Director - Data Science and Analytics

About the job

As a member of the IT Management Team, you are responsible for managing, developing, and leading a team of employees. Your role includes leading the specific functional responsibilities of your team, which involves overseeing team performance and deliverables. However, your role as a leader within our organization requires more than the management of resources and day-to-day operations. As a steward of the company, you are charged with the development and execution of your team’s strategic vision and plan and ensuring that your team’s actions align with the larger goals of the company and the IT Division.

Costco Wholesale is experiencing substantial growth and is strategically planning to ensure sustained, profitable expansion across new domestic and global locations. Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are recognized as essential enablers for business growth and for driving cost optimization as the business scales. As the Director of Data Science, this role necessitates formulating the data science strategy in collaboration with key leadership across both the business and IT sectors. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities and delivering critical business priorities through innovative AI solutions, with a strong emphasis on achieving rapid time-to-market and adhering to established best practices for cost-effective scaling. This role champions the necessary experimentation with AI techniques, partnering with product teams to successfully deliver these solutions. As a leader, you are accountable to the successful delivery of solutions by the team, managing the designated budget, and providing mentorship, guidance, and development for a globally diversified team of applied Machine Learning (ML)/Ops engineers and data scientists.

As the primary conduit between your employees and upper leadership, your role in communicating and modeling the values and guiding principles of our company culture is of vital importance. All members of IT Management should strive to consciously and consistently foster a culture of engagement, trust, and “open door” communication.

Job Duties/Essential Functions

• INTEGRITY: When achieving benchmarks and goals, use methods/strategies that are consistent with the Code of Ethics and the Standard of Ethics for Directors. Always leads by example. Appropriately handles employee concerns and follows through to resolution.

• MEMBER SERVICE: Provides and ensures staff provides an exceptional member experience.

• ADMINISTRATION: Ensures proper department coverage (writing schedule and break aids if needed). Understands department budget, able to research and explain budget variances.

• MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Coaches and mentors employees to provide support and guidance. Has regular open and honest conversations with employees to discuss work performance and career development. Identifies learning opportunities to strengthen employee knowledge, skill and ability.

• COMMUNICATION: Regularly shares information with employees via meetings and one-on-one conversations. Successfully navigates difficult conversations with employees, members, and suppliers. Listens, expresses empathy and adapts to get points across. Addresses issues immediately to ensure a timely resolution and to avoid escalating the situation. Consistently demonstrates business knowledge during interactions with senior management.

• SELF-MANAGEMENT: Demonstrates sound judgement, taking a partner when necessary. Ability to maintain self-control in the face of hostility or provocation or in intense, hectic situations.

• INCLUSION: Encourages different approaches and ideas to work and to accomplish goals. Seeks employee input. Takes the time to get to know or reach out to candidates who show potential that may not come forward on their own.

• COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY: Takes measures to ensure employee and member information is kept confidential and adheres to IS security policy.

• Add job duties

• This is a full-time management/leadership position (40+ hours per week).

• Regular and reliable workplace attendance at your assigned location.

Ability to operate vehicles, equipment or machinery.

• Computer, phone, printer, copier, fax

Non-Essential Functions

• Assists in other areas of the department as necessary.
• Assists in other areas of the company as necessary.

Experience, Skills, Education & Licenses/Certifications

Required:

• 15 years of experience in leading AI, Data Science to support critical business needs.
• 10 years experience building and deploying scalable AI solutions.
• 5 years of increasing leadership experience in managing and leading teams.
• Experience in defining and implementing data and AI strategy.
• Proficiency in Python, (or R), Machine Learning / Deep Learning, Data Visualization and data story telling.
• Hands on experience and conduct code reviews with the team.
• Proactively partner and identify opportunities, set priorities and establish goals.

*Recommended: *

• 15 years experience with Bachelor's degree, 12 years experience with Masters or 10 years experience with PhD
• Experience in retail, marketing, supply chain, e-commerce industries.
• Proficient in Google Workspace applications, including Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Gmail.
• Successful internal candidates will have spent one year or more on their current team.

Other Conditions

• Management will review the Job Analysis for this position prior to a job offer.