Scrum Master

Company: Maven
Location: Bolingbrook
Posted on: April 26, 2025

Job Description:

Title: Scrum Master

Increase your chances of an interview by reading the following overview of this role before making an application.

Location: Hybrid 3 days every other week (6 days a month) onsite in Bolingbrook, IL

Duration : 12 months to start



Job Overview:



They are looking to schedule interviews for next week.

For UBM their Scrum for the AdProduct and AdTech pods is moving to a PO role. Therefore, we need to fill the Scrum role.



Client Sizzle (Why might someone want to work here?)

We're engineering for the future of retail, and it's no-holds-barred. But for those motivated by continual change and ambiguity, by superior leadership, by smart colleagues who will press you daily for your very best, you'll find that virtually nothing's impossible at Ulta Beauty.



DISCUSSION Questions:



Tell me about how you plan for multiple sprints in advance. How far out do you typically plan, and what does that process look like?
Optional follow-ups:

How do you adjust plans if priorities change mid-PI?
What's your process for ensuring sprint goals stay aligned with business goals?

What to listen for:

Strategic planning over 2-3 sprints or a full Program Increment (PI)
Use of historical velocity to estimate team capacity
Flexibility to adapt based on team priorities or business shifts
Collaboration with Product Owners for roadmap alignment

Keywords/Buzzwords:

Sprint planning, backlog refinement, velocity, roadmap alignment, PI Planning, SAFe



How do you handle dependencies between teams or across projects?
Follow-up questions:

Can you give an example of a time when a dependency caused a delay? How did you handle it?
How do you ensure alignment between teams?

What to listen for:

Proactive dependency identification and resolution
Use of tools (e.g., JIRA, JIRA Align) for visibility
Stakeholder communication and risk mitigation
Collaborative mindset and structured problem-solving

Keywords to listen for: Dependency Management, JIRA, JIRA Align, Risk Mitigation, Cross-functional Teams



Tell me about a time you led a team through a tight deadline or a delivery crunch. How did you ensure success?
Follow-up questions:

What was your role in keeping the team focused?
How did you balance speed and quality?

What to listen for:

Leadership under pressure
Concrete steps taken to maintain morale, focus, and communication
Practical trade-offs made to hit MVPs or key dates
Focus on outcomes and accountability, not just ceremony

Keywords to listen for: MVP Delivery, Agile Execution, Timeboxing, Prioritization, Iterative Delivery



Qual Call Notes

Senior level hire (ideally 7-10+ years of experience)
Strong abilities in planning sprints for development teams. Knows how to prioritize with an emphasis on delivery.
Should be comfortable with SAFe but flexible based on team priorities and needs
Understands dependency management across multiple projects
Should be self-sufficient, knows how to lead teams, know how to transform, how to plan sprints
Familiarity with JIRA, at least basics. More advanced is very nice to have. Any experience with JIRA Align is a huge plus.
Someone who is able to be hands on with the development team from a planning and prioritization standpoint (not hands on from a development standpoint)
Quite a bit of dependency management across different projects, so communication and an ability to understand the broader context / ripple effects is key
Are they able to do quarterly planning?
To navigate Ulta landscape, candidates out of similar scale or larger corporations will be most successful. Candidates out of a start up may struggle.



We are looking for:

Senior-level Scrum Master (7-10+ years) who is delivery-focused, confident leading planning sessions, and comfortable with multiple project dependencies. This person needs to operate in a flexible SAFe environment, use JIRA effectively (JIRA Align is a plus), and bring experience from larger corporate settings. Strong communication, a results-driven mindset, and the ability to manage cross-functional complexity are musts. Local candidates preferred.



Profile:

7-10+ years as a Scrum Master in large enterprise settings
Local to Illinois - strong preference
Proven experience leading teams to delivery, not just facilitating ceremonies
Strong skills in sprint planning, backlog management, and cross-team coordination
Experienced with JIRA. Experience with JIRA Align is a huge plus
Ability to communicate clearly and directly - must answer questions with precision
Comfortable navigating matrixed environments and aligning with business priorities
Experience in retail, eCommerce, or similarly scaled orgs is a plus but not required



Not a Fit If:

More theory than execution
Can't clearly explain your process for sprint planning, delivery, and managing dependencies
Experience is primarily in startup environments or isolated teams
Lack hands-on experience with JIRA



Prep Notes / How Kyle (hiring manager) assesses candidates:

Direct, pointed questions around planning and delivery. Expects direct and succinct communication in return:
Wants to gauge how they manage various aspects of their role: How do you plan, how do you story point, how do you do ideal development days, how to plan at least 3 sprints, how do you deliver an MVP, how do you plan an MVP?
Looks for delivery and results oriented Scrum Masters (as opposed to philosophical answers around methodology). Champion the team, sure, but needs to really emphasize delivery. Purists vs. more hands on?
Looks for Scrum Masters who are proactive and direct. Drive delivery, drive ROI

Keywords: Maven, Elgin , Scrum Master, IT / Software / Systems , Bolingbrook, Illinois