18,000 residents. Managed, coached, and motivated staff of five. Managed office budget and operations.

Intergovernmental Affairs and Strategic Partnerships: acted as Mayor’s primary spokesperson on Africa, coordinated and managed relationships with over 150 local and federal government agencies, faith-based organizations, international organizations, congressional leaders, A frican Diplomatic Corps, embassy staffers, media, and partners to deepen impact and widen reach of office programs; advised city leadership on trends/metrics and effects of local and federal policy on city's vulnerable communities. Served as representative to African diplomatic community and played an essential role in high-level Sister City engagement with Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Projects & Initiatives: led over 70 initiatives and ad hoc projects, including public policy discussions, Africa trade and investment symposiums, Health and Wellness Campaigns, and a series of town hall meetings on Africa and diaspora-related policy issues.

Branding, Public Relations, Advertising and Strategic Communications: wrote Mayor's briefing documents and talking points; developed and managed strategic communications, media relations and advertising strategies for all festivals, social campaigns, special events and initiatives – led media coordination to increase OAA profile and visibility; overhauled OAA strategic communications, website and developed and implemented social media plan, modernized OAA bi-weekly newsletter, grew listserve membership by 150%.

Stakeholder/Public Engagement and Training: provided technical assistance to businesses and community-based organizations; provided one-on-one consulting with hundreds of government agencies, faith-based organizations, businesses, diaspora organizations, and nonprofits; conducted 25 cultural intelligence training sessions to city officials, including 60 District court judges and over 500 city police officers.

Risk Management Specialist/Liaison (Operational), Office of the Director, Department of General Services, Washington, D.C. December 2009 – January 2011

Served as primary liaison between the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Office of Risk Management (ORM). Provided legislative risk and insurance analysis to lead the identification and mitigation of DGS’ risk exposures due to accidental losses from general operations, property ownership, and employment. Overhauled Department's risk processes and procedures and led internal change management communications for Occupational Safety and Health, Emergency Response & Disaster Preparedness, Return to Work, and Unusual Incident/Accident Reporting policies.

Lead Proposal Coordinator/Partner Liaison, AECOM International Development, Government Contracts Services Administration/ Operations Department, Arlington, VA August 2009 – December 2009

Served as second in charge on proposal team, coordinating all aspects of AECOM new business proposals as handed down by African Development Bank, USAID, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and World Bank. Oversaw proposal development processes from kick-off through production and delivery. Co-managed supervision of the 25-member proposal teams (including partners and consultants). Developed proposal calendars and reinvented compliance matrixes to ensure deadlines were met and client requirements of each solicitation were fully satisfied. Monitored donor and government listings to maintain AECOM's lead tracker. Planned and facilitated capture strategy meetings.

Lead Contract Coordinator, The HSC Pediatric Center/Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc., Contracting & Business Development Department Washington, DC November 2005 – January 2009

Lead contract coordinator for DC Medicaid health plan that coordinates all aspects of physical, mental, behavioral, and developmental care and services for the city's disabled, marginalized pediatric populations. Managed contracts/procurement related to projects, services, and suppliers for health plan recipients, including working in lockstep with the IT department on projects surrounding the management and maintenance of the in-house system health plan database of over 1000 in-network providers. Managed negotiations, monitored approved contract terms, including deadlines, deliverables, key milestones, external communication, and follow-up to ensure fulfillment of contract terms.

External Affairs & Disaster Relief Contractor, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Rockville, MD September 2005 – November 2005

National Processing Service Center - Emergency Response Hotline for Hurricane Katrina. Served as a liaison between FEMA, victims of Hurricane Katrina, and donors. Facilitated donor registrations. Provided counseling and directed hundreds of disaster victims to local, state, and federal agencies for assistance.

Lead Researcher, National Institutes of Health, Edo State, Nigeria June 2004 – August 2004

One of ten out of nearly 150 candidates selected to conduct medical research as part of the Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT) program. Led a subgroup of three researchers. Utilized advanced research methods to assess and validate the medicinal value of 60+ plants indigenous to Edo State, Nigeria.

TOOLS & PROFICIENCIES

Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Project, and Visio; Jira, Confluence, Mural, Tableau, SharePoint

EDUCATION

Howard University, Washington, DC, Master of Public Health December 2007

College of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine

Howard University, Washington, DC, Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude May 2005

College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Biology

Honors: Dean’s list recipient 2001-2005

CERTIFICATIONS

CSM/PSM 1 - Certified Scrum Master/Professional Scrum Master

SAFe SASM - Certified SAFe® 5 Advanced Scrum Master

Certified LeSS Practitioner

Agile Coach Accredited Certification™

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