Agile coach
Find out what an agile coach in government does and the skills you need to do the role at each level.
Published 28 August 2026
Contents
What an agile coach does
An agile coach is an expert in Agile and Lean practices. They support the development of an agile culture and mindset that enables more effective delivery across the organisation.
In this role, you will:
- influence delivery strategy and plans for transforming the organisation
- provide consultancy in Agile and Lean practices
- coach and mentor people across professions, functions and all levels of the organisation
- influence the organisation to improve ways of working and delivery efficiency
- advocate for agile values, principles, and mindset across the organisation
Agile coach role levels
There are 2 agile coach role levels, from senior agile coach to lead agile coach.
The typical responsibilities and skills for each role level are described in the sections below. You can use this to identify the skills you need to progress in your career, or simply to learn more about each role in the Government Digital and Data profession.
1. Senior agile coach
A senior agile coach works with individuals, teams and groups to help them improve their delivery outcomes.
At this role level, you will:
- provide coaching to both individuals and teams
- work with teams to review and implement new ways of working that deliver fast, incremental value
- support lead agile coaches working with senior leaders or multiple teams
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Coaching in an agile environment Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Team dynamics and collaboration Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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2. Lead agile coach
A lead agile coach works with leadership on improving high-risk or complex areas. They may support and co-ordinate multiple senior agile coaches.
At this role level, you will:
- work across the organisation to improve its systems, leadership and culture
- coach senior leaders, teams and other coaches in new delivery methods within the organisation
- create and tailor new ways of working that support the delivery of fast, incremental value
- evolve practice standards alongside heads of profession
- challenge current delivery practices across the organisation, for example by applying systems thinking
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Coaching in an agile environment Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
|
Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
|
Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
|
Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Team dynamics and collaboration Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Roles that share agile coach skills
| Role | Shared skills |
|---|---|
| Delivery manager | |
| Programme delivery manager | |
| Accessibility specialist | |
| Business architect | |
| Command and control centre manager |
Updates
Published 28 August 2026
Last updated 28 August 2026
28 August 2026
First published.
About the work to develop this role description and who was involved.