Director Data Science, Measurement

Samba • San Francisco, CA

12d • $200,000 - $250,000

About The Position

Samba is a media intelligence company that provides real-time, large-scale data on what the world is watching, reading, and thinking. Our data, gathered with the consent of over a billion people, offers a comprehensive view of consumer attention, enabling major brands to make informed decisions. We consider this data asset to be exceptionally interesting due to its cultural relevance.

Reporting to our VP of Data Science, Samba is seeking a Director of Data Science to lead the Measurement science team. This team is responsible for developing the statistical frameworks, causal models, and attribution methodologies that underpin Samba's core measurement products. The role involves owning the science and delivery for a portfolio including incrementality measurement, multi-touch attribution, reach and frequency modeling, and audience intelligence. This position requires close collaboration with Product to define strategic direction and with Engineering to implement solutions into production.

The ideal candidate is a senior technical leader with deep, hands-on expertise in causal ML, statistical modeling, and measurement science. This expertise should be sufficient to guide architectural decisions, mentor senior data scientists, and participate effectively in design reviews. Additionally, the candidate must possess the ability to build and manage a high-performing team, communicate clearly with executive and external stakeholders, and ensure the successful delivery of complex, multi-workstream projects.

Requirements

• 8+ years of hands-on data science experience
• At least 2-3 years in a people management role, including demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and retain senior data scientists
• Deep, first-principles expertise in Causal ML (counterfactual modeling, meta-learners, heterogeneous treatment effect estimation) applied to advertising measurement or media outcomes
• Solid command of the broader measurement science toolkit: A/B testing, difference-in-differences, synthetic control, propensity scoring, Bayesian hierarchical models, and panel methodology
• Strong statistical and ML foundations (regression, classification, experimental design, model evaluation)
• Expert-level Python and SQL
• Strong PySpark and Databricks experience for large-scale measurement pipelines
• Track record of owning and delivering complex, multi-workstream data science projects on time in a fast-moving environment
• Excellent communicator - able to translate causal and statistical reasoning into language that drives product, sales, and executive decisions
• Bachelor's degree required in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with EconML, DoWhy, or CausalML
• Clear intuition for when to apply each measurement science approach and what its limitations are
• Ability to reason clearly about trade-offs between modeling approaches
• Master's or PhD strongly preferred
• Direct experience with TV or digital measurement (ACR/STB data, viewership panels, reach/frequency modeling, or cross-platform measurement)
• Hands-on experience with multi-touch attribution (MTA) or multi-channel attribution modeling
• Familiarity with the measurement vendor landscape (Nielsen, Comscore, VideoAmp, iSpot) and industry standards (MRC accreditation, GRP/TRP frameworks)
• Experience with audience segmentation, identity resolution, or privacy-preserving measurement approaches
• Track record of publishing research, white papers, or presenting at industry conferences

Responsibilities

• Partner with Product to define the measurement science roadmap, covering incrementality, multi-touch attribution, reach/frequency estimation, panel calibration, and audience targeting.
• Translate business and client priorities into well-scoped quarterly plans and sprint commitments.
• Lead design reviews and architecture decisions for the team.
• Drive the application of Causal ML (counterfactual modeling, meta-learners, heterogeneous treatment effect estimation) as the primary framework for measuring ad effectiveness, alongside a strong understanding of A/B testing, DiD, synthetic control, Bayesian hierarchical models, and panel methodology.
• Own end-to-end delivery across the team's measurement science portfolio, managing dependencies, removing blockers, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality work across multiple concurrent workstreams.
• In partnership with Engineering, set and maintain standards for experimental design, model evaluation, reproducibility, and production readiness.
• Co-own the data quality framework to ensure the robustness and consistency of measurement products.
• In partnership with Engineering, develop and implement best practices for the full DS lifecycle, including data management, modeling, evaluation, pipeline orchestration, and production deployment on Databricks/Spark.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of data scientists, managing hiring, performance reviews, career development, and individual goal-setting.
• Build a high-accountability culture grounded in technical rigor, psychological safety, and continuous learning.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Business Development to define and execute data-driven measurement projects.
• Support Sales and Marketing with technical positioning and clear articulation of Samba's measurement capabilities.
• Translate complex causal and statistical findings into clear, actionable insights for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Represent the team to senior leadership and external stakeholders, and contribute a credible technical voice to client conversations and industry forums.

Benefits

• Samba may collect personal information directly from you, as a job applicant, Samba may also receive personal information from third parties, for example, in connection with a background, employment or reference check, in accordance with the applicable law. For further details, please see Samba's Applicant Privacy Policy. For residents of the EU , Samba Inc. is the data controller.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director