Job Description

Role: Scrum Master (Level 3)

Location: Hereford (onsite)

Salary: 65k - 75k p/a

Thorn SDS is a niche Managed Service Provider with a Head Office based in Alton, Hampshire, who are committed to enabling technology organisations and professionals to thrive within the Space, Defence and Security sectors. We are currently looking for an experienced

Scrum Master

to work onsite, 5 days per week, at a secure site in

Hereford.

About the Role

As Scrum Master 3, you'll serve multiple teams or large-scale Agile programmes, guiding complex development cycles while navigating the constraints of secure environments. You will also coach teams and stakeholders in Agile maturity, support scaled Agile frameworks (e.g. SAFe), and act as a key liaison between delivery teams and programme leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Facilitate Scrum ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, Retrospectives) across one or more agile teams. Lead Agile delivery in a secure or classified defence environment with regulatory and operational constraints. Remove delivery blockers and actively manage team risks, dependencies, and cross-team coordination. Support backlog grooming, sprint planning, and estimation processes in collaboration with Product Owners and stakeholders. Champion Agile best practices, continuous improvement, and DevSecOps principles within the programme. Coach team members and stakeholders on Agile values, principles, and frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe). Support reporting and communication with programme managers, technical leads, and MoD clients. Use Agile tooling (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps, Rally) to track team performance and generate actionable metrics. Ensure compliance with defence standards, including documentation, configuration control, and audit readiness. Contribute to the wider Agile community of practice and mentoring of junior Scrum Masters or Delivery Leads.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Proven experience as a Scrum Master at senior level (typically 5+ years in Agile delivery roles). Experience delivering Agile projects in defence, government, aerospace, or other high-assurance domains. Deep understanding of Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) and scaling methods. Strong facilitation, communication, and conflict resolution skills in a multi-stakeholder environment. Familiarity with secure software development, CI/CD pipelines, or DevSecOps principles. Experience with Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps, or equivalent Agile tools.

Desirable Skills

Certifications: Certified Scrum Professional (CSP-SM), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), SAFe Scrum Master (SSM), or equivalent. Experience working in classified or air-gapped environments. Familiarity with UK MOD delivery frameworks (e.g., JSP 604, JSP 655, G-Cloud, Defence Digital Agile Delivery). Knowledge of systems engineering lifecycle or hybrid (Agile/Waterfall) delivery in regulated environments. Strong stakeholder management experience across military, civilian, and industry interfaces.

What We Offer

Competitive salary based on experience and clearance level. Opportunities to work on nationally significant defence platforms and systems. 25 days Annual Leave (plus Bank Holidays) Employer Pension Contributions Group Life Insurance Dental Cashback Plan Health Cashback Plan Wellbeing Services (includes GP, Physio and Savings Benefits) Thorn Wellbeing Support Contribution Cycle to Work Scheme Supported Training & Personal Development Opportunities

Apply

If you have the expertise to support

this requirement

and are eager to make an impact in a critical role, please apply today!

All applicants must hold the

Right to Work in the UK

and already possess, or be eligible to obtain, a high level of

National Security Clearance

.

Due to the nature of our business, your nationality, previous nationalities, and country of birth may influence the types of roles for which you are eligible. For more details, visit the GOV.UK website

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 65,000.00-75,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: SMHRF154