Director, Data Scientist

Role Overview

• Leads a team of Data Scientists responsible for identifying, scoping, and translating business problems into applied statistical, machine learning, simulation, and optimization solutions to inform actionable business insights and drive business value
• Works with business leaders to ideate, valuate, and scope projects to meet business needs
• Manages the team’s projects and communicates progress updates to senior leadership and other business stakeholders
• Responsible for the team’s model inventory and ensures compliance with USAA model risk policies and regulatory expectations
• Influences the future of data science at USAA by conducting research on the latest technologies and driving adoption of those technologies
• Acts as advanced analytics thought leader and advisor to the business to shape strategies that drive competitiveness and differentiation
• Influences business, data, and technology leaders to invest, sustain and expand advanced analytical capabilities
• Leads and develops team to build and deploy various advanced analytical solutions in an agile and collaborative environment across business, data, and technology organizations
• Enables team’s success by simplifying processes across the model development lifecycle and driving automation
• Identifies, scopes, and manages complex analytical projects in collaboration with business stakeholders
• Champions and manages efforts to deliver business insights via scalable, automated solutions using machine learning, simulation, and optimization
• Responsible for ensuring all modeling and machine learning solutions adhere to industry standards, model risk policy, and regulatory expectations
• Partners with enterprise analytical and IT teams to build USAA core capabilities and processes
• Identifies additional resource needs ranging from IT investments, 3rd party support or additional analysts
• Builds and oversees a team of Data Scientists through ongoing execution of recruiting, development, retention, coaching and support, performance management, and managerial activities
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, computer science, statistics, economics, finance, actuarial sciences, science and engineering, or other similar quantitative discipline; OR 4 years of experience in statistics, mathematics, quantitative analytics, or related experience may be substituted in lieu of degree
• 8 years in predictive modeling, model governance, machine learning and large data analysis, OR Advanced Degree (e.g., Master’s, PhD) in Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or related quantitative STEM field and 6 years in predictive modeling, model governance, machine learning and large data analysis
• 3 years of direct management experience
• Strong communication skills; demonstrated ability to interpret and translate complex technical information to diverse audiences
• Experience with various languages, applications, and technologies (such as SQL, Python, R, Spark, Hadoop etc.) commonly associated with delivery of Data Science solutions
• Experience in developing and reviewing modeling solutions based on broad range of techniques
• Demonstrated ability to apply best practices in modeling and machine learning techniques to solve business problems
• Demonstrated ability to write and review complex technical documentation; communicate modeling insights and technical details to business leaders, technical and non-technical audiences
• A strong track record of communicating results, insights, and technical solutions to Senior Executive Management (or equivalent)
• Deep technical skills, consulting experience, and business savvy to interface with all levels and disciplines within the organization.

Tech Stack

• Hadoop
• Python
• Spark
• SQL

Benefits

• comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans
• 401(k)
• pension
• life insurance
• parental benefits
• adoption assistance
• paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours
• various wellness programs
• career path planning and continuing education assistance