> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3166750-senior-data-platform-scrum-squad-lead-director](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3166750-senior-data-platform-scrum-squad-lead-director). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Senior Data Platform Scrum Squad Lead - Director

- **Company:** Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
- **Location:** London, UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Agile Methodology, JIRA, Data Governance, Data Infrastructure, Scrum Methodology, Software Engineering, Technical Data Management Systems, Information Technology, Data Analytics, Data Lakehouse, Databricks
- **Published:** September 8, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8998d129a2495898

## About the Role

Significant experience leading technical data platform delivery in large, complex enterprise environments, ideally in a senior squad lead, delivery lead, technical product owner or equivalent leadership role.
5+ years of hands-on Agile delivery leadership experience, including Scrum, Scrum of Scrums, backlog management, sprint delivery, dependency management and continuous improvement.
Proven ability to lead Scrum ceremonies effectively, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews and Retrospectives, ensuring they drive clarity, accountability and delivery progress.
Lead management of global stakeholders dependent on the data platform delivery in the EMEA region.
Ensures meetings are productive and time-boxed.
Ability to coach squad members and stakeholders on Agile principles, delivery discipline and pragmatic ways of working that support predictable, high-quality execution.
Helps the team improve continuously and adopt Agile mindsets.
Supports the team by removing obstacles and enabling progress.
Experience with using Atlassian JIRA
Understanding of Data Governance practises and subsequent requirements on IT delivery.
Strong senior stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with business, technology, governance and leadership audiences and influence delivery decisions across organisational boundaries.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
Demonstrable leadership capability, including motivating multidisciplinary teams, creating accountability, managing ambiguity and maintaining delivery focus under pressure.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, share ideas, and contribute to group discussions.
Attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work with a focus on accuracy and precision.
Proven ability to work independently on large scale projects while contributing effectively in a collaborative team environment.

Desirable

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Or equivalent.
Exposure to concepts like Data Lakehouse and Medallion Architecture, especially with Databricks as the underlying technology.
Capital markets, asset management, or corporate banking financial institutions.
Familiarity with data governance and compliance regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, DORA).
Knowledge of HR data and the sensitivities of how it should be managed and used across the enterprise.
Challenges
Exercise leadership judgement in escalating material risks to scope, timelines, budget, quality or regulatory commitments, ensuring senior management are engaged early with clear options and recommendations.
Proactively identify, unblock and escalate delivery impediments, enabling the squad to maintain momentum and helping team members focus on delivery commitments.
Demonstrable leadership capability, including motivating multidisciplinary teams, creating accountability, managing ambiguity and maintaining delivery focus under pressure.
Competencies
Customer Focus
Driving Change
Driving Results
Embraces Diversity
Enterprise Leadership
Judgement and Decision Making
Risk Management
Strategic and Visionary
Trust and Integrity
What we offer

## Description

SMBC are seeking a senior, highly experienced and delivery-focused Scrum Squad Lead to provide leadership across a multidisciplinary data platform delivery team within corporate and investment banking IT. This role will act as a senior delivery leader and technical product owner, accountable for shaping priorities, driving execution, enabling agile delivery discipline, and ensuring the squad delivers high-quality outcomes aligned to business, technology, regulatory and data governance objectives. The successful candidate will provide day-to-day leadership to architects, business analysts, engineers, testers, data modellers and governance stakeholders, while influencing senior stakeholders across ITSD, HR, business functions and the wider SMBC group.

Background and Organizational Context

The successful candidate will provide day-to-day leadership to architects, business analysts, engineers, testers, data modellers and governance stakeholders, while influencing senior stakeholders across ITSD, HR, business functions and the wider SMBC group.

Scale and Scope

Provide senior leadership for one or more Software Development Scrums comprising architects, business analysts, developers, testers, physical data modellers, data governance specialists and other delivery stakeholders.
Lead management of global stakeholders dependent on the data platform delivery in the EMEA region.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
Provide senior leadership for one or more Software Development Scrums comprising architects, business analysts, developers, testers, physical data modellers, data governance specialists and other delivery stakeholders.
Set clear delivery direction for the squad, ensuring objectives, scope, estimates, dependencies, risks and sprint progress are understood, actively managed and transparently communicated.
Own and lead product backlog management, working with senior stakeholders to agree priorities, manage trade-offs, and ensure the squad focuses on the highest-value outcomes.
Proactively identify, unblock and escalate delivery impediments, enabling the squad to maintain momentum and helping team members focus on delivery commitments.
Act as the senior point of coordination for stakeholder communications, using direct engagement, tailored reporting and JIRA dashboards to provide clear visibility of delivery progress, risks, decisions and outcomes.
Exercise leadership judgement in escalating material risks to scope, timelines, budget, quality or regulatory commitments, ensuring senior management are engaged early with clear options and recommendations.
Represent the squad within Scrum of Scrums and wider delivery governance forums, aligning plans, resolving cross-team dependencies and contributing to consistent delivery standards across Data & Analytics Platforms and business-aligned IT teams.
Provide trusted leadership support to the Head of Data & Analytics Technology for EMEA, escalating key issues with clear analysis, mitigation options and recommended decisions.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience


## Related Videos

- [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works)
- [PySpark - Combining Machine Learning & Big Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/44-pyspark-combining-machine-learning-big-data)
- [Fully Orchestrating Databricks from Airflow](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/336-fully-orchestrating-databricks-from-airflow)
- [GitOps for the people](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/461-gitops-for-the-people)
- [Modern Data Architectures need Software Engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1030-modern-data-architectures-need-software-engineering)
- [How Data is Shaping our Games](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/176-how-data-is-shaping-our-games)

## Related Articles

- [Data Analyst Salary in the UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/278-data-analyst-salary-in-the-uk)
- [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk)
- [Best Companies to work for in London: Top 25 Companies in 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/187-best-companies-to-work-for-in-london-top-25-companies-in-2023)
- [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer)
- [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again)
- [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production)