Agile Coach for NOMS Digital Studio

Tender description

Summary of the work An exciting opportunity for talented, tenacious individuals looking to join our team and take lead in creating world-class services in the Prison and Probation environment. Conducting Service Discovery to identify and deliver high-quality, user-centred products that positively impact the lives of offenders, prison staff and society as a whole. Specialist role Agile coach Expected Contract Length 6 months minimum, up to 24 months Latest start date Early October 2016 Who Speclialist Work With We're building a team of around 70 experts in Web Development, Design and User Research. This is a brilliant opportunity to be part of a growing team from its nascent stage and play an active and continued role in the strategic development of both the team and the studio approaches. The Coach will work with everyone across the programme (specialist/non-specialist roles-including Studio Director and Heads of Delivery, User Experience and Technology) to ensure everyone is on board with the work/ethos/practices and equipped to work as a team to manage the programme in a consistent, effective and efficient way. What Specialists Work On The Digital Studio is planned to deliver, over the next 5 years, modern and mobile technology products quickly, responsively and flexibly. Our aim is to reduce reoffending by introducing products that reduce violence, self-harm and improve employability and offender-family relationships. This role includes - 1. Lead development of product/delivery practices. 2. Coach delivery teams in agile/lean delivery practices 3. Train/develop communities of Civil Servant product managers/delivery managers. 4. Help create an open/trust based environment, enabling a focus on delivery/facilitates continuous improvement 5. Equip staff with the ability to coach others Skills & Experience • deep understanding and direct experience of different agile and lean approaches in delivery teams • deep understanding of the importance of and direct experience of influencing supporting context, such as behaviours, governance, process and culture across: portfolio management, programme and project team approaches • evidence of embedding agile tools and techniques across multiple teams and be able to use the most relevant tools and techniques as needed • an excellent understanding of good digital service delivery design • broad experience of different industries, private and public, transactional digital services, redefining customer interaction and case studies of what good looks like • demonstrable experience of creating lasting change towards agile and lean ways of working for the better in an organisation long after you have left • proven ability to quickly assimilate organisational strategy and operating context • ability to work in environments that are undergoing complex change, working in an iterative manner, evolving conversations and understanding how far to challenge and when • excellent stakeholder management and proven ability to engage and influence all levels of seniority • Can submit a Skills and Experience Evidence Template in line with the deadline (available from and to be submitted to kiah_rose.sheppard@justice.gsi.gov.uk) Work Location Furnace Hill, Sheffield (main location) with some work at the Ministry of Justice offices in Petty France, London Working Arrangments Working on-site in Sheffield and London, with at least 3-4 days per week based in Sheffield for face to face engagement with the team. There is a £5000 limit on travel expenses. Expenses will only be covered for research trips and meetings outside of Sheffield. Travel between Sheffield and the Supplier's location will not be covered. Security Clearance basic clearance required No. of Specialists to Evaluate 5 Cultural Fit Criteria • We challenge the status quo: we aim to understand the reason behind ‘the way things have always been done’ to see if there is a better way to do things • We respect each other in our different opinions and are constructive in feedback • The unit of delivery is the team - we have no individual heroes, the stars are the teams as whole entities • We aren’t afraid of conflict: we surface tensions and conflict early, and address them promptly • We believe empowered teams deliver the best products: those who are doing the work should and do have the greatest understanding of the work - so ask the team! • We inspect and adapt regularly to continuously improve • Working product in the hands of users early and often • Products degrade quickly, so we regularly iterate and improvement our products ongoing • Collocating the people, skills and knowledge you need is the best way to deliver • Measure progress by what value you deliver • Keep focus on quality, making sure the whole team is aware of any debt taken on • Keep it simple and do less, whether that for features in the product or the way you are delivering • Everyone is responsible for quality Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 15% Price 25% Questions from Suppliers 1. Please can you confirm potential day rate budget? We are not currently in a position to confirm our day rate budget. We do have an overall indicative budget for the project and an idea of a breakdown per role, but we expect Suppliers to quote for an appropriate day rate without our guidance. 2. * SKILLS & EXPERIENCE TEMPLATE * 07/09/2016 - The Skills & Experience Template has been shared with Suppliers who have already registered interest via email, and is to be completed and returned in time for 9am Wednesday 14th September. Please note that for your candidate to be considered for this role, you must also register/apply on the online DOS portal in line with the automatic deadline of Midnight Tuesday 13th September. We cannot accept/review candidate templates from Suppliers who have not qualified on the portal. If you would like a copy of the template, please email kiah_rose.sheppard@justice.gsi.gov.uk 3. Background to Digital Studio and the Agile Coach role within it? The Digital Studio will work to deliver new digital services to support prison reform eg, helping improve safety in prisons, reducing violence, improving rehabilitation. This role will include building digital capability more broadly outside of existing services to extend and grow more services over the next five years. 4. What level of Agile experience is there currently? The Digital Studio itself is brand new, MoJ have 3 years of Agile journey. 5. Agile Coach role across the Studio? The role spans across multiple teams. The Agile Coach will serve the Studio as a whole. 6. Sole Agile Coach in Digital Studio? Initially, yes. Currently a small number of teams, with intention to grow this over time. We are not ruling out the possibility of another Agile Coach in the future. 7. Is this a full time role? Yes. 8. What kind of work history/environments are you looking for? The more different contexts the better. Ideally experience in GDS influenced government environment- beneficial but not required. Experience with working across multiple teams. Actual agile coaches – solid when it comes to practices and mind-set, scrum, ideally a good understanding of kanban. Background should include multiple different contexts to help teams.Scrum master or delivery manager/product manager/agile team member history is beneficial. History with being a part of an agile team. 9. All work built around GDS Principles? Yes. 10. Clarification around team structure? The intention is to start with one or two teams but to grow more. Not set in stone, roughly between 7-10 teams over a 5 year period. Portfolio management- already have 4 teams working in London. Digital Studio teams' work is part of overall portfolio.