What does an agile coach do?
An Agile coach is primarily responsible for teaching employees about the management method in software development called Agile. Typically leading a team of developers, an Agile coach is also responsible for providing tools and written materials, assessing performances, providing feedback, responding to inquiries and concerns, promoting Agile principles, and developing optimization strategies. Furthermore, as a coach, it is essential to lead and encourage employees to reach all goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Agile coach responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real agile coach resumes:
- Utilize SQL procedures and triggers to validate and automate data migration.
- Manage and implement all facets of site development from initial design and architecture.
- Provide leadership and team level coaching on integration of technical practices, continuous integration and DevOps.
- Design and apply a Kanban board that facilitate an economic framework to prioritize large portfolio backlog items.
- Create dashboards, KANBAN boards.
- Work with sales team to assist with bidding on large projects (RFP and RFI).
- Orchestrate all training schedules, all interface developments and all EMR structures.
- Ensure team apply best practices in writing epics/features/user stories and acceptance criteria in JIRA.
- Provide regular guidance & expertise to leadership on staffing, change & portfolio management.
- Conduct an inventory of existing information systems to ensure they can properly connect with the EHR.
- Track and monitor status, work log, time recording, dependencies for issues and tasks in JIRA.
- Conduct an analysis of the facility's present EMR and develop an appropriate strategy for their implementation and go-live.
- Tailor plans to meet the size and requirements of the practice as well as the complexity of the EHR system.
- Communicate all key project plans, commitments, and changes including requirements, QA plans, schedule, and scope changes.
- Develop organizational fitness criteria for DevOps adoption.
Agile coach skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Agile Coaches are proficient in Kanban, Agile Transformation, and Jira. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Agile Coaches that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Kanban, 7%
Designed and applied a Kanban board that facilitated an economic framework to prioritize large portfolio backlog items.
- Agile Transformation, 6%
Developed and delivered team and organization training materials and workshops, building knowledge and skills to facilitate Agile transformation.
- Jira, 5%
Used JIRA and Rally for Product Backlog, Scrum Task Board, Sprint and Release planning.
- Metrics, 5%
Facilitated all Scrum ceremonies, provided recommendations on process improvement, promoted Agile principals, and generated metrics.
- DevOps, 4%
Consulted for a Fortune 100 company providing Agile and DevOps transformation for their Cloud division.
- Agile Principles, 4%
Ensured teams are practicing in core agile principles of collaboration, prioritization, team accountability and visibility.
Most agile coaches use their skills in "kanban," "agile transformation," and "jira" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential agile coach responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an agile coach to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "analysts must interpret complex information from various sources and decide the best way to move forward on a project." Agile coaches often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "tracked and monitored project performance - performance dashboard, metrics analysis, causal analysis, defects management. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform agile coach duties is communication skills. Agile coaches responsibilities require that "analysts work as a go-between with management and the it department and must explain complex issues in a way that both will understand." Agile coaches also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "designed a simple set of metrics and dashboard providing transparency of executed deliverables, consistent communication and facilitation of planning. "
Creativity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of agile coaches is creativity. This skill is critical to many everyday agile coach duties, as "because analysts are tasked with finding innovative solutions to computer problems, an ability to “think outside the box” is important." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "designed and implemented kanban board for creative teams. "
The three companies that hire the most agile coachs are:
- Highmark145 agile coaches jobs
- American Express102 agile coaches jobs
- Oracle88 agile coaches jobs
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Compare different agile coaches
Agile coach vs. Product owner
Product owners are at the forefront of an organization's development cycle. They have various duties and responsibilities, which include ensuring that the value of products created by the development team is maximized, creating a vision and defining the goals for development projects, and working closely with all stakeholders. As the product owner, you are responsible for ensuring that the development team maintains a consistent vision and overseeing the product backlog. You are also expected to supervise the actual product development stages and anticipate the needs of clients.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, agile coach responsibilities require skills like "agile transformation," "metrics," "devops," and "agile principles." Meanwhile a typical product owner has skills in areas such as "analytics," "product management," "product vision," and "agile scrum." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Product owners really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $108,319. Comparatively, agile coaches tend to make the most money in the energy industry with an average salary of $132,121.The education levels that product owners earn slightly differ from agile coaches. In particular, product owners are 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an agile coach. Additionally, they're 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Agile coach vs. Scrum master
A scrum master is a job that's rooted in leadership. It is the scrum master's responsibility to ensure a scrum process over the development of a project. They are not directly involved in the decision-making but guide the team in completing the scrum process with their experience and expertise. Also, a scrum master must be adept at being agile in approaching a project and also be able to schedule meetings during the process. In addition, the scrum master acts as a coach as well, helping the scrum teamwork cross-functionally.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real agile coach resumes. While agile coach responsibilities can utilize skills like "agile transformation," "metrics," "devops," and "scrum," scrum masters use skills like "agile scrum," "agile methodology," "digital transformation," and "excellent interpersonal."
Scrum masters may earn a lower salary than agile coaches, but scrum masters earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $110,550. On the other hand, agile coaches receive higher pay in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $132,121.In general, scrum masters achieve similar levels of education than agile coaches. They're 3.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Agile coach vs. Project manager/analyst
The primary job of project managers/analysts is to manage and develop new projects. They have varied duties and responsibilities, which include giving analytical support for projects, assisting in budget and financial analysis, and analyzing market trends, statistical data, and regulations relevant to the projects. Additionally, project managers/analysts are also expected to draft financial reports, work statements, and cost estimates and work to ensure customer satisfaction and retention. These professionals are also responsible for project scheduling, tracking fund receipts, and monitoring documentation.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an agile coach is likely to be skilled in "kanban," "agile transformation," "metrics," and "devops," while a typical project manager/analyst is skilled in "business analysis," "business process," "data analysis," and "data warehouse."
Project managers/analyst make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $109,701. On the other hand, agile coaches are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $132,121.project managers/analyst typically earn lower educational levels compared to agile coaches. Specifically, they're 5.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Agile coach vs. Senior analyst/project manager
A senior analyst project manager's main job is to track the milestones of their company's important projects. They also manage the clients' databases. They are responsible for distributing databases to the sales representatives. They also help in automating their company.
Types of agile coach
Updated January 8, 2025
