Director of Data Science

We are seeking a strategic, collaborative, and technically skilled Director of Data Science to lead and grow our data science team. In this role, you will shape the team's vision, foster an inclusive and high-performing culture, and drive impactful machine learning and advanced analytics initiatives across the organization. You will work closely with cross-functional partners to address complex challenges and embed data science into our core products, services, and operations.

The role will report to the VP of Data & Analytics.

What You'll Do

Leadership & Strategy

• Define and lead the data science vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with business goals and measurable outcomes

• Act as a strategic advisor and thought leader, championing the adoption and responsible use of AI/ML across the organization

• Advocate for ethical, transparent, and compliant data use, upholding standards of fairness and accountability in all initiatives

Team Development & Management

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing, collaborative team of data scientists

• Foster a culture of inclusion, innovation, and continuous learning within the team

• Set clear goals and development plans to support team growth and success

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Sales, Product, Marketing, Customer Success, Engineering, and other teams to drive impactful data science initiatives

• Serve as a bridge between technical teams and business units, ensuring alignment on priorities, deliverables, and strategic value

Analytical & Communication Excellence

• Translate complex, ambiguous problems into structured, actionable analytical solutions

• Deliver clear, compelling insights to both technical and non-technical audiences through storytelling and data visualization

• Present findings and strategic recommendations to senior and executive stakeholders to influence high-level decisions

Model Development & Operations

• Oversee the full lifecycle of machine learning models, including development, validation, deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement

• Collaborate with Data Engineering to design scalable, well-defined data assets, features, and metrics that support evolving analytical and product needs

Standards & Best Practices

• Establish and promote best practices in experimentation, modeling, data governance, and model reproducibility

• Ensure robust documentation, version control, and transparency across all projects to support sustainability and auditability

What You'll Need

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years in data science or machine learning roles

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or similar, with an advanced degree preferred

• Proven experience deploying machine learning models at scale in production environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in SaaS or experience working with B2B business models

• 5+ years of experience in a technical leadership capacity, including supervisor experience of managers

• Strong programming skills in Python and experience with ML frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch)

• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, causal inference, and A/B testing

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Familiarity with modern data stacks: cloud data warehouses (Snowflake, BigQuery), orchestration tools, and MLOps platforms

• Experience with NLP, recommendation systems, or time-series forecasting

• Experience managing and growing technical talent

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

• Reliable internet access for any period of time working remotely, not in a Workiva office

• Up to 20% travel

How You'll Be Rewarded

A discretionary bonus typically paid annually

Restricted Stock Units granted at time of hire

401(k) match and comprehensive employee benefits package

The salary range represents the low and high end of the salary range for this job in the US. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience and other relevant factors.

Employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic.

Workiva is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. To request assistance with the application process, please email talentacquisition@workiva.com.

Workiva employees are required to undergo comprehensive security and privacy training tailored to their roles, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards.

Workiva supports employees in working where they work best - either from an office or remotely from any location within their country of employment.