Agile Coach (For Independent Contractors)

Details

An Agile Coach works with Product and Engineering structures to ensure they are focused on the effective delivery of working software. Agile Coaches work with a variety of roles across multiple, cross-functional teams to shape high-performing teams that deliver high value to the business by guiding teams to think customer first. They focus on continuous improvement and work at all levels to identify improvements, guide stakeholders and teams, and create a culture of psychological safety.

Agile Coaches are deployed into an area focusing on a business objective and work with stakeholders and teams to determine where they can best add the most value. They may work on large-scale programmes alongside Technical Programme Managers. Agile Coaches have experience in an Engineering, Product, or Design background, enabling them to draw on a broad range of experiences when working with Engineering teams.

Responsibilities

Work With Teams to Deliver Working Software

• Work with Product and Engineering structures to ensure effective delivery of working software by helping teams break down work, think about the customer first, identify the value to achieve, and determine how work can be delivered effectively.
• Work with Product and Engineering teams to establish a culture of continuous improvement through regular review, learning, and implementation of effective change.
• Solve problems related to the delivery of working software, remove blockers, and reduce dependencies by bringing subject matter experts together to agree on suitable outcomes.
• Influence Product teams to focus on effective delivery metrics, ideally working software, by helping teams understand their delivery data and use it to measure success effectively.
• Influence individuals and teams in the continuous delivery of working software, drawing on delivery function principles.

Influencing Behavioral Change

• Influence Product teams to continually learn and adapt by creating a culture where teams are open to trying new approaches to delivering working software.
• Influence teams to obtain early feedback by delivering working software in a single batch.
• Evolve team culture toward continuous improvement by highlighting problems and enabling teams to solve them.
• Create a sustainable pace by improving team planning and continuous delivery practices.
• Instill a continuous improvement mindset by coaching and teaching teams tools and techniques to evolve their ways of working.

Continuous Improvement

• Work at all levels to identify improvements by understanding the current situation, articulating it clearly, and defining the direction for improvement.
• Achieve a target condition by recognizing the current state, desired state, and steps required to reach it.
• Act on decisions, take ownership, and lead by example.

Culture of Psychological Safety

• Enable teams to freely present ideas and thoughts by promoting openness and healthy conflict.
• Identify and adopt long-term sustainable solutions using techniques such as root cause analysis and the 5 Whys.

Stakeholder Management

• Identify key stakeholders for a project, plan, or decision by understanding how organizational areas and people are affected.
• Create stakeholder buy-in through effective communication, providing information, and addressing needs and concerns.
• Analyze the impact of project-related change on stakeholders and design a change management approach using change management principles and communication strategies.

Influencing and Negotiating

• Build commitment and obtain support for initiatives using emotional intelligence, persuasive communication, and stakeholder alignment.
• Work toward win-win outcomes by understanding and responding to the needs and motives of others during negotiations.

Consulting, Advising, Coaching, and Mentoring

• Provide advisory services and solutions to relevant areas of the organization by combining an understanding of challenges and needs with problem-solving and effective communication.
• Use experience and knowledge to coach or guide stakeholders at all levels, improving their overall performance by sharing experience and approaches to work.

Requirements

• Full understanding of Agile principles.
• Knowledge of different Agile methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban.
• Knowledge of the software delivery lifecycle, including continuous delivery and walking skeletons.
• Relevant background in an Engineering or Product role.

Engagement Details

• Independent contractor position.
• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Duration: 3 months, from October 26, 2026, to January 25, 2027.
• Working hours: 40 hours per week.
• Pay rate: €45–€94 per hour.