About Ulta Beauty – A Beauty Industry Trailblazer
Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) stands as the premier beauty destination in North America, offering an unrivaled assortment of cosmetics, fragrance, skin‑care, hair‑care, and salon services. With more than 25,000 products from about 500 brands—including a robust private‑label portfolio—Ulta has redefined the retail experience for millions of guests both in‑store and online. The company’s visionary omnichannel strategy blends cutting‑edge technology, data‑driven insights, and creative storytelling to deliver a seamless, personalized journey that inspires discovery, confidence, and loyalty. As Ulta continues to innovate at the intersection of beauty and technology, it seeks leaders who can amplify that momentum by embedding Agile mindsets across every facet of the business.
Why This Role Matters – The Impact of an Agile Coach
In today’s fast‑moving digital landscape, the ability to adapt quickly, deliver value continuously, and foster high‑performing teams is the differentiator between market leaders and followers. As an Agile Coach at Ulta Beauty, you will be the catalyst that unlocks the full potential of cross‑functional “pods”—small, empowered squads that blend product, design, technology, and data expertise. Your guidance will shape how these teams plan, execute, and iterate, ensuring that every release aligns with strategic business objectives and enhances the guest experience. By championing Agile principles, you will help Ulta maintain its competitive edge, accelerate time‑to‑market, and nurture a culture of relentless improvement.
Key Responsibilities – Driving Agile Excellence
- Scale Organization‑Level Agility: Partner with senior leaders to design governance frameworks, shift mindsets, and embed Agile practices across the enterprise.
- Pod Coaching & Mentorship: Directly support 3‑5 Agile pods, providing hands‑on coaching to Product Owners, Tech Leads, Scrum Masters, UX Designers, and other team members.
- Facilitate Workshops & Learning Sessions: Lead interactive sessions on Agile fundamentals, OKR creation, Sprint 0 activities, and effective pod kick‑offs.
- One‑on‑One Coaching: Conduct personalized coaching for individual contributors, focusing on skill development, career growth, and performance enhancement.
- Continuous Improvement: Conduct quarterly maturity assessments, retrospectives, and metric reviews to identify blockers, propose solutions, and drive incremental gains.
- Playbook Development: Update and refine the Agile Playbook, standardizing processes while ensuring flexibility for team‑specific needs.
- Metrics & Value Delivery: Champion data‑driven decision‑making by establishing key performance indicators (KPIs), tracking progress, and celebrating outcomes.
- Cross‑Functional Alignment: Facilitate stand‑up meetings, sprint reviews, and program increment planning to ensure transparent communication across disciplines.
- Product Strategy Support: Coach Product Owners on roadmap creation, MVP definition, release planning, and Quarterly Business Review (QBR) preparation.
- Risk Management: Proactively identify risks and impediments, collaborating with leadership to remove obstacles and sustain momentum.
Essential Qualifications – What You Bring to the Table
- Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and 7‑10 years of progressive experience in Agile coaching, Scrum Mastery, or related transformation roles.
- Certifications (Preferred but Not Required): Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Coach (CSC), Certified Agile Coach (ICP‑ACC), or Certified Product Owner (CSPO).
- Methodology Expertise: Deep knowledge of Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, or other Agile frameworks, with a proven track record of guiding teams to high maturity levels.
- Product Management Acumen: Familiarity with OKRs, road‑mapping, MVP definition, release cycles, and metrics‑driven product delivery.
- Communication Excellence: Ability to articulate concepts clearly, listen actively, and foster transparent dialogue across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Problem‑Solving & Analytical Skills: Demonstrated capacity to diagnose challenges, design innovative solutions, and influence outcomes without relying on hierarchy.
- Coaching Mindset: A genuine desire to develop people, empower teams, and create environments where experimentation thrives.
- Cultural Fit: Commitment to a non‑hierarchical, collaborative culture built on trust, psychological safety, and continuous learning.
Preferred Qualifications – Going the Extra Mile
- Advanced degree (MBA, Masters in Organizational Development, or related field).
- Experience within retail, e‑commerce, or consumer‑facing technology environments.
- Hands‑on experience with digital transformation initiatives, AI/ML product pipelines, or data‑centric platforms.
- Facilitation skills for large‑scale events (e.g., PI Planning, Design Sprints, Innovation Workshops).
- Proven ability to scale Agile practices across geographically dispersed teams.
- Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps, Miro, or similar collaboration suites.
Core Skills and Competencies – Your Success Toolkit
- Leadership Without Authority: Influence and guide without formal reporting lines, earning respect through expertise and empathy.
- Adaptive Thinking: Switch seamlessly between strategic vision and tactical execution, adjusting approaches based on context.
- Data‑Driven Insight: Leverage metrics, burndown charts, velocity trends, and outcome dashboards to inform coaching decisions.
- Facilitation Mastery: Design engaging sessions that draw out ideas, foster consensus, and surface hidden risks.
- Conflict Resolution: Navigate disagreements constructively, turning tension into opportunities for alignment.
- Continuous Learning: Stay current with emerging Agile practices, industry trends, and technology advancements.
- Customer‑Centric Focus: Ground all coaching activities in the ultimate goal of delivering superior value to Ulta’s guests.
Career Development & Learning Opportunities
Ulta Beauty invests heavily in the growth of its people. As an Agile Coach, you will gain access to a robust learning ecosystem that includes:
- Certification Sponsorship: Financial support for advanced Agile certifications, leadership programs, and relevant industry courses.
- Mentorship Networks: Pairing with senior transformation leaders, product innovators, and technology executives.
- Cross‑Functional Rotations: Opportunities to work with different business units (e.g., Store Operations, Digital Marketing, Data Science) to broaden perspective.
- Thought‑Leadership Platforms: Invite to speak at internal conferences, author whitepapers, and represent Ulta at external Agile gatherings.
- Career Path Flexibility: Clear progression routes toward Senior Agile Coach, Agile Practice Lead, or broader Product Management leadership roles.
Culture, Collaboration, and Work Environment
Ulta’s culture celebrates curiosity, creativity, and inclusivity. The organization thrives on:
- Non‑Hierarchical Collaboration: Teams operate with shared ownership, encouraging open dialogue and collective decision‑making.
- Psychological Safety: Employees are empowered to experiment, share failures, and learn without fear of retribution.
- Diversity & Inclusion: A commitment to building a workforce that reflects the rich tapestry of Ulta’s guest base.
- Hybrid Flexibility: While the role is remote, Ulta offers optional co‑working spaces and periodic in‑person gatherings to strengthen community bonds.
- Well‑Being Programs: Access to wellness stipends, mental‑health resources, and flexible scheduling to support work‑life harmony.
Compensation, Benefits, and Perks
Ulta Beauty offers a competitive total‑reward package designed to attract top talent and recognize performance. While exact figures are tailored to experience, location, and market dynamics, the package typically includes:
- Base Salary: Ranges from $98,000 to $166,300 per year, commensurate with expertise and impact.
- Performance Bonus: Eligibility for annual discretionary bonuses tied to individual and company outcomes.
- Equity & Stock Options: Opportunity to acquire company shares, aligning personal success with Ulta’s growth.
- Comprehensive Health Plans: Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage with multiple plan options.
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company match to support long‑term financial security.
- Paid Time Off & Holidays: Generous vacation, sick leave, and company‑wide holidays, plus parental leave benefits.
- Learning & Development Fund: Annual stipend for courses, conferences, books, and certifications.
- Employee Discounts: Access to Ulta Beauty products and salon services at preferential rates.
How to Apply – Take the Next Step Toward Transformational Impact
If you are ready to champion Agile excellence, inspire high‑performing teams, and shape the future of beauty retail, we want to hear from you. Ulta Beauty values passion, curiosity, and a growth mindset above strict check‑boxes. Even if you don’t meet every listed requirement, we encourage you to apply and showcase how your unique blend of experience and enthusiasm can contribute to our mission.
To submit your application, click the link below, attach your updated resume, and include a brief cover letter highlighting your most relevant achievements and why you’re excited about this opportunity.
We look forward to building brilliant solutions together. Join us, and let’s create a future where beauty meets technology, powered by Agile innovation.
Apply Now