Scrum Master: A Job Title?

While the role of Scrum Master is a tough job — driving fast quality delivery through servant leadership, changing behavior, removing impediments, teaching Scrum, enabling continuous improvement, and more — Scrum Master is not a job title.

Here are a few reasons why I don’t think Scrum Master is an accurate job title:

1. Scrum Master is a role a qualified person plays when Scrum is used to get quality work done faster.
2. Not limited to any specific job title, anyone who understands Scrum and Scrum Master responsibilities can play the role of Scrum Master for given sprints.
3. Many Scrum Master job descriptions read more like some type of blended role (eg. Scrum Master / *), OR Agile Coach, Product Manager, Project Manager, Delivery Manager, Lead, or Engineering Manager.
4. In many cases, I have yet to receive a clear answer when I ask hiring managers (and recruiters) the question: “What do Scrum Masters do when Scrum is not used to get work done?” The best answer I’ve received to-date is that the Scrum Master would be a “floating” Scrum Master to train and coach different teams throughout the organization on Scrum and Agile — so more like a blended role Scrum Master/ Agile Coach. It seems like organizations amid an Agile transformation start hiring Scrum Masters without truly understanding: what Agile is (a philosophy), which Agile methodologies could best benefit their needs, and what Scrum Masters do to add value.
5. Mature Agile organizations know that job titles matter less, and that being Agile and the roles people play to get quality work done fast matter more. That’s right! Job titles matter less when people possess more than one proficient talent/ skill. (long Agile article)

So what do Scrum Masters do when Scrum is not used to get work done?

You’ve guessed it! Before Scrum Masters played the role of Scrum Master they had some other role/ job title. So when Scrum is not being used to get work done Scrum Masters perform one of their other efficient expertise, whatever it might be (product management, delivery management, software development, hardware development, quality assurance, analyst, logistics, sales, customer service, support, management, lead, training, agile coaching, etc.).

At the end of the day, especially in Agile environments, I don’t think job titles are needed. However, if a job title is necessary for Scrum Masters, then I think a blended job title best fits Scrum Masters (eg. Delivery Manager/ Scrum Master, Agile Coach/ Scrum Master, */ Scrum Master).

Based on your experience as a Scrum Master, recruiter or hiring manager, or your knowledge of the Scrum Master role, what are your thoughts. What job title do you think best fits Scrum Masters? Reasons?