Data Director (Hybrid)

About The Role

We are seeking a visionary and strategic Director of Data to establish (build out) and lead our organization’s dedicated data function. Hands-on role for the execution of the data strategy you develop. This is a transformational leadership opportunity to build enterprise-wide data that drives innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. This leader will be responsible for developing the company’s next-generation data ecosystem and building upon the organizational foundation for becoming a truly data-driven business.

This is a hybrid role, 2-3 days a week in the office. Travel a few times a year across the United States, mostly to our New Jersey and Washington State offices.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and execute a comprehensive data, BI, and AI strategy aligned with the organization’s long-term objectives and regulatory obligations.
• Champion a data-driven culture across teams, serving as a strategic advisor and thought leader on data, BI, and AI initiatives.
• Establish enterprise-wide governance frameworks, policies, and standards for data management, quality, and ethical AI practices.
• Partner with senior leadership to identify high-impact opportunities where data, B,I and AI can accelerate business performance.
• Define and communicate the strategic roadmap for data infrastructure, analytics capabilities, and AI maturity.

Data Ecosystem Development:

• Design and implement a scalable, secure data architecture supporting analytics, AI/ML, and business intelligence use cases.
• Build and maintain governance frameworks for data quality, metadata management, and data lineage.
• Implement master data management (MDM) and data integration strategies across complex business systems.
• Develop modern data lake and warehouse solutions optimized for both operational and analytical workloads.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy and security regulations
• Build self-service data discovery and cataloging capabilities to enable enterprise-wide access to trusted data.

Team Building & Leadership:

• Build from almost the ground up, mentor, and lead a multidisciplinary team of data engineers, analysts, and AI specialists.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and growth paths within the data organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Develop external partnerships with universities, technology vendors, and research organizations to attract talent and stay ahead of emerging trends.
• Promote data literacy and education programs across the enterprise.

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration:

• Collaborate with business leaders to translate strategic needs into actionable data and solutions.
• Partner closely with functions to ensure alignment and integration.
• Manage relationships with technology vendors, consultants, and external partners.
• Present updates and strategic insights to executive leadership and relevant committees.
• Act as the organizational point of contact for data and governance discussions

Technology & Infrastructure:

• Oversee selection and implementation of modern data platforms, tools, and technologies.
• Ensure infrastructure scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness across on-premise and cloud environments.
• Define and execute a cloud data strategy and hybrid architecture where appropriate.
• Implement real-time and streaming data capabilities to support high-velocity use cases.
• Oversee API development for data sharing and system integration

Required Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience across data management, analytics, or AI/ML disciplines.
• 5+ years in senior leadership roles with experience building and scaling data or analytics teams.
• Background in a complex, regulated, or data-intensive industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success establishing a data and analytics function from inception to maturity.

Technical Expertise

• Deep understanding of modern data architecture patterns (data lakes, data mesh, etc.).
• Hands-on role for the execution of the data strategy you develop.
• Strong command of data governance, quality management, and Master Data Management practices.
• Proficiency with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and their data ecosystems.
• Experience with ETL/ELT processes, programming languages (Python) and DataOps frameworks.
• Familiarity with data visualization and BI tools for enterprise analytics.

Business & Leadership Skills

• Strategic mindset with the ability to connect data initiatives to business outcomes.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to influence at all organizational levels.
• Proven ability to drive cultural and operational transformation through data.
• Strong project and program management capabilities.
• Financial literacy and experience developing ROI-driven business cases for data investments.

Industry Knowledge

• Experience working within a highly regulated or compliance-driven industry environment.
• Understanding of data privacy and security.
• Awareness of trends in digital transformation, AI innovation, and data-driven business models.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Senior leadership: 5 years (Required)
• Data management: 8 years (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: In person