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.
What You'll Do
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
What You'll Need
Minimum Qualifications
- 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 structu