Agile Coach - Banking Transformation Programme - In Leeds UK

The Agile Coach will play a pivotal role in enabling large-scale digital and regulatory transformation within the bank. The role focuses on embedding Agile principles across cross-functional teams - including Payments, Lending, Compliance, and Data domains - to enhance delivery predictability, stakeholder collaboration, and regulatory alignment.

You will coach teams, Product Owners, and senior leaders to evolve from traditional delivery to scaled Agile models, ensuring adherence to industry standards, security controls, and governance frameworks typical in the financial sector.

Key Responsibilities:

Agile Coaching & Mentorship:

Coach multiple Scrum and Kanban teams on Agile practices tailored to banking programme structures (Core Banking, Payments, Risk, and Compliance).

Support team setup, sprint ceremonies, backlog refinement, and release planning.

Scaled Agile Delivery:

Lead adoption of SAFe / LeSS / Spotify models within banking portfolios.

Align Agile delivery cadence with governance checkpoints such as Regulatory Compliance, Audit, and Risk Reviews.

Transformation Enablement:

Partner with Programme Directors and PMOs to embed Agile ways of working within existing Waterfall or hybrid governance frameworks.

Drive Agile maturity assessment, roadmap, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

Work closely with Product Owners, Business Analysts, QA, and Technology Leads to ensure value-driven delivery.

Facilitate alignment between business goals, regulatory outcomes, and technology releases.

Leadership Enablement & Training:

Conduct workshops for senior management, delivery teams, and stakeholders on Agile mindset, metrics, and roles.

Mentor Scrum Masters and new Agile Coaches.

Governance & Compliance Integration:

Ensure Agile practices respect FCA, GDPR, and internal audit controls.

Align sprint deliverables with release governance, security sign-offs, and change-control processes.

Reporting & Metrics

Do you have experience in Scrum?, Experience: 8-12 Years (including 5+ years as Agile Coach in Banking/Financial Services), 8+ years in IT / Change Delivery with 3+ years as an Agile Coach in Banking or Financial Services.

Strong experience implementing Agile in regulated environments.

Proven ability to manage Agile transformation across multiple squads or tribes.

Deep understanding of Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, and Lean principles.

Experience facilitating cross-team ceremonies (PI Planning, System Demos, Inspect & Adapt).

Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and conflict-resolution skills.

Hands-on with JIRA / Confluence / Azure DevOps toolsets.

Desirable:

Certifications: ICP-ACC, SAFe SPC / SASM, PSM II / CSM, Lean Six Sigma.

Experience with Digital Banking, Core Banking modernisation, Open Banking APIs, or Data Governance initiatives.

Knowledge of Risk, Audit, and Regulatory frameworks (e.g., PRA, FCA, Basel).