Team Coach - Agile Coach/Scrum Master

New York, United States | Hybrid Role

Why Join Guardian Life?

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is a premier mutual insurance company with a rich 160+ year history of protecting and empowering American families. Our Digital and Technology (D&T) organization is at the forefront of a transformative journey, driving business growth through innovative product operating models and agile methodologies. As a Team Coach - Agile Coach/Scrum Master, you'll play a pivotal role in fostering continuous improvement, collaborative problem-solving, and high-performance teams that deliver customer-centric outcomes.

Join a collaborative culture where your expertise in Agile coaching, Scrum mastery, and product delivery will make a tangible impact. At Guardian, we offer flexibility with three days a week in our offices in New York, NY; Holmdel, NJ; or Bethlehem, PA. Enjoy competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth in a supportive environment committed to your success.

Role Description

The Team Coach will guide the adoption and execution of our product operating model, establishing team best practices, facilitating ceremonies, and providing training and mentoring. You'll drive agile maturity across cross-functional product teams, ensuring alignment with product vision, customer objectives, and enterprise priorities. As a change agent, you'll leverage coaching methodologies to accelerate delivery, manage dependencies, and promote a culture of measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

This hybrid role reports to the Agile Center of Excellence and collaborates with Product Owners, engineering teams, and stakeholders to build high-performing squads in a scaled agile environment.

Detailed Responsibilities

Core Coaching & Facilitation

• Coach product teams on agile practices (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) to drive delivery discipline, predictability, and 1:1 role-based coaching for Product Owners and team members.
• Leverage coaching methodologies to enhance cross-functional collaboration, accelerate delivery cadence, and achieve OKR-aligned outcomes.
• Facilitate team ceremonies including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives, and reviews for optimal alignment and dependency management.

Performance & Alignment

• Coordinate cross-team interactions, escalate blockers to leadership, and foster performance improvements through inspection and experimentation.
• Define, develop, and track team OKRs with dashboards, ensuring strategic alignment to enterprise and value stream priorities.
• Guide teams on flow and outcome metrics to inform improvements without unhealthy behaviors; create tailored coaching plans.

Strategic Partnership

• Contribute to the Center of Excellence by evolving standards, best practices, and the operating model.
• Partner with Product Owners to build prioritized backlogs aligned with product strategy.
• Support stakeholder needs, maintain goal alignment, and connect team work to broader OKRs.

Required Skills

Excel as an Agile Coach/Scrum Master with these essential skills:

• Expertise in agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe)
• Strong facilitation and coaching techniques
• Proficiency in agile tools like Jira and SPM
• OKR development and outcome-based tracking
• Software development lifecycle knowledge
• Test automation, CI/CD, and DevOps familiarity
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Cross-team dependency management

Education & Experience

• 3-7 years in Scrum Master/Agile Coach roles, coaching multiple teams in scaled environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or related field preferred; certifications like CSM, CSPO, SAFe Agilist highly valued.
• Proven track record in agile transformation, product platforms, and driving team maturity.

Compensation Overview

Salary Range: $95,170 - $156,355 annually (base pay for primary New York location). Total compensation determined by education, experience, knowledge, and abilities. Eligible for annual incentives, sales bonuses, or other performance-based pay.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match and pension plan
• Generous PTO, parental leave, and flexible work arrangements
• Professional development, leadership training, and tuition reimbursement
• Philanthropic opportunities and employee resource groups
• Wellness programs, gym discounts, and mental health support
• Hybrid work model with modern office spaces

Our Promise: At Guardian, you'll thrive with support for professional and personal goals. Build communities, grow your career, and contribute to meaningful impact. Apply today to shape the future of insurance technology!