What is a SAFe Program Consultant?

SAFe stands for Scaled Agile Framework, and it is one of the most important aspects that increases the vitality of businesses. The SAFe program consultant, or SPC, is there to effectively implement the Scaled Agile Framework across the enterprise. Its advantages, are you asking? It helps follow an entire organization's agile framework. 

The SPCs specifically handle the complex parts of such operations and ensure that organizations are transforming the way they work. The job role of an SPC involves everything, starting from training, coaching, and aligning various teams as per Agile principles and practices. 

In this blog, I will discuss the SAFe program and how it effectively implements agile. 

Master SAFe Agilist Certification in Bangalore with StarAgile – Enroll Now to Boost Your Career with Hands-On Training and Industry-Recognized Certification!

Why Become a SAFe Program Consultant?

SAFe Program Consultant is more than just a post, it is a pathway that helps organizations drive towards bringing about change. As the company aims to stay competitive, it needs professionals who can lead the Agile transformation on a larger scale. Here are some possible reasons why individuals might pursue such a challenging role: 

1. Career Advancement 

Organizations highly value the SAFe program consultants as they are critical for enforcing Agile transformations. This career role is also beneficial for an individual if they are trying to pursue advanced leadership careers in their life. 

As per data sourced from Parabol, 86% of the companies have opted for Agile frameworks in 2021, which was 37% in 2020. Seeing the trajectory three years later, you can easily see the level of involvement of Agile in bigger companies. 

2. Broader Skill Set 

SPC training covers a lot of skills, from team coaching to change management leadership, which I feel is essential for such a role.

After working or training in the post of SAFe program consultant, you become an invaluable asset to the company as well. Everyone needs your recommendations, whether it's attending sharp deliveries or trying out a new project dashboard for the whole team.

3. Impactful Leadership 

SPCs play a key role in transformative roles. We carefully plan everything, from understanding the requirements to channeling the right person into the right project. Ultimately, being a professional, I am sure that you will bring real organizational change. I even found the way it worked towards meeting business goals and gathering customer satisfaction appreciable. 

4. Networking Opportunities 

The SPC certification also opens up a pathway for you to get access to network with a global community of Agile professionals. Thus, with such a degree of involvement, you can easily work towards following customs and procedures globally. 

Therefore, it implies that becoming a SAFe program consultant secures significant career benefits and positions the leaders in Agile transformation. 

Sign Up for SAFe Training Today!

Download Brochure

 

Role of a SAFe Program Consultant 

The SAFe program consultant is important for any company to opt for scaled Agile transformation. The goal exceeds the natural understanding beyond traditional consulting. The SPCs act as coaches, mentors, and facilitators for the team and leadership involved in Agile transformation. Key roles that these professionals fulfill are: 

1. Agile Trainers 

SPCs are involved with conducting various SAFe training courses for teams and leaders. Thus, it helps them incorporate Agile principles and SAFe practices. 

2. Coach and Mentors for Agile Transformation

Agile transformers like SPC specialists work closely with employees at different levels and even the founders of the business. They help ideate and execute an effective plan that helps embrace Agile working methods effectively. 

3. Agents of Change for Organization

As agents of change, the SAFe Program Consultant creates a vision for Agile transformation. For example, if you have a DevOps team to deal with, then there are different silos of employees and individuals working together. 

The software development and the project management teams need to work together and proceed to streamline the development process. These professionals encourage collaboration and enable the enterprise to become more responsible for market changes. 

4. SAFe Facilitators 

SPCs organize and facilitate events like program increments and planning and ensure alignment between teams. 

Therefore, such roles require a balanced understanding of technical expertise and leadership skills. Moreover, from my personal experience, I have been able to develop interpersonal skills to facilitate effective Agile adoption. I assure you that managing a lot of people trying to follow the Agile framework is very difficult. 

Responsibilities of a SAFe Program Consultant 

The SAFe Program Consultant has several responsibilities, including both strategic and operational duties. It also ensures that Agile Methodologies are effectively implemented within an organization. Some responsibilities include: 

1. Training Teams and Leaders 

These leaders initiate SAFe training sessions to help team members and leaders understand Agile principles. They also provide ways in which the SAFe practices and concepts fit directly into their responsibilities. 

2. Facilitating Program Increment (PI) Planning 

Program increment planning, or PI planning, is a cornerstone of SAFe, where SPCs organize and manage planning events. Thus, it ensures team alignment is properly communicated for project objectives and resource allocation. 

3. Assessing and Improving Practices

SAFe Program Consultant regularly evaluates the current state of Agile practices in the organization. It also helps a person evaluate opportunities for improvement as well. 

4. Leading Value Stream Mapping 

A SAFe program consultant acts as a value of change by helping organizations map value streams. It also helps identify dependencies and risks and ensures that value flows are smooth towards customers.  

5. Providing Guidance and Advice in Scaling Agile 

As organizations grow, SPCs help them scale Agile principles among multiple teams and functions. With the help of these experts, your organization can boost its revenue and ensure timely delivery. 

6. Developing an Agile Mindset 

SPCs coach every employee at all levels to adopt Agile practices and develop a similar mindset. It helps teams to foster collaboration and ensure that collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement are achieved. 

Thus, the SAFe Program Consultant plays an important role in the successful implementation of Agile practices. Ultimately, such a role transforms the organization into a customer-focused entity. 

SAFe Program Consultant Certification Process 

To become a SAFe program consultant, you must follow a specific certification process. The steps that are involved in the certification process are: 

1. Implementing SAFe Course 

This is a 4-day course that is called for implementing the SAFe mindset in your thought process. The course covers everything at a basic level, which includes SAFe practices, principles, and methodologies. Thus, a candidate is getting prepared for future roles. 

2. Prepare for the SPC Exam 

After completion of the course, participants should review the materials and use practice sets. Thoroughly go through the SAFe guidelines and prepare for the certification program. 

3. Pass the SPC Exam 

Just like other tests, you need to complete the SAFe exams adhering to the best practices. Use your knowledge and see how you can incorporate the SAFe principles in real-life processes. There will be a minimum passing score for you to become certified. 

4. Apply for the SPC Certification

Passing the exam opens up the score for people who want to opt for SPC certification directly. Thus, it helps you to gain exclusive resources, support, and access to the SAFe community as well. 

Benefits of Being a SAFe Program Consultant 

Holding the SPC certificate offers several advantages, not only for career growth but also for success in Agile transformation. Some benefits I found after enrolling as a SAFe program consultant are: 

1. Enhanced Credibility 

Get credible certificates that transform you into a professional ready for scaling agile transformation easily. This type of scaling is highly valued in the job market. 

2. Career Versatility 

SPCs are stuck today not only in software development firms but also in more. These professionals get a chance to work in several work environments across several industries. No matter if you are going for IT, healthcare, finance, or manufacturing, these professionals can make a difference in your life. 

3. Networking and Resources 

Build a network of professionals who are working to inculcate SAFe practices across their workspace. You can gather greater insights and make sure that you are able to share knowledge and collaborate effectively. 

4. Higher Earning Potential 

SAFe Program Consultants are getting higher pay scales as they are directly responsible for driving change. Their insights also help in driving change and ensuring that organizations are complying with all the suitable best practices. 

Therefore, SPCs are directly involved in making a meaningful change in the organization. Ultimately, it helps drive organizations toward a sustainable future. 

Challenges Faced by SAFe Program Consultants 

As most of the leadership roles require, a SAFe program consultant comes with its own set of challenges. Some common hurdles SPCs mostly encounter are:

1. Resistance to change: Resistance to change is one of the important challenges. If you are dealing with employees or teams that do not like the change, it becomes very challenging to implement Agile practices. 

2. Multiple Responsibilities: There are multiple responsibilities, from being a coach to being an agent involved in top-tier decision-making. This can be often demanding and even demanding in terms of your time and focus. 

3. Collaboration and Communication: Aligning business and IT roles is even more challenging, as the interaction between technical and business teams is not always smooth. Thus, you need strong collaboration and communication skills as well. 

4. Updates: Keeping up with SAFe updates after the daily toil is sometimes even more challenging. However, this is important for the overall organization's efficiency and development. 

Thus, there are many challenges, and SPCs are at the core of driving organizational change. Dealing with such challenges and maintaining a framework of efficiency is complicated but achievable. 

Conclusion

The role of a SAFe program consultant is vital for driving agility in organizations. By providing guidance and facilitating PI planning and communication, you can implement Agile frameworks. To learn more about the SAFe program and achieve quality SAFe Course, contact StarAgile today! With their professional expertise and SAFe Agile certification, you can ensure better career roles and make a difference in your career. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a SAFe Program Consultant Worth It?

Yes, from my experience, I can endorse that the SAFe program consultant position is worth it for individuals interested in Agile careers. These coaches are important for offering professional growth and access to exclusive SAFe resources. Thus, it helps influence change in the organization and ensures competitive salaries as well. 

2. What is the job of a program consultant?

A SAFe program consultant is responsible for implementing SAFe Methodology across organizations. They provide training, facilitate PI events, and coach teams toward success. They also help overcome obstacles to Agile adoption, promoting collaboration, Continuous Improvement, and customer-centric value delivery.

3. What is the salary of a SAFe Program Consultant?

The salary of an SAFe program consultant depends on their experience and the industry they are associated with. In India, the SAFe program experts can draw a salary of around ₹ 25 lakhs to ₹ 30 lakhs. Additionally, the consultation roles of SPC are also popular, with per session (24 hours) costing around ₹30,000.