Senior Director, Analytics

NOVUS Careers • Chicago, IL

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Novus is seeking a Senior Director, Analytics to serve as an analytical and operational anchor of our measurement practice for several clients. This role carries dual accountability: direct ownership of a portfolio of client engagements and cross-practice responsibility for thought leadership in ensuring consistent, standards-compliant execution of Novus's measurement framework, learning agenda, and measurement plan implementation. Reporting to the VP, Analytics & Data Science, the Senior Director will translate strategic direction into disciplined operating cadence, develop a team of analysts, and serve as the primary escalation point for measurement quality and methodology across all client work. This is a senior leadership position suited to an analytically rigorous practitioner who is equally comfortable driving standards at the practice level and managing client relationships with authority and clarity.

Requirements

• Demonstrated track record leading analytics, marketing science, or measurement teams within an agency, consultancy, or in-house media environment.
• Deep working command of marketing measurement methodologies — media mix modeling, multi-touch attribution, incrementality testing, lift studies, and performance reporting — and the ability to articulate how these approaches complement one another.
• Proven experience building and enforcing operating standards: documented frameworks, quality-assurance processes, and review cadences that scale across teams and client portfolios.
• People-management experience including hiring, performance management, and structured career development for analysts and senior analysts.
• Fluency in the digital advertising ecosystem — including data sources, measurement concepts, and taxonomy — across paid social, paid search, programmatic, and linear and streaming television.
• SQL proficiency and working command of Python or R for analysis, automation, and data pipeline support.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate methodology for both technical and executive audiences and calibrate register and depth accordingly.
• An AI-integrated working style: demonstrated routine use of modern AI coding and productivity tools to accelerate analysis, documentation, and team output.
• Bachelor's or advanced degree in mathematics, statistics, economics, marketing analytics, computer science, or a related quantitative discipline — or equivalent professional experience.
• Eight to twelve years of professional experience in marketing analytics, marketing science, or a closely related field, including a minimum of three years in a direct people-management capacity.

Nice To Haves

• Prior agency-side or media measurement experience is valued but not required.
• Direct experience with MMM platforms such as OptiMine, Meridian, Analytic Partners, or comparable solutions.
• Familiarity with Snowflake or other cloud data warehouse platforms and modern data stack tooling.
• Experience designing and operationalizing learning agendas across a multi-client portfolio.
• Industry background in retail, CPG, financial services, or other data-intensive verticals.
• Exposure to privacy-preserving measurement approaches including data clean rooms, modeled conversions, and aggregated signal methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Own the implementation of Novus's measurement framework, learning agenda, and measurement plans across a large share of the client portfolio — not solely within directly managed accounts.
• Establish and maintain the operating cadence that ensures measurement work progresses consistently: engagement kickoffs, milestone reviews, quarterly business reviews, post-campaign analyses, and learning-agenda checkpoints.
• Identify deviations from agreed methodology across client engagements and lead resolution — exercising sound judgment with external stakeholders and decisive action internally.
• Drive the ongoing evolution of Novus's measurement methodology and toolset, including: Evaluation and adoption of new methods, platforms, and industry best practices, Enforcement of quality-assurance and documentation standards across the team, Structured onboarding of new client engagements to the measurement framework, Cross-team training and analytical capability development.
• Serve as the senior analytical lead for a portfolio of client accounts, owning the measurement relationship end-to-end from strategic framing through reporting and recommendations.
• Translate complex measurement findings into clear, actionable strategic guidance; represent the analytics function in quarterly business reviews, annual planning sessions, and executive-level presentations.
• Apply the full breadth of Novus's analytical capabilities — reporting, attribution, media mix modeling, incrementality, and brand lift — calibrated to the scope and complexity of each engagement.
• Manage and develop a team of two to six analysts and senior analysts; maintain accountability for output quality, professional growth, and career progression.
• Lead hiring and onboarding; cultivate a team culture defined by analytical rigor, intellectual curiosity, and a strong sense of ownership.
• Serve as a strategic extension of the VP, Analytics & Data Science — anticipating emerging issues, exercising sound judgment on escalations, and representing senior leadership when required.
• Remain current on the measurement landscape and actively shape how Novus adopts and integrates new methods, platforms, and best practices across the practice.

Benefits

• medical, prescription, dental, vision, life and accidental death & dismemberment insurances, short and long-term disability, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, a health savings account, legal services, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program.
• A group retirement savings plan is also available to all salaried employees.

What This Job Offers

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