Scrum Master / Agile Coach

Tender description

Summary of the work DVLA requires a Scrum Master/Agile Coach to support the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) Reform Project with the delivery of a series of high-profile changes aimed at meeting the commitments outlined in the Summer '15 budget and facilitating a strategic shift away from legacy technologies. Specialist role Agile coach Expected Contract Length 4 months / 20 weeks (from 19th September 2016 to 3rd February 2017) Latest start date 19/09/2016 Maximum Day Rate £750 excluding Travel & Subsistence Who Speclialist Work With The successful candidate will be working within a product-centric environment utilising agile, and iterative development practices. There are currently 3 scrum teams (Business; Transform and MVP) supported by the following roles; • Product Owner/Business SMEs • Scrum Master • Business Analysts • Interaction Designers • Developers • Testers • Domain/Solution Architects • User researchers The Transform and MVP Workstreams both have blended Development / Dev Ops Teams. The Business Workstream is made up of various Subject Matter Experts from relevant Business Areas throughout the DVLA. What Specialists Work On The VED Reform Project is looking for a highly experienced Scrum Master / Agile Coach who will ensure: 1) the Agile Delivery Team adheres to the software engineering process whilst facilitating the removal blockers. 2)The Scrum Master / Agile Coach must have experience in scaling Agile across multiple workstreams, and have the ability to motivate and enhance the existing teams, whilst having experience of maintaining a cross Project view of risks and dependencies. 3)The Scrum Master / Agile coach will be required to guide, mentor and optimise the Agile teams and support the definition and structuring of future transformation initiatives. Skills & Experience • SC Clearance is a minimum requirement • Must have experience of multiple projects, delivering products and services in line with Government Digital Services (GDS) Digital by Default Service Standards and methods • Substantial experience delivering software with Agile methods • Experience using various techniques to focus plans and roadmaps on Business value • Will be from a technical background, being able to work closely with the technical team members to plan an appropriate approach • Must have experience in Government programmes, aligning multiple teams of differing agile maturity levels • Must have experience of working on Legacy transition projects / programmes • Must be available to be on site 5 days a week • Must be able to quickly embed and gather trust within the established teams to enable rapid improvements and an increased pace of delivery • Must have experience of scaling agile across multiple teams and locations, with dependencies on other programmes and external suppliers • Will have excellent experience of Coaching multiple teams in Agile ways of working • Good understanding of software development practices and agile software testing techniques (such as TDD, BDD, CI) • Certified Scrum Master or similar qualification • Experience in JIRA Agile tools for backlog tracking, burn-up/burn-down metrics, velocity etc. Nice to Haves • Experience working with sensitive data, ideally within Government • Knowledge of lean and XP techniques in relation to software development • Active involvement in Agile communities • Ideally worked with distributed teams • Has seen the transition from traditional Waterfall to Agile working, understanding both cultures Work Location DVLA, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 7JL Working Arrangments Onsite 5 days a week. 8 hours per day exclusive of lunch and travel. T&S charges only apply for staff that commutes over a 75 mile journey in each direction. This is based on the distance that would be reasonable to expect a person to commute to the principal location(s). T&S is only applicable at the following maximum rates (excluding VAT): i. For T&S including travel but no overnight stay: Suppliers plain day rate plus £45.00. ii. For T&S including overnight stay: Suppliers plain day rate plus £90.00. Security Clearance Individual must be SC Cleared No. of Specialists to Evaluate 10 Cultural Fit Criteria • Strong experience of working in teams, as a Scrum Master, Agile Coach or Development Manager • Demonstrable experience of leading transformation to agile practices or continuous improvements in newly established agile teams • Solid experience of working with Agile teams that develop large, high transaction services, ideally within Government • Demonstrable experience of raising issues and driving change • Proactive and passionate about learning new things and improving existing challenges • Ability to encourage efficient communication and continuous improvement Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 70% Cultural fit 10% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Is there any flexibility on start date? For the right person would you wait 1 or 2 weeks if they had a notice period? There is no flexibility on the start date on this occasion. 2. Our specialist is based more than 75 miles from Swansea. Is the £90/day T&S overnight allowance a fixed flat rate which is added to the "suppliers plain day rate"? Or do you need receipts submitted which will be reimbursed, up to a maximum of £90/day? The £90/day T&S allowance is a fixed flat rate for overnight stay. £45 can be claimed for resources based more than 75 miles away from Swansea, when commuting, with no overnight stay.No receipts are required. Time claimed back will be issued via invoices. 3. Is there any flexibility on days worked in the office, for example our specialist has previously worked for the DVLA and was working one day a week from home. Our specialist used to fly on a Monday and get in to the office for around 11am and work an extended day and through until Thursday and then Friday from home. Can you confirm if this would be acceptable? As per the 'Essential Skills,' the resource 'Must be available to be on site 5 days a week.' 4. In relation to T&S you have responded, "Time claimed back will be issued via invoices". Do you mean any T&S claimed back will be by the supplier invoicing DVLA. For example, if our specialist has 5 days overnight stays each week and is based more than 75 miles away, we would invoice £450+VAT for T&S each week. Regarding your T&S query, yes that would be correct. 5. I have a question in two parts regarding Security Clearance for this role. Our specialist holds Disclosure Scotland currently. Does our specialist (or indeed any specialist being put forward) need to be already security cleared as well. Or in the instance of our specialist, will DS suffice? As per the advert, the specialist would require SC Clearance and would require this, prior to on-boarding.