Agile Project Manager

Job Summary

As an Agile Project Manager at AEON Bank, you will be responsible for driving the delivery of high-impact digital banking products and services using Agile methodologies. Your role will involve leading cross-functional teams, managing inter-team dependencies, and ensuring that the development of digital solutions is aligned with business goals. You will play a crucial part in driving the digital transformation of our bank, ensuring that we deliver innovative and customer-centric solutions while adhering to the regulatory, security, and compliance standards of the banking industry.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Execution:

• Define the scope, objectives, and deliverables of digital banking projects in collaboration with stakeholders, product owners, and technical teams.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of digital banking projects using Agile frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban.
• Develop and manage project timelines, milestones, and sprint schedules, ensuring on-time delivery.

Team Facilitation and Coaching:

• Act as the facilitator for Agile ceremonies such as daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Coach and mentor cross-functional teams in Agile practices, ensuring adherence to Scrum or other Agile frameworks.
• Foster a collaborative and transparent environment where teams are empowered to take ownership and make decisions.

Dependency Management:

• Identify, track, and manage dependencies between cross-functional teams, ensuring smooth collaboration and timely delivery of features.
• Work closely with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and team leads to resolve inter-team dependencies and prevent bottlenecks.
• Track and communicate the status of dependencies across teams, ensuring alignment and timely delivery.

Stakeholder Management:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders, product owners, and technical teams to align project goals with business objectives.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on project status, risks, and dependencies.
• Ensure stakeholders have visibility into key milestones, risks, and dependencies, and manage expectations effectively.

Risk and Issue Management:

• Identify potential risks and impediments to the successful delivery of digital banking projects, especially in relation to regulatory compliance, security, and customer experience.
• Proactively resolve issues, address blockers, and escalate risks that could impact timelines or quality.
• Mitigate risks associated with third-party integrations, technology changes, and compliance requirements.

Continuous Improvement:

• Champion continuous improvement and innovation by implementing Agile best practices and refining processes based on feedback from retrospectives.
• Drive the adoption of Agile methodologies across teams and functions, promoting a culture of collaboration and transparency.
• Encourage teams to deliver value incrementally and iteratively, focusing on customer needs and feedback.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting:

• Use metrics to track project performance, such as velocity, burn-down rates, and cycle times.
• Generate and deliver regular project reports to leadership, highlighting project progress, risks, blockers, and dependencies.
• Ensure that delivery timelines align with the bank’s overall goals and strategic priorities.
• Facilitate the OKR review and alignment process.

1. Collaboration with Other Teams:

• Facilitate inter-team collaboration and remove any obstacles preventing teams from meeting their objectives.
• Ensure that all teams work towards common goals while respecting each team’s responsibilities and constraints.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Experience:

• At least 3 years experience as an Agile Project Manager, Scrum Master, or similar role within a digital banking, fintech, or technology-driven environment.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams to deliver digital products in a regulated industry, particularly financial services or banking.
• Experience with managing dependencies across multiple Scrum teams, particularly in large-scale digital transformation initiatives.

Certifications:

• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), or equivalent Agile certifications.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) or similar project management certification is a plus.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, etc.) and best practices.
• Ability to manage dependencies, track progress, and remove blockers across multiple teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience with Agile tools such as Jira, Confluence, and other project management tools.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, particularly in the context of cross-team collaboration.
• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Agile at scale frameworks such as SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), LeSS, or Spotify model.
• Background in software development or IT operations, particularly in the context of banking or financial services.

Key Attributes:

• Customer-Focused: Understands the importance of user experience and customer needs in the digital banking space.
• Agile Champion: Passionate about driving Agile transformation and continuous improvement within teams.
• Detail-Oriented: Meticulous attention to detail, especially when managing dependencies, risks, and compliance requirements.
• Collaborative: Able to work across multiple teams and departments to deliver integrated digital banking solutions.
• Results-Driven: Focused on delivering high-quality, customer-centric digital products on time and within scope.

This Agile Project Manager role in a digital banking context requires a combination of technical understanding, Agile expertise, and strong communication skills, as well as an in-depth awareness of the unique regulatory and security challenges within the financial industry. The successful candidate will be instrumental in driving the bank's digital initiatives, ensuring they are delivered efficiently, securely, and in line with customer expectations.