Recent technological advances have made it easier for recruiters to contact prospective Agile project managers (PM). However, picking the right Agile PM for your team is still an uphill battle, thanks to the global talent shortage and other market factors.
Choosing an Agile PM is especially challenging in highly competitive niches like app and web development. You need to have at least a passing knowledge of the relevant technologies and the ability to determine whether a prospective hire has what it takes to lead a team. What’s more, you have to compete for the best Agile PM talent against leading-edge companies with global name recognition and influence.
Daunted? 😱 We don’t blame you — the idea of competing with giants like Facebook and Google is incredibly intimidating.
Luckily, there’s an easy way to source, hire, and onboard skilled Agile project managers for your company: by writing a clear and comprehensive Agile project management job description (JD).
In this guide, we’ll give you everything you need to write the best Agile project management job description, including:
- An Agile project management job description example.
- A guide on how to write a job description from scratch.
- Tips for getting Agile project managers to apply to your job.
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Sample Agile Project Management Job Description Template
To start, here’s our sample Agile PM job description template. Feel free to edit and copy as needed.
Remote Agile Project Manager — CYBERnet Inc. About Us CYBERnet Inc. is a Boston-based software development company that has clients around the world. Our vision is to provide client-centric solutions for building software and doing business. Learn more about us on our website, www.cybernetinc.io. What's You'll Do As a remote Agile project manager, you'll contribute to every step of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), including defining problems, creating solutions, and developing final solutions. Besides managing product and project risks, you'll also be managing team communication through the Scrum Master. This role is open to remote Agile project managers in the following time zones: • Pacific Standard Time (PST) • Eastern Standard Time (EST) • Central Standard Time (CST) • Mountain Standard Time (MST) Responsibilities • Develop and cultivate strategic, long-term client relationships • Proactively spot and drive opportunities to simplify workflows • Drive client engagement, sales, and delivery • Manage teams, advise clients, and push projects forward • Helps team establish and maintain client relationships • Execute projects by identifying key business issues, determining client needs, and developing client recommendations • Participate in the creation and presentation of client presentations to C-level executives • Mentor development team and other leads • Act as coach and mentor to junior staff Must-Have Qualifications • 5+ years leading Kanban-based Agile environments with frequent software releases • 3+ years working with teams to identify and implement solutions for a variety of IT applications, including backend and UI/UX development • Experience defining and managing KPIs • Proven track record of working collaboratively with different project stakeholders, including technical and business teams • Strong mentorship skills • Highly self-motivated • Flexible management approach depending on the needs of particular projects and clients Nice-to-Have Qualifications • Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science — Finance, HR, and Business preferred • Agile or Scrum certification • Experience with project management tools like Smartsheet, Asana, ProofHub, and Wrike • Experience working in a fully remote environment Compensation and Benefits • Competitive base salary of $90,000–$110,000 depending on experience • Bonus pay • Paid parental leave • Four weeks of paid vacation • Dental and medical insurance • Paid self-development courses Schedule • 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM EST • Monday to Friday
Keep in mind that this is only one way to write an Agile project management job description. Depending on your company and what kind of Agile project manager you’re looking for, you may have fewer or more sections.
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How to Write an Agile Project Management Job Description
Now that you know what a good Agile project management JD looks like, let’s talk about how to write each section.
Before we begin, remember that you don’t necessarily have to follow the order of sections outlined below. For instance, if you’re hiring for a well-known company like Spotify or Google, you don’t need to begin with a company description.
Although we suggest including all of the sections below, you can skip some if you’re running short on space (and time). However, you should include the following at a minimum:
- Job title
- Company description
- Agile PM responsibilities
- Required skills and experience
- Compensation and benefits
- Working time and location
1. Job title
The job title is the first thing that candidates see. As such, you need to get it right.
Many companies are tempted to use creative, non-traditional job titles like “Rockstar Agile Project Manager” and “Badass Agile Team Lead.” While these titles are fun and eye-catching, they’re likely to confuse candidates and deter them from applying.
They’re also potentially discriminatory. A 2011 study titled “Evidence That Gendered Wording Job Advertisements Exists and Sustains Gender Inequality” determined that the presence of masculine words like “badass” and “rockstar” discouraged women from applying for positions. The study also found that masculine wording in job ads led to a lower level of anticipated belongingness in women.
Instead, use clear and specific job titles that everyone can understand. Add essentials such as:
- Seniority level (e.g., junior or senior)
- Location (e.g., on-site, remote, or hybrid)
- Company name (many companies add the company name after the job title, like we did in the sample)
Here’s what a good job title looks like:
Senior Remote Agile Project Manager — Arc.dev
Read More: How to Find & Recruit Software Engineering Talent
2. Company description
Next, you need to write a concise company description that tells candidates who they’ll be working for. Don’t include your company history here — just write three or four sentences about the following:
- Your company’s industry
- Your company’s products and services
- Your company culture, mission, and values
Your goal is to get applicants to read the rest of the job ad. As such, you need to talk about what makes your company unique. For example, if your company offers paid self-development courses and has won multiple awards for diversity and inclusion, mention it in your company description.
Here’s an awesome company description from TEKsystems via LinkedIn:
About TEKsystems We're partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services, and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That's the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
3. Role description
After you’ve written a concise company description, you need to tell job seekers what the job requires.
Remember to cover the following:
- The core responsibilities of the position: You don’t need to include all or even most of the responsibilities here. Instead, just write two to five sentences about what the hire will be responsible for.
- Expected experience and expertise: As above, you don’t need to list out all or even most of the required skills and experience. Just highlight the most important ones, such as Agile experience, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Here’s a compelling job description role summary from The Mom Project via LinkedIn:
We are seeking an Agile Project Manager on a contract basis to provide hands-on advanced project management and support for multiple projects across numerous functional and technical units within the Firm, utilizing ITS and PMO standard tools, processes and methods. This role is expected to work effectively in a fluid, fast-paced environment, employing strong relationship management, advisory skills, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills. • This role will be remote while COVID restrictions are in place. If asked to visit the office, you are required to be fully vaccinated according to the CDC guidelines and provide proof of vaccination**
Read More: How to Implement a Welcoming Software Developer Onboarding Process
4. Responsibilities
Now it’s time to create a detailed yet concise bulleted list of Agile roles and responsibilities. Mention any duties that are unique to your company. This will give applicants a better understanding of the company culture and whether they’re qualified.
Typical responsibilities and roles in Agile methodology include:
- Scheduling, managing, and coordinating all aspects of projects
- Compiling historical data and presenting it to team members
- Presenting status reports of projects to management
- Conducting training sessions for team members and explaining how Agile works
- Promoting team empowerment by ensuring that every member is fully engaged
- Developing and implementing agile projects
- Assisting team development by removing roadblocks to success and utilizing company resources to improve capacity for quality work
- Maintaining software and operating systems for project management
Check out a great example from EMPLOYERS’ Agile PM job ad via LinkedIn:
Essential Duties/Responsibilities • Project/Product Management - Effectively mobilize project teams from basic objective information. Define project scope and schedule while focusing on regular and timely delivery of value; create and facilitate executive tollgates to align strategic objectives with agile team product release plans, organize and lead project status and working meetings; prepare and distribute progress reports; manage risks and issues; correct deviations from plans; and perform delivery planning for assigned projects • Scrum Master - be the servant-leader for the team to ensure the team lives the agile values and principles and follows the processes and practices the team has agreed to utilize. Be the team coach and facilitator to remove blockers for effective product releases. Build effective relationships with resource managers to optimize team member participation. • Resource Management - Plan and manage the team structure and resource allocation plan, forecast, and actuals to support the delivery of assigned work. Lead resource managers, PMO process coordinator, and program managers to identify and resolve staffing issues. • Procurement - Manage the project financial plan and facilitate the purchases and acquisitions between vendor relationship managers and procurement, and ensure procurement policies and processes are utilized. Provide expertise and guidance and recommendations to ensure accurate financial treatment of purchases. • Vendor Management - Plan and manage vendor activities to support project and agile product delivery and effectively manage vendor relationship issues. • Continuous Improvement - Contributes to and leads department process and tool improvements.
Notice how EMPLOYERS separated the essential duties and responsibilities into broader categories, such as “Project/Product Management,” “Scrum Master,” and “Vendor Management.” This makes it easier for applicants to understand what’s required of them at first glance.
5. Required skills and experience
Next, create a bulleted list of Agile skills and experience that candidates are required to have.
Most companies require their Agile project managers to have the following PM skills and experience:
- Effective communication skills: Like all project managers, Agile project managers are constantly communicating. As such, they need excellent communication and interpersonal skills to successfully lead and manage projects to completion.
- Scheduling and time management skills: Scheduling is a vital aspect of project management. Ideally, your Agile project manager should be able to juggle multiple projects and schedules at the same time. They should also be able to anticipate roadblocks before they happen.
- Negotiation skills: From engaging suppliers and managing resources to dealing with team conflict and reporting to management, leading projects means being constantly involved in negotiations. A skilled Agile project manager is a skilled negotiator who has the patience, ability, and empathy to keep all parties content and working towards a unified goal.
- Strong SDLC and project delivery management skills: Agile project managers should have ample experience managing the SDLC and project delivery process for programs and projects that range in budget, scope, and team size.
- Teamwork skills: Besides being able to lead and mentor team members, Agile project managers need to know how to work with leadership across your company.
- Experience with project management tools: Agile project managers should also know how to use your company’s project management tools. Common examples include Asana, Microsoft Project Professional, Microsoft Team, and Microsoft Sharepoint.
Be reasonable when writing this section. Although you should be as specific as possible, don’t include years of experience or skills that aren’t needed for the role. For example, if your role only requires five years of experience in Agile IT project management, don’t write “at least seven years of experience.” Similarly, don’t include certifications and degrees if the position doesn’t require them.
Here’s an example from Deloitte’s Agile project manager job ad via LinkedIn:
Qualifications Required: • Minimum of 6+ years of experience in an IT Project Management role including significant experience managing medium to large projects and multiple, concurrent projects • PMP certified; ITIL, COBIT, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certifications a plus • Experience in managing project teams of 10 or more people • Extensive experience with core PM tools including ServiceNow, Microsoft Project Professional, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office Professional (Outlook, Word, Excel, Visio, Access, etc.), and others • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future
Read More: 10+ Software Engineer Interview Questions to Find Top Dev Candidates
6. Nice-to-have skills and experience
This is where you list out skills and expertise that aren’t required but would make a candidate stand out. 💪
Here’s an example from Morgan Stanley’s Agile project manager job ad via LinkedIn:
Preferred • Impeccable written and verbal communication skills • Strong business acumen and knowledge of general business disciplines • Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving abilities • Tactful influencing and negotiating skills • Quick learner and able to navigate effectively in unfamiliar environments • Keen ability to see, recommend and implement new ways to do things • Demonstrated passion for project management with a proved track record of delivering business value
7. Required certification and education
List out the required certifications and education for your position.
Most companies require Agile project managers to have at least a bachelor’s degree. However, a degree doesn’t determine whether someone is a good fit. Many great Agile project managers have no degrees but plenty of experience managing and leading projects at top companies. On the flip side, some Agile project managers with degrees have limited experience leading and managing projects.
As such, we highly recommend broadening your search to include candidates who don’t have a degree. Not only will this help you locate your dream hire faster, but it will also give more opportunities to candidates who deserve it. 😁
If you only have one or two points for this section, combine them with the “Required Skills and Experience” section. That’s what we did in the sample.
Read More: 10+ Things to Consider BEFORE Hiring a Freelance Software Developer
8. Compensation and benefits
This is where you list out the company compensation and benefits. Here’s a list of the most common items to include in this section:
- Annual salary range (or hourly for some contract and freelance positions)
- Health insurance, including medical, mental health, vision, dental, etc.
- Paid time off (PTO) policy
- Team bonding activities
- Subscriptions for newspapers, gyms, learning platforms, etc.
- Performance bonuses
- Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s
- Paid medical and parental leave
- Education assistance such as tuition assistance or reimbursement
- Flexible working schedules
- Spending accounts such as HSA and FSA
- Hardware and software
- Stock, equity, and/or ownership options
- Referral bonuses
- Company social events and happy hours
9. Working time and location
If your Agile project manager role is in-person, you need to mention where the job is located at the very top of the job description. In the same vein, if your position is completely remote, you need to specify that in the job title as well as at the top of the job description.
You should also cover the following in this section:
- Work schedule: When are your hires expected to work? Monday to Friday, 40 hours a week? In most cases, Agile project managers should work at the same time as the rest of your team. Remember, they’re responsible for managing projects and ensuring that everyone is on the same page, so they need to be able to see what everyone else is doing.
- Work outside of regular hours: Mention whether applicants are required to work outside of regular hours, such as on weekends or on-call.
- Work authorization: If your company can only hire Agile PMs who have the authorization to work in a specific country, mention that here.
Read More: How Much to Hire a Software Developer: Freelance vs Full-Time Costs
10. Other job description sections to include
The vast majority of Agile project manager job descriptions only have the above sections. But, you may find it useful to include additional sections. These include:
Company culture
You might have already mentioned that your workplace is an equal opportunity employer at the beginning. If you’re proud of how unique and tolerant your company culture is, show it off in a short paragraph or two!
Point of contact
Interested in providing a personalized touch to the hiring process? Leave your name and contact information so applicants can shoot you a message in case they have any questions about the role or the application process.
Screening
If applicable, tell candidates if there are any required pre-employment criminal background, drug, or credit checks.
Key dates
To give applicants a better idea of how the job application process works and when the job will start, add dates for the following:
- When the job ad was posted
- When the job ad will expire
- When the job will start
Hiring process
Tell applicants what they can expect in the upcoming weeks. How many interviews will there be? Will there be a call-in with the managers?
Read More: Freelance vs In-House Developers: Pros & Cons of Hiring or Contracting
You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:
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Tips for Writing a Good Job Description for Agile Project Managers
Now that you know what a job ad should include, here are our top tips for writing a compelling job ad for Agile PMs.
1. Make your JD easy to read
Like you, job seekers have limited time and energy.
On any given day, they’re likely to apply to multiple Agile project manager jobs a day. To avoid losing them after they’ve clicked on your job title, you need to show them an aesthetically-pleasing JD that’s easy to skim and absorb.
Here’s how you can create a well-formatted JD:
- Use bullet points for lists, even shorter ones, as long as they contain more than three items
- Use headings (H2s) and subheadings (H3s, H4s, and H5s) to let readers quickly locate sections that interest them
- Bold or highlight important information like key dates and work location
- Provide links via anchor text
2. Address applicants directly
A quick search through LinkedIn and Indeed will show that most JDs are in the third person. But, the best way to engage applicants is to address them in the second person “you.” Using “you” will break the distance between you and the applicant, allowing the applicant to visualize where they would fit into your company.
For instance, instead of saying:
Ideally, the candidate should know…
You could say:
You’d be a great pick for this project management position if you know…
Read More: How & Why Hiring Remote Developers Builds Strong and Diverse Teams
3. Be inclusive
Make sure that your agile PM job ad is open to all. Just saying your company is inclusive isn’t enough — you need to use neutral language in your JD and root out language that may be unconsciously biased against marginalized groups such as people of color and women.
Follow these tips to remove bias from your job descriptions:
- Use gender-neutral job titles: As covered above, certain words may inadvertently prevent women from applying to your job. Avoid using “badass” or masculine-coded words like “superhero,” “hacker,” “ninja” and “rockstar,” and use neutral titles like “project manager” or “team lead.”
- Check pronouns: When describing the ideal candidate and their responsibilities, use a gender-neutral pronoun like “you,” For example, “As the Agile project manager of XYZ, you’ll be responsible for managing and executing projects from start to finish.”
- Balance or avoid using biased words: Research has found that gender language bias can affect the gender of the person you’ll hire. Similarly, phrases like “native English skills” may discourage non-English native speakers from applying. Use language tools like Textio or Gender Decoder to spot bias in your word choices and appeal to a more diverse candidate pool.
- Limit the number of requirements: Studies have shown that women are less likely to apply for a position unless they meet all of the requirements. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to apply even if they don’t meet all of the requirements. As such, you should trim down the number of must-have and nice-to-have requirements.
4. Include specific instructions when applying
To filter out candidates who don’t read job descriptions carefully, consider adding specific instructions for applicants.
For instance, you could tell applicants to:
- Send their cover letter and resume to a designated email address instead of using the apply button on the job site.
- Include the job ID number of the JD in the subject line of their email.
- Include three writing samples along with their Agile project manager resume and cover letter.
Read More: 10+ Senior Software Engineer Interview Questions to Ask Your Candidates
5. End your JD with a call-to-action
Last but not least, you need to end your JD with a call-to-action (CTA). A strong CTA will entice Agile PM job seekers to apply to your position by hitting an “Apply” button or sending you an email, whichever method you’ve chosen.
Here are some of the most effective CTAs for converting job seekers into applicants:
- A well-placed Apply button: The Apply button should be at the top — preferably, next to the job title or just under it. Wherever you decide to place it, it should always be “above the fold” — that is, job candidates don’t have to scroll down to find the link.
- Share buttons: Your job description should give users an easy way to share the job through social platforms and email. This will help expose your job description to a larger network of people.
- A “Join talent community” button: To capture potential hires who don’t immediately apply to your JD, ask them to join your talent community. In return, you’ll give them updates about your company and relevant Agile PM jobs as they appear.
You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:
⚡️ Access 350,000 top developers, designers, and marketers
⚡️ Vetted and ready to interview
⚡️ Freelance or full-time