Director, Analytics & Data Science

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

4d•$163,200 - $293,800•Remote

About The Position

The Director of Data Science & Analytics leads a team that supports the data and analysis needs of WGU’s Marketing, Enrollment, and Regional Operations teams, including Strategic Partnerships. This team’s mission is threefold: to provide objective insights that inform Outreach decisions and improve performance, to clearly communicate Outreach impact, and to build and maintain the analytics infrastructure that supports these efforts. This role plays a key part in shaping the experience of future WGU students - from raising awareness of our mission to helping them choose the right path and complete their enrollment. The Director ensures that data and insights are used to guide strategies that are inclusive, effective, and aligned with WGU’s goals of increasing access, improving student outcomes, and maximizing the value of a WGU degree. Reporting to the Vice President of Institutional Analytics and Research (IAR), the Director is responsible for delivering high-quality analytics that support strategic decision-making across Outreach Organization. The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen and a passion for using data to improve marketing performance, grow enrollment, and strengthen regional outreach.

Requirements

Expertise in Marketing Data Analytics & Science: In-depth understanding of analytics and data science methodologies, tools, and best practices across marketing, enrollment, and related functions, with the ability to partner with enterprise teams to align analytics with shared data platforms and standards.
Business Acumen: Strong business orientation with the ability to translate data insights into actionable business strategies.
Technical Proficiency: Fluency in digital and customer journey analytics ecosystems (e.g., Adobe Analytics, CJA, Tealium AudienceStream, Accutics, ObservePoint, Adobe Launch), to effectively partner with platform owners and ensure reliable, usable data.
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly.
Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Collaboration: Ability to foster effective working relationships across various departments and with external partners.
Master’s Degree in a relevant field such as data analytics, data science, business analytics, marketing, business management, or a related discipline
10+ years of experience in data analytics, data science or related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership role and 3 years of managing managers
Expertise in BI platforms such as Tableau and data tolls related to outreach functions (web analytics, CRM, etc)
Proven track record of managing and mentoring teams and managers
Experience in leading change initiatives within data systems or business processes

Nice To Haves

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), or Pragmatic Product Management
Understanding of higher education landscape and its unique challenges
Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of an analytics strategy that directly supports the needs and priorities of the assigned stakeholder group.
Collaborate with senior leaders to align analytics initiatives with business goals and strategic priorities.
Provide actionable insights to drive marketing campaigns, enrollment strategies, and partnership initiatives.
Lead and guide data scientists and analysts in applying predictive modeling, forecasting, and advanced analytics to support marketing and enrollment priorities.
Shape and prioritize advanced analytics use cases (e.g., incrementality testing, forecasting, impact evaluation, optimization) to ensure analytical work drives clear business decisions and actions.
Ensure advanced analytics outputs are interpretable, actionable, and embedded into workflows, including models that inform recommendations and next-best actions.
Partner with the Analytics Architecture team to ensure web analytics, customer data platforms (CDPs), and related systems provide reliable, decision-ready data.
Support instrumentation and data collection requirements needed to inform stakeholder strategies.
Work with data and platform teams to ensure data from multiple sources is integrated and aligned, enabling a holistic view of marketing and enrollment performance.
Oversee the development and maintenance of dashboards, reports, models, and analytical tools to support decision-making.
Engage with key stakeholders to understand their analytical needs and provide tailored solutions.
Present complex data insights in a clear and actionable manner to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
Facilitate workshops, training sessions, and presentations to promote data literacy and the effective use of analytics.
Stay at the forefront of emerging trends and technologies in data analytics, marketing analytics, and higher education.
Implement continuous improvement processes to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of analytics activities.
Foster a culture of innovation, encouraging the team to explore new methodologies and tools.
Provide visionary leadership and mentorship to the analytics team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
Lead recruitment and talent management efforts to attract and retain top talent with diverse skills and perspectives.
Promote professional growth and development opportunities for team members.
Manage the budget for the Outreach Analytics function, ensuring effective utilization of resources.
Implement cost-saving measures without compromising the quality of analytics services.
Identify and mitigate risks associated with data management and analytics activities.
Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and institutional policies.