jira-expert

Atlassian Jira Expert

Master-level expertise in Jira configuration, project management, JQL, workflows, automation, and reporting. Handles all technical and operational aspects of Jira.

Quick Start — Most Common Operations

All MCP examples in this skill use the real Atlassian Remote MCP tools (camelCase, surfaced as mcp__atlassian__<toolName>). The canonical tool list is project-management/references/atlassian-mcp-tools.md — never invent tool names; if a capability isn't listed there, it is not available via MCP.

Create an issue (call getAccessibleAtlassianResources once first to obtain cloudId):

mcp__atlassian__createJiraIssue (cloudId, projectKey="MYPROJ", issueTypeName="Story", summary="My new story")

Run a JQL query (build the JQL from natural language with the bundled script, then execute):

python3 scripts/jql_query_builder.py "high priority bugs assigned to me"
# → emits validated JQL, e.g.: assignee = currentUser() AND type = Bug AND status != Done

mcp__atlassian__searchJiraIssuesUsingJql (cloudId, jql="project = MYPROJ AND status != Done AND dueDate < now()")

Create a project: NOT available via MCP. Use the Jira web UI (Projects > Create project) or REST API (POST /rest/api/3/project).

For the full tool reference, see Atlassian MCP Integration. For JQL functions, see JQL Functions Reference. For report templates, see Reporting Templates.

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Workflows

Project Creation

Project creation is not available via MCP — perform steps 2-6 in the Jira web UI (Projects > Create project) or via REST API (POST /rest/api/3/project). After creation, verify visibility with mcp__atlassian__getVisibleJiraProjects and inspect issue types with mcp__atlassian__getJiraProjectIssueTypesMetadata.

1. Determine project type (Scrum, Kanban, Bug Tracking, etc.)
2. Create project with appropriate template (web UI / REST)
3. Configure project settings:
   • Name, key, description
   • Project lead and default assignee
   • Notification scheme
   • Permission scheme
4. Set up issue types and workflows
5. Configure custom fields if needed
6. Create initial board/backlog view
7. HANDOFF TO: Scrum Master for team onboarding

Workflow Design

Workflow/scheme editing is not available via MCP — configure in Jira Settings > Issues > Workflows. Use the bundled validator to catch anti-patterns before deploying.

1. Map out process states (To Do → In Progress → Done)
2. Define transitions and conditions
3. Lint the design before building it in Jira:

   python3 scripts/workflow_validator.py workflow.json --format json
   

   Input: a JSON file with the workflow's states and transitions. Consume the output: fix every reported anti-pattern (dead-end states, unreachable states, missing transitions) in the design before touching Jira.
4. Add validators, post-functions, and conditions; configure the workflow scheme (web UI)
5. Validate: Deploy to a test project first; verify all transitions, conditions, and post-functions behave as expected before associating with production projects
6. Associate workflow with project
7. Test workflow with sample issues — via MCP: mcp__atlassian__getTransitionsForJiraIssue on a sample issue to confirm expected transitions surface, then mcp__atlassian__transitionJiraIssue to walk it through the flow

JQL Query Building

Start with the bundled builder — it pattern-matches natural language to validated JQL:

python3 scripts/jql_query_builder.py "high priority bugs assigned to me" --format json
python3 scripts/jql_query_builder.py --patterns   # list all supported query patterns

Consume the output: take the jql field from the JSON result (or the GENERATED JQL block in text mode) and execute it with mcp__atlassian__searchJiraIssuesUsingJql (cloudId, jql=<generated>). If the builder reports no pattern match, compose JQL manually using the reference below.

Basic Structure: field operator value

Common Operators:

• =, != : equals, not equals
• ~, !~ : contains, not contains
• >, <, >=, <= : comparison
• in, not in : list membership
• is empty, is not empty
• was, was in, was not
• changed

Powerful JQL Examples:

Find overdue issues:

dueDate < now() AND status != Done

Sprint burndown issues:

sprint = 23 AND status changed TO "Done" DURING (startOfSprint(), endOfSprint())

Find stale issues:

updated < -30d AND status != Done

Cross-project epic tracking:

"Epic Link" = PROJ-123 ORDER BY rank

Velocity calculation:

sprint in closedSprints() AND resolution = Done

Team capacity:

assignee in (user1, user2) AND sprint in openSprints()

Dashboard Creation

1. Create new dashboard (personal or shared)
2. Add relevant gadgets:
   • Filter Results (JQL-based)
   • Sprint Burndown
   • Velocity Chart
   • Created vs Resolved
   • Pie Chart (status distribution)
3. Arrange layout for readability
4. Configure automatic refresh
5. Share with appropriate teams
6. HANDOFF TO: Senior PM or Scrum Master for use

Automation Rules

1. Define trigger (issue created, field changed, scheduled)
2. Add conditions (if applicable)
3. Define actions:
   • Update field
   • Send notification
   • Create subtask
   • Transition issue
   • Post comment
4. Test automation with sample data
5. Enable and monitor

Advanced Features

Custom Fields

When to Create:

• Track data not in standard fields
• Capture process-specific information
• Enable advanced reporting

Field Types: Text, Numeric, Date, Select (single/multi/cascading), User picker

Configuration:

1. Create custom field
2. Configure field context (which projects/issue types)
3. Add to appropriate screens
4. Update search templates if needed

Issue Linking

Link Types:

• Blocks / Is blocked by
• Relates to
• Duplicates / Is duplicated by
• Clones / Is cloned by
• Epic-Story relationship

Best Practices:

• Use Epic linking for feature grouping
• Use blocking links to show dependencies
• Document link reasons in comments

Permissions & Security

Permission Schemes:

• Browse Projects
• Create/Edit/Delete Issues
• Administer Projects
• Manage Sprints

Security Levels:

• Define confidential issue visibility
• Control access to sensitive data
• Audit security changes

Bulk Operations

Bulk Change:

1. Use JQL to find target issues
2. Select bulk change operation
3. Choose fields to update
4. Validate: Preview all changes before executing; confirm the JQL filter matches only intended issues — bulk edits are difficult to reverse
5. Execute and confirm
6. Monitor background task

Bulk Transitions:

• Move multiple issues through workflow
• Useful for sprint cleanup
• Requires appropriate permissions
• Validate: Run the JQL filter and review results in small batches before applying at scale

JQL Functions Reference

Tip: Save frequently used queries as named filters instead of re-running complex JQL ad hoc. See Best Practices for performance guidance.

Date: startOfDay(), endOfDay(), startOfWeek(), endOfWeek(), startOfMonth(), endOfMonth(), startOfYear(), endOfYear()

Sprint: openSprints(), closedSprints(), futureSprints()

User: currentUser(), membersOf("group")

Advanced: issueHistory(), linkedIssues(), issuesWithFixVersions()

Reporting Templates

Tip: These JQL snippets can be saved as shared filters or wired directly into Dashboard gadgets (see Dashboard Creation).

Report	JQL
Sprint Report	project = PROJ AND sprint = 23
Team Velocity	assignee in (team) AND sprint in closedSprints() AND resolution = Done
Bug Trend	type = Bug AND created >= -30d
Blocker Analysis	priority = Blocker AND status != Done

Decision Framework

When to Escalate to Atlassian Admin:

• Need new project permission scheme
• Require custom workflow scheme across org
• User provisioning or deprovisioning
• License or billing questions
• System-wide configuration changes

When to Collaborate with Scrum Master:

• Sprint board configuration
• Backlog prioritization views
• Team-specific filters
• Sprint reporting needs

When to Collaborate with Senior PM:

• Portfolio-level reporting
• Cross-project dashboards
• Executive visibility needs
• Multi-project dependencies

Handoff Protocols

FROM Senior PM:

• Project structure requirements
• Workflow and field needs
• Reporting requirements
• Integration needs

TO Senior PM:

• Cross-project metrics
• Issue trends and patterns
• Workflow bottlenecks
• Data quality insights

FROM Scrum Master:

• Sprint board configuration requests
• Workflow optimization needs
• Backlog filtering requirements
• Velocity tracking setup

TO Scrum Master:

• Configured sprint boards
• Velocity reports
• Burndown charts
• Team capacity views

Best Practices

Data Quality:

• Enforce required fields with field validation rules
• Use consistent issue key naming conventions per project type
• Schedule regular cleanup of stale/orphaned issues

Performance:

• Avoid leading wildcards in JQL (~ on large text fields is expensive)
• Use saved filters instead of re-running complex JQL ad hoc
• Limit dashboard gadgets to reduce page load time
• Archive completed projects rather than deleting to preserve history

Governance:

• Document rationale for custom workflow states and transitions
• Version-control permission/workflow schemes before making changes
• Require change management review for org-wide scheme updates
• Run permission audits after user role changes

Atlassian MCP Integration

Primary Tool: Atlassian Remote MCP server (bundled .mcp.json, server key atlassian). Tools surface as mcp__atlassian__<toolName>. Canonical tool list: project-management/references/atlassian-mcp-tools.md. Never invent tool names — if a capability isn't in that list, route to the web UI/REST API.

Key Operations with Example Calls (obtain cloudId once via mcp__atlassian__getAccessibleAtlassianResources):

Create an issue (check required fields first with getJiraIssueTypeMetaWithFields):

mcp__atlassian__createJiraIssue (cloudId, projectKey="MYPROJ", issueTypeName="Story", summary="My new story")

Execute a JQL query:

mcp__atlassian__searchJiraIssuesUsingJql (cloudId, jql="project = MYPROJ AND status != Done AND dueDate < now()")

Update an issue field:

mcp__atlassian__editJiraIssue (cloudId, issueIdOrKey="MYPROJ-42", fields=<payload — discover via tool schema>)

Transition an issue (status changes go through transitions, not field edits):

mcp__atlassian__getTransitionsForJiraIssue (cloudId, issueIdOrKey="MYPROJ-42")
mcp__atlassian__transitionJiraIssue (cloudId, issueIdOrKey="MYPROJ-42", transition=<id from previous call>)

Comment / log work / link issues:

mcp__atlassian__addCommentToJiraIssue (cloudId, issueIdOrKey="MYPROJ-42", body="...")
mcp__atlassian__addWorklogToJiraIssue (cloudId, issueIdOrKey="MYPROJ-42", timeSpent=<discover via tool schema>)
mcp__atlassian__createIssueLink (cloudId, link type from mcp__atlassian__getIssueLinkTypes)

Not available via MCP — use the web UI or REST API instead:

• Create a project → Jira UI Projects > Create project or POST /rest/api/3/project
• Create a sprint or configure boards → Jira Software UI or POST /rest/agile/1.0/sprint
• Create/share a filter → Jira UI Filters > Save as or POST /rest/api/3/filter
• Custom fields, screens, workflow/permission schemes → Jira admin UI

Integration Points:

• Pull metrics for Senior PM reporting
• Configure sprint boards for Scrum Master
• Create documentation pages for Confluence Expert
• Support template creation for Template Creator

Related Skills

• Confluence Expert (project-management/confluence-expert/) — Documentation complements Jira workflows
• Atlassian Admin (project-management/atlassian-admin/) — Permission and user management for Jira projects