Candescent is a forward-thinking technology company transforming how financial institutions deliver Intelligent Banking experiences. We unite digital banking, account opening, and branch solutions that power and connect digital banking, account opening, and branch solutions—creating seamless engagement across digital, remote, and in-person channels.
Our Experience-Led, Intelligence-Driven approach combines human-centered design with data, automation, and cloud-based innovation. Built on an API-first architecture, our extensible ecosystem enables institutions to adapt quickly, integrate easily, and unlock new opportunities for growth—turning every customer interaction into a moment of clarity, confidence, and connection.
Job Title: Principal Agilist - Product Area
Level: Portfolio (multi-product area)
Location: Bangalore
Reports to: VP, Head of Agile
Overview
The Principal Agilist manages and grows the Agilist discipline across an entire portfolio area. This role directly leads Product Agilists and Team Agilists, ensuring consistent practices, strong coaching, and a culture of continuous improvement across all products. Acting as the functional counterpart to Product Management, Design, and Engineering leadership, the Lead Agilist drives organizational flow, resolves systemic impediments, and ensures agility is demonstrated at scale. In partnership with the Agile CoE Leader, this role contributes to designing and delivering business transformation.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage, mentor, and develop Product Agilists and Team Agilists across all products in the portfolio area.
- Establish consistent Agile practices, standards, and playbooks, guiding teams and products in adoption, adaptation, and improvement.
- Partner with Product, Design, and Engineering leadership to improve flow, remove systemic impediments, and proactively manage risks.
- Collaborate closely with the Agile Center of Expertise (CoE) Leader and the Value Management Office (VMO) Leader to align transformation, governance, and flow.
- Actively participate in the Agilists Community of Practice (CoP), fostering peer learning and continuous improvement.
- Lead all products and teams within the portfolio area toward higher maturity levels.
- Facilitate alignment and collaboration across all levels of the organization and functions.
- Identify, articulate, and make visible portfolio-area impediments, leading initiatives to resolve them.
- Identify, articulate, and make visible risks, guiding teams in formulating effective responses.
Required Qualifications
- 6+ years of experience in Agile leadership, including 3+ coaching programs and team-of-teams, as well as 2+ years managing Agile practitioners.
- Demonstrated success scaling agility across multiple teams, team-of-teams, and products in a technology environment.
- Proven track record leading multiple teams-of-teams to high levels of performance.
- Strong people management experience, with success in developing high-performing leaders.
- Mastery of Lean and Agile methods and scaling practices (Kanban, SAFe, LeSS, Nexus, ToC).
- Mastery of several Agile product, process and technical practices (Scrum, Kanban, XP, Crystal, Amplio).
- Skilled in facilitation, servant leadership, and conflict resolution.
- Experience in product development (new product introduction and mature product sustaining).
- Working knowledge of Lean Portfolio Management methods and practices.
- Ability to clarify area needs, challenges, and opportunities, articulate a transformation vision, and pursue it.
- Understanding of modern organizational design principles and practices to improve value delivery.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in fintech, SaaS, or other fast-paced technology industries.
- Familiarity with lean portfolio and product portfolio management practices.
- Strong data-driven mindset with experience using Agile metrics and reporting.
Core Competencies
- Servant Leadership – Builds trust, empowers others, and removes barriers to success.
- Executive Presence – Influences senior leaders and collaborates effectively at the portfolio level.
- Large-Scale Facilitation – Engages, energizes, and coordinates action across large organizations.
- Coaching Mindset – Develops others through guidance, feedback, and mentoring.
- Systems Thinking – Understands how teams, products, and portfolios connect and flow together.
- Continuous Improvement – Expert in driving continuous transformation, impediment removal, and risk management.
Reporting & Relationships
- Reports to: VP, Head of Agile
- Manages: Product Agilists and Team Agilists
- Peers: Agile CoE Leader, VMO Leader, other Lead Agilists
- Collaborators: VP of Product Management, VP of Engineering, Lead Designer
Statement to Third Party Agencies
To ALL recruitment agencies: Candescent only accepts resumes from agencies on the preferred supplier list. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, Candescent employees, or any Candescent facility. Candescent is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes.
