Sr. Manager, Data Innovation Studio

Nissan • Franklin, TN

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are currently looking for a Sr. Manager, Data Innovation Studio, to join our team in Franklin, TN . The Senior Manager of the Data Innovation Studio leads Nissan’s experimentation and innovation environment, overseeing partnerships, pilot projects, and lab initiatives. This role evaluates and filters experiments, ensuring that high-potential, validated projects are transitioned to the Data Factory / Delivery team for industrialization and scaling. The manager also fosters collaboration with internal teams, vendors, and academic partners to promote innovation and accelerate data-driven solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Data Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 10 + years of experience in data governance or related roles.
• 5 + years in managerial or leadership positions.
• Proven experience managing innovation labs, R&D, or experimentation programs in a technology-driven organization.
• Strong understanding of data science, analytics, and emerging technologies.
• Experience evaluating projects for business value, scalability, and operationalization.
• Excellent leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to foster creativity, experimentation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Partnership & Academic Outreach Analyst, Data Coaches, and iLab project teams.
• Oversee the ideation, evaluation, and execution of experiments within the Data Innovation Studio.
• Filter and validate lab projects based on ROI, business impact, and feasibility, ensuring only high-value initiatives move to the Data Factory.
• Collaborate closely with the Delivery / Data Factory team to ensure smooth handover of production-ready solutions.
• Build and maintain external partnerships with universities, vendors, and communities to drive innovation and talent pipelines.
• Promote a culture of experimentation, learning, and knowledge sharing across the innovation studio.
• Track outcomes, lessons learned, and impact of lab initiatives to inform strategy and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Career Growth and Continuous Learning Opportunities: Benefit from diverse career paths, cross-departmental moves, and innovative learning platforms. Enhance your skills through seminars, leadership training, and tuition reimbursement programs, all while playing a vital role in shaping the future of transportation. From day one, you'll have the support to tackle challenges and contribute to impactful solutions across our organization.
• Rewards: Be supported with a Comprehensive Benefits Package, including medical, mental health, parental leave, retirement savings & unique Nissan perks, including discounts on lease vehicles as part of our Employee Lease Program and a Vehicle Purchase Program (VPP).

What This Job Offers

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