Director, Data Science

About ETS

For more than 75 years, we have amplified products and services based rigorous research and our belief in the power of learning. Driven by our mission to advance quality and equity in education, ETS provides learning solutions, pioneering research and trusted assessments that help guide learners around the world on their path to new possibilities.

Our portfolio of trusted measures include TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE and Praxis. Along with research, development and innovation that explores new frontiers in learning and measurement our educational measurement solutions and research contribute to the development of new methods and tools, inform important dialogue with education policymakers, and shed light on critical issues and potential solutions - all with the aim of creating a world where all learners can improve their lives through education.

With new senior leadership at the helm, ETS aims to continue changing the lives of all learners as we expand our organization's global footprint. Our goal is to remain at the forefront of assessment and measurement efficacy within the education and ed tech space as it continues to grow and evolve.

ETS is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Director of Data Science to join our dynamic Product Innovation and Development (PID) division. The PID division develops innovative, AI-based solutions for education and the workforce that are built on a foundation of learning and cognitive science principles and leverage interactive task design, machine learning, and data sciences.

As the Director of Data Science, you will be responsible for leading and managing a team of data scientists and data engineers to drive data-driven decision-making and innovation across our current and new products. Your expertise in data science, statistical modeling, and machine learning will be critical in developing and executing strategies that optimize customer experience, enhance operational efficiency, and drive revenue growth. Youll work closely with your team, executives, and the broader organization to deliver strategic insights and build data products to drive operational efficiency and help ETS meet its business objectives.

The Director, Data Science is responsible for managing, coaching, and overseeing a team of data scientists, data engineers, and business intelligence developers working across multidisciplinary teams actively pursuing data innovation and executing on the broader data strategy. They will collaborate with AI, Learning, and Data Scientists, AI/ML Engineers, User Experience experts, Software Engineers, and Product Owners who utilize the agile framework and design thinking practices to execute rigorous backlogs and deliver high-powered solutions. This role is deeply involved in the objectives, goals, and activities of the team which calls for an individual committed to successful and timely delivery across the organization. The Director, Data Science will play a key role in driving business growth by providing strategic & analytic insights, with an emphasis on identifying, monitoring, and optimizing key metrics and customer touchpoints across the company. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of developing data-driven product solutions and defining and executing organization-wide data strategies.

Responsibilities

• Manage, support, and grow a diverse team of data scientists, data engineers, business intelligence experts, and managers who own all aspects of data within the PID organization and broader product development space.
• Partner with business, marketing, sales, and product leadership to set goals, strategies, and priorities.
• Foster a data-driven culture by elevating metrics reporting and understanding of business trends.
• Define and analyze metrics that quantify the performance of our product suite in the markets that we serve.
• Help develop customer data strategy, identifying what data we collect, when we collect it, and how we model and interpret the data to optimize product decisions.
• Assist in the development of a cross-platform eventing structure to build the foundation for all future product analysis.
• Define and analyze key events in the customer lifecycle to identify the opportunities most important for growth, product adoption, retention, engagement, and/or monetization.
• Be instrumental in growing the data function as needed to support the business goals.
• Create and maintain dashboards communicating KPIs and other analytics to an executive audience.
• Drive strategic decisions with data by measuring the impact of initiatives, enhancing decision-making efficiency, and setting, forecasting, and tracking key performance metrics for product efforts.
• Establish trust within and across teams by creating accountability and a positive work environment in partnership with other leaders in the organization.
• Strategy Development: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop a comprehensive data science strategy aligned with the product and marketing team's goals and objectives. Translate business requirements into data science initiatives and create a roadmap for their implementation.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of data scientists and data engineers, providing guidance, support, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning. Delegate tasks effectively and ensure timely delivery of high-quality data science projects.
• Data Analysis and Modeling: Oversee the development and implementation of advanced analytics and machine learning models to extract actionable insights from large and complex datasets. Identify trends, patterns, and correlations to drive data-driven decision-making throughout the organization.
• Experimentation and Optimization: Design and conduct A/B tests, multivariate experiments, and other statistical methodologies to optimize e-commerce performance metrics, including conversion rates, customer lifetime value, and revenue. Drive continuous optimization through iterative experimentation.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with other teams, including, marketing, product management, and operations, to identify opportunities for leveraging data science and analytics to drive business outcomes. Communicate complex analytical concepts in a clear and concise manner to stakeholders at all levels.
• Data Governance: Ensure data integrity, security, and compliance with applicable regulations by establishing and implementing best practices for data collection, storage, and usage. Develop and maintain data governance frameworks and processes.
• Industry Knowledge and Innovation: Stay up to date with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and e-commerce trends. Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and tools to enhance the data science capabilities of the team.

Required Experience

EDUCATION

MS in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field is required.

Experience

• 12+ years of experience in Data Science
• 4+ years of experience in a leadership role

Other Requirements

• Experience with Python-based frameworks, SQL, or R; data visualization products like Tableau or PowerBI; data frameworks like Hadoop
• Expertise with cloud computing services (AWS)
• Knowledge and practical application of advanced statistical analysis and mathematical modeling concepts and principles
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent planning, organization, and problem-solving skills