Agile Coach

The role

We’re seeking an Agile Coach to join our team!  It’s an exciting time at N Brown and as part of this pivotal role, you’ll be instrumental in supporting our wider Enterprise Agile Transformation.  Comfortable with working at all levels of the Enterprise, your role will be to support the adoption of Agile principles and the ways of working described in our Enterprise Blueprint.  This also includes encouraging the conditions for cultural and behavioural change that enable our transformation, support delivery of the wider N Brown Strategy and most importantly, delivers the greatest value to our customers!

Ideal candidates for the role would typically be from a Scrum Master, Agile Delivery or Coaching background, with a proven experience in working in Agile teams, squads, or tribes. They will have experience in standing up teams that work in an agile way and be prepared to practically apply concepts that will allow our enterprise work in an agile way.

What will you do as an Agile Coach at N Brown?

Enterprise Agility specific

• Work at all levels of the Enterprise to support the adoption of Agile principles, stimulate the conditions that allow for cultural and behavioural change, and enable an Enterprise Agile Transformation that supports the wider N Brown Strategy.
• Mobilise and embed squads, tribes, chapters, and stakeholders in application of the Enterprise Blueprint and ways of working, using their specialist agile knowledge.
• Coach, mentor and support in application of the Enterprise Blueprint.
• Provide ongoing coaching and support to areas mobilised, creating coaching and improvement plans with the aim of iteratively building maturity in enterprise agility.
• Evolve existing Agile Enterprise Artefacts and Delivery Toolkits.
• Design, plan and execute plans to roll out agile ways of working across tribes and domains.
• Identify and proactively manage risks, dependencies or impediments that impact agile adoption.
• Create an environment that encourages continuous improvement and psychological safety.
• Enable continuous improvement within teams through teaching and leadership in transparency, balance, flow, leadership, customer focus and collaboration.
• Manage stakeholder expectations of Transformational change, its benefits, and its impacts to their areas.
• Coach and educate teams on how agile best practices lead to a more efficient and effective enterprise.

Role specific

• Facilitate training workshops ranging from technical to business practices.
• Act as a trusted advisor of process and discipline for business and software-delivery teams.
• Facilitate a variety of ceremonies, meetings and stand ups in order to coach and transfer best practice into teams and team members.
• Lead by example with personal discipline and continuous improvement
• Coach agile teams and stakeholders in various agile methodologies.
• Develop and establish agile standards and provide necessary training as required.
• Guide the team in using agile best practices to initiate software improvements and increase productivity.

What skills and experience will you have

• Degree or relevant experience.
• 3-5 years Scrum Master/Agile delivery experience
• 1+ Years Agile Coaching is desirable
• Agile team facilitation or agile coaching accreditation, for example, CSM, PSM, ICP-ATF, ICP-ACC, etc.
• Experience of Agile delivery methods and frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, etc.
• Passion and understanding of agile ways of working.
• Proven record of implementing agile techniques and ways of working in either business or technology teams.
• Experience of working with enterprise agile transformation programmes/ working with agile at scale.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to converse at all levels of the enterprise.
• Retail sector experience desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management skills at all levels. 
• Pragmatic, empathetic and people focused.

N Brown – who we are and why work for us?

At N Brown, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by ‘championing inclusion, we’ll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer’. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

We’re a forward-thinking digital retailer with a financial services proposition to be proud of. We’re customer-obsessed, serving them through three core brands: JD Williams, Simply Be, and Jacamo. We’re experienced, with over 160 years of trading under our belt. We’re inclusive, as we believe in fashion without boundaries; and we’re sustainable, striving to make as little impact on the planet as possible.

What’s in it for you?

• Hybrid working  
• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays) with the option to buy an additional 10 days
• Annual bonus scheme
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
• Access to Apricity, a self-funding IVF benefit at a reduced rate
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services
• A range of financial wellbeing support
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance
• Paid volunteer time – all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you’re in. For this role, the expectation would be 1 day per week. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we’re perfectly located, plus we’re surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!

Our working hours are 36.17 per week and our core working hours are between 10am - 4pm. Given we don’t have strict working hours you can find the working pattern that’s right for you.

Our promise to you:

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

What happens when you apply to a role at N Brown?

As soon as we receive your application, we’ll send you an email to let you know. We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us. Good luck!