Scrum Master IV

Title : Scrum Master  IV
Location : California
Long term contract
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Job Desription :
CNN PTD is rolling out a five-phase Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) framework designed to bring structure, shared language, and governance to how our organization moves product initiatives from problem identification through to release and outcome measurement.

The PDLC is nearly ready for adoption. The key challenge this short-term engagement addresses is operationalization. CNN PTD is a low-to-mid maturity product organization where cross-functional roles are understood in theory but inconsistently applied in practice, and frameworks are referenced but not reliably embedded in how teams make day-to-day decisions. A well-designed framework does not self-implement; the gap between understanding the pieces of the PDLC and using them to consistently make better decisions is a coaching gap.

The objective of this engagement is to close that gap: to support the active rollout of the PDLC, build fluency and shared understanding across product and cross-functional teams, and transfer the skills and tools needed to sustain the framework after the engagement ends.

As a PDLC/Agile Coach, you will drive the adoption of the PDLC and an Agile mindset through the CNN PDLC, Agile delivery knowledge, and ALM tools, while mentoring and coaching team members, Product Managers, and design/engineering leaders. You'll help to bring standard methodologies into the organization and partner closely with senior leadership to establish lean agile routines and product practices that transform the organization to run more efficiently and effectively at scale.

Responsibilities :
The engagement is structured in five phases. Specific week-by-week scheduling is subject to adjustment based on findings/interviews in the first two weeks.
Phase 1: Discovery and Orientation (Weeks 1–2)
Review all PDLC documentation: framework deck, transition guidance, gate governance, glossary, and companion artifacts/templates
Meet with key stakeholders: Product Ops lead, TPM leads, Product VPs, representative PMs and Design Leads
Attend active gate reviews (if happening) and team meetings as an observer
Identify pilot teams if needed and assess their current initiative status against the PDLC framework
Map adoption friction points, knowledge gaps, and rollout risks
Phase 2: Active Rollout Support (Weeks 3–8)
Attend and support gate reviews alongside Product Ops and TPM leads, transitioning from coach-led to ops-led over time
One-on-one coaching with PMs on problem framing, gate readiness, brief writing, and post-launch review
Facilitate cross-functional "what this means for your role" sessions for Design, Engineering, GQA, Data, and other functions covered in the PDLC RACI
Identify and address framework friction in real time; distinguish adoption gaps from framework gaps and flag the latter for Product Ops
Support TPMs in their Build and Validate phase ownership, with particular attention to gate facilitation and cross-team dependency management
Phase 3: Train the Trainers (Months 2–3)
Structured knowledge transfer sessions with Product Ops lead and TPM leads
Co-facilitation of gate reviews, progressing from coach-led to ops-led with coaching support
Development of facilitation guides for PTD Ops: how to run a gate review, manage a failed gate, process a waiver, and handle in-flight transitions
Development of a coaching guide for TPMs: how to support teams through Build and Validate, manage regression scenarios, and escalate appropriately
Development of an onboarding guide for new PMs joining the org post-rollout
Phase 4: Broader Adoption and Capability Building (Months 3–4)
Expand coaching support from pilot teams to broader PTD org
Address adoption patterns identified in Phase 2 at scale: common failure modes, cross-functional friction, gate interpretation gaps
Establish sustainable coaching rhythms and check-in cadences for Product Ops to own post-rolloff
Foundational capability-building (nice to have): Development and delivery of training materials covering Product Management fundamentals, Agile 101, and related foundational topics to raise baseline fluency across PTD.
Required Skills :
Activities:
Final handoff of all facilitation guides, training materials, and coaching frameworks to Product Ops
Knowledge transfer sessions with Product Ops and TPM leads
Engagement retrospective: what worked, what didn't, what gaps remain
Maturity assessment: where the org is at engagement close vs. engagement start
Recommendations for the next phase of PDLC maturity and ongoing capability investment
Must Have Skills / Requirements
Facilitation - Ability to lead productive meetings and workshops with diverse stakeholder groups
Communication - Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences; ability to communicate 1:1 in coaching scenarios
Adaptability - Comfort with ambiguity and ability to shift priorities based on engagement dynamics
Collaboration - Strong team player who builds relationships easily and contributes to collective success
Analytical Thinking/Problem-solving - Ability to break down problems, identify patterns, and develop approaches to solutions
Nice to Have Skills / Preferred Requirements
Coaching presence
Goal-setting
Empathy
Openness to learning – eagerness to learn new frameworks, tools, and approaches
Familiarity with AI tools and their application in product development workflows
Relevant certifications (preferred): ICAgile, Professional Scrum Master (PSM), SAFe Agilist, Professional Product Owner (PSPO)
Soft Skills:
Hands-on experience with agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SaFE) and product management practices
Demonstrated ability to translate Agile/product principles into business language, craft/facilitate workshops with multi-level audiences, and navigate organizational dynamics at the manager/director/executive levels
Experience establishing Agile governance models in complex organizations
Experience supporting design and execution of transformation strategies that reshape how organizations deliver work
Experience supporting organizations in adopting scaled agile/product frameworks and practices that optimize flow, minimize dependencies, and foster continuous improvement and outcome-focused delivery
Experience creating documentation including playbooks, training materials, and presentation decks to support adoption activities
Familiarity with AI tools and their potential application in product development workflows
Working knowledge of product operating models, value stream management, or lean portfolio management concepts
Experience facilitating team ceremonies, workshops, and training sessions
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments
Technology Requirements:
(Required) Familiarity & hands-on experience/expertise with Atlassian suite (JIRA, Confluence)
Familiarity with: Figma, Miro, MS Office