Portfolio & Governance Chapter Lead - (Research & Innovation Center of MCI)

Key Responsibilities:

• People Leadership and Development: Act as the line manager for chapter members, conducting performance reviews, career coaching, and skill development plans. Foster a culture of continuous learning through mentoring, knowledge-sharing sessions, and personalized growth opportunities.
• Chapter Governance: Define and promote best practices, standards, and tools within the chapter (e.g., coding standards, architecture patterns, or CI/CD pipelines). Facilitate chapter meetings, guilds, and communities of practice to drive innovation and consistency across squads.
• Talent Acquisition and Retention: Collaborate with HR and tribe leads on hiring, onboarding, and retaining top talent. Identify skill gaps and develop strategies to build a high-performing chapter.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with squad leads, tribe leads, and other chapter leads to ensure chapter members contribute effectively to product delivery without compromising on quality or well-being.
• Agile Advocacy: Champion agile principles in the Spotify Model, supporting squads in adopting practices like Scrum, Kanban, or Lean while balancing chapter priorities.
• Metrics and Improvement: Track chapter health metrics (e.g., engagement, skill maturity) and implement initiatives to enhance productivity, diversity, and inclusion.

Key Skills and Competencies:

To thrive in this role, you’ll need a strong foundation in technology leadership combined with exceptional interpersonal abilities. We’re looking for someone who:

• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge in software engineering, architecture, or related tech domains (e.g., cloud computing, microservices, AI/ML). Hands-on experience with modern tech stacks (e.g., Java, Python, AWS/Azure, Kubernetes) to guide and challenge chapter members effectively.
• Leadership and Coaching: Proven ability to lead and develop teams, with a focus on servant leadership. Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and conflict resolution to build resilient, motivated individuals.
• Agile and Organizational Agility: Extensive experience with agile methodologies and the Spotify Model (or similar matrix structures). Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive change in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication and Influence: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. Strong facilitation skills for workshops, retrospectives, and cross-team collaborations.
• Strategic Thinking: Competency in identifying trends, assessing skills needs, and aligning chapter goals with business objectives. Data-driven approach to decision-making.
• People Management: Experience in performance management, talent development, and fostering inclusive teams. Commitment to diversity, equity, and psychological safety.
• Problem-Solving and Innovation: Creative thinker who encourages experimentation and knowledge sharing to solve complex technical challenges.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years in software development or technical roles, with at least 3 years in a leadership position (e.g., tech lead, engineering manager).
• Experience in a Spotify Model or similar agile organization is highly preferred.
• Certification in agile coaching (e.g., ICP-ACC) or leadership (e.g., PMP) is a plus.