Director of Decision Science

Workiva Inc.•Bozeman, MT

4d•$177,000 - $284,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Director of Decision Science to build and scale one of Workiva's most strategically important functions. This is not a role for someone who maintains the status quo—it's for a leader who sees around corners, raises the analytical bar, and fundamentally changes how Workiva uses data to compete and grow. You will lead our Decision Science team, set a transformative vision, and drive initiatives that influence decisions at every level of the business. You will harness state-of-the-art technologies—including Snowflake Cortex, AI-powered analytics, and modern ML platforms—to build capabilities that didn't exist before. You will shape Workiva's Enterprise Data Strategy, influence how business functions operate through data-backed recommendations, and help build a company where data is a genuine competitive advantage. This role reports to the VP of Enterprise Data & Analytics.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in Decision Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or related analytical fields with an advanced degree or 10+ years of experience with a Bachelors, including 3+ years leading high-performing technical teams
Proven experience in SaaS or B2B environments, specifically using data to drive Go-To-Market (GTM), customer success, or product strategy
Sufficient hands-on background to evaluate methodology choices, conduct code-level dialogue, and guide analytical rigor across the modern data stack (e.g., Snowflake, SQL, or cloud data platforms)
Demonstrated success in building, scaling, and inspiring technical talent across Data Science and BI disciplines
Ability to influence functional strategies through compelling narratives presented to C-suite or senior leadership
Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous business problems into structured analytical frameworks and deliver measurable business outcomes

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with modern transformation tools (e.g., dbt, metrics layers) and enterprise BI platforms (e.g., Sigma, Looker)
History of leading or co-leading enterprise-wide data or AI transformation initiatives, moving an organization from reactive reporting to predictive intelligence
Hands-on experience or a strong strategic point of view on implementing Snowflake Cortex, LLM-based workflows, and AI-powered analytics for business impact
Deep expertise in statistical modeling, causal inference, experimentation design, and applied analytics to drive business decisions
Technically credible across data science, ML, and analytics—with enough hands-on background to guide analytical decisions, evaluate methodology choices, engage in code-level dialogue, and hold the team to a high bar, without needing to be the one building it

Responsibilities

Build & Scale Analytics Capabilities Across Workiva
Grow and scale a world-class decision science function—defining the capability roadmap, tooling standards, and operating model that compound in value over time
Introduce and embed state-of-the-art analytical capabilities, including Snowflake Cortex, LLM-assisted analysis, AI-powered self-service insights, and modern MLOps practices, into the team's everyday workflow
Oversee the full model lifecycle—from development and validation through deployment, monitoring, and optimization—ensuring analytical products stay accurate and impactful over time
Establish a culture of analytical excellence, curiosity, and continuous learning—where the team is always pushing the boundaries of what's possible with data
Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional talent across data science and BI disciplines, building a team that is both technically elite and business-savvy
Define and lead the Data Science and BI strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with company priorities and measurable business outcomes
Drive Business Impact Through Insights
Partner deeply with Sales, Product, Customer Success, Marketing, Finance and other business teams to influence functional strategies and operations through rigorous, data-backed recommendations
Translate complex, ambiguous business problems into structured analytical approaches—guiding teams to deliver high-quality, decision-ready insights that move the needle
Present data-driven recommendations to senior and executive leadership, shaping strategy through compelling narratives that connect analysis to outcomes
Drive an agile, iterative delivery process, breaking complex initiatives into executable components and continuously improving based on stakeholder feedback
Accelerate Workiva’s Enterprise Data Strategy
Partner with leaders in Data Platform, Data Product Management, and Data Governance to co-develop and execute Workiva's Enterprise Data Strategy
Champion the design and governance of a standardized, company-wide metrics framework—ensuring consistency, integrity, and alignment across all business functions
Act as a thought leader and strategic advisor on AI/ML and advanced analytics, elevating data maturity across the organization and influencing how the company thinks about data as a strategic asset
Collaborate with Data Engineering and Analytics Engineering to design scalable data assets, metrics, and features that meet evolving business and analytical needs
Uphold data ethics, compliance, and responsible AI standards — promoting transparency, fairness, and trust in all analytical initiatives
Elevate Self-Serve and BI Capabilities
Drive the evolution of Workiva's BI and self-service capabilities—moving from static reporting to AI-powered, decision-ready intelligence accessible to all business users
Establish and maintain best practices in metrics design, model reproducibility, experimentation, and data governance
Communicate clear, actionable insights to both technical and non-technical audiences, tailoring messages for maximum impact at every level of the organization