Associate Director, Data Science

Description

**Move Your Career Forward with DAC as Associate Director, Data Science**

**Who We Are**

We are DAC—a global full-funnel performance media agency dedicated to delivering transformative results. With expertise spanning SEO, paid media, creative production, analytics, and local optimization, we combine the brightest minds with innovative technology to deliver seamless, forward-thinking strategies. Powered by AI, data, and creative ingenuity, we deliver integrated campaigns that engage customers at every touchpoint—from global audiences to individual store locations.

**Role Summary**

We are seeking a proactive Associate Director, Data Science who will drive the development and implementation of advanced statistical methodologies while maintaining hands-on involvement in model development. This role requires a strategic thinker who can independently develop innovative analytical frameworks, lead client consultations, and contribute to new business development—all while remaining deeply engaged in the technical execution of complex statistical analyses including Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) and beyond.

**Key Responsibilities**
- ** Strategic Leadership & Innovation**
- ** Develop and champion** novel statistical methodologies and analytical frameworks tailored to client needs
- ** Lead client consultations** as the primary data science expert, translating complex statistical concepts into strategic business recommendations
- ** Drive new business development** by contributing to pitches, proposals, and thought leadership initiatives
- ** Establish best practices** for statistical rigor, model validation, and analytical quality across the organization
- ** Hands-On Technical Delivery**
- ** Personally build and deploy** sophisticated statistical models including MMM, causal inference models, time series forecasting, and experimental design frameworks
- ** Lead end-to-end model development** from hypothesis formation through data preparation, model building, validation, and deployment
- ** Conduct advanced statistical analyses** using techniques such as hierarchical Bayesian modeling, machine learning, and econometric methods
- ** Design and analyze** experiments including A/B tests, geo-lift studies, and synthetic control methods
- ** Develop custom analytical solutions** that go beyond standard approaches to address unique client challenges
- ** Client & Stakeholder Management**
- ** Present findings and recommendations** directly to C-suite executives and senior stakeholders
- ** Build trusted advisor relationships** with clients through strategic engagement and thought partnership
- ** Translate technical insights** into compelling narratives that drive strategic decision-making
- ** Lead cross-functional collaboration** with media, strategy, and creative teams to ensure analytical insights are actionable
- ** Technical Infrastructure & Innovation**
- ** Architect scalable analytical solutions** using modern data science tools and cloud platforms
- ** Drive automation initiatives** to increase efficiency and reproducibility of analyses
- ** Evaluate and implement** emerging statistical techniques and technologies
- ** Mentor team members** on advanced statistical concepts and methodological approaches

**Required Qualifications**
- ** Education & Experience**
- ** Bachelor's or Master's degree** in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related quantitative field
- ** 4-5 years of hands-on experience** in applied statistics, data science, or quantitative research
- ** Demonstrated track record** of developing and implementing analytical approaches to business problems
- ** Experience presenting** to senior stakeholders and executive audiences
- ** Technical Expertise**
- ** Expert-level proficiency** in statistical programming (Python or R) with ability to write production-quality code
- ** Deep understanding** of statistical theory including causal inference, experimental design, time series analysis, and Bayesian methods
- ** Proven experience** building complex models from scratch, not just using pre-built packages
- ** Strong SQL skills** for data extraction and manipulation
- ** Experience with** version control (Git) and collaborative development practices
- ** Leadership & Business Acumen**
- ** Strong initiative** with ability to identify opportunities and drive projects independently
- ** Exceptional communication skills** with ability to influence and educate stakeholders
- ** Business development experience** including proposal writing and pitch presentations
- ** Strategic thinking** with ability to connect analytical insights to business outcomes
- ** Intellectual curiosity** and drive to continuously expand methodological toolkit

**Preferred Qualifications**
- Experience with Snowflake or similar cloud data warehouses
- Background in marketing analytics, MMM, or media measurement
- Experience with causal ML methods (Double ML, causal fores