Director - Data Science and Analytics

Costco IT is responsible for the technical future of Costco Wholesale , the third largest retailer in the world with wholesale operations in fourteen countries. Despite our size and explosive international expansion, we continue to provide a family, employee centric atmosphere in which our employees thrive and succeed.

This is an environment unlike anything in the high-tech world and the secret of Costco’s success is its culture. The value Costco puts on its employees is well documented in articles from a variety of publishers including Bloomberg and Forbes. Our employees and our members come FIRST. Costco is well known for its generosity and community service and has won many awards for its philanthropy. The company joins with its employees to take an active role in volunteering by sponsoring many opportunities to help others.

Come join the Costco Wholesale IT family . Costco IT is a dynamic, fast-paced environment, working through exciting transformation efforts. We are building the next generation retail environment where you will be surrounded by dedicated and highly professional employees.

As a member of the IT Management Team, you are responsible for managing, developing, and leading a team of employees. Your role includes leading the specific functional responsibilities of your team, which involves overseeing team performance and deliverables. However, your role as a leader within our organization requires more than the management of resources and day-to-day operations. As a steward of the company, you are charged with the development and execution of your team’s strategic vision and plan and ensuring that your team’s actions align with the larger goals of the company and the IT Division.

Costco Wholesale is experiencing substantial growth and is strategically planning to ensure sustained, profitable expansion across new domestic and global locations. Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are recognized as essential enablers for business growth and for driving cost optimization as the business scales. As the Director of Data Science, this role necessitates formulating the data science strategy in collaboration with key leadership across both the business and IT sectors. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities and delivering critical business priorities through innovative AI solutions, with a strong emphasis on achieving rapid time-to-market and adhering to established best practices for cost-effective scaling. This role champions the necessary experimentation with AI techniques, partnering with product teams to successfully deliver these solutions. As a leader, you are accountable to the successful delivery of solutions by the team, managing the designated budget, and providing mentorship, guidance, and development for a globally diversified team of applied Machine Learning (ML)/Ops engineers and data scientists.

As the primary conduit between your employees and upper leadership, your role in communicating and modeling the values and guiding principles of our company culture is of vital importance. All members of IT Management should strive to consciously and consistently foster a culture of engagement, trust, and “open door” communication.

If you want to be a part of one of the worldwide BEST companies “to work for”, simply apply and let your career be reimagined.

ROLE

• INTEGRITY: When achieving benchmarks and goals, use methods/strategies that are consistent with the Code of Ethics and the Standard of Ethics for Directors. Always leads by example. Appropriately handles employee concerns and follows through to resolution.
• MEMBER SERVICE: Provides and ensures staff provides an exceptional member experience.
• ADMINISTRATION: Ensures proper department coverage (writing schedule and break aids if needed). Understands department budget, able to research and explain budget variances.
• MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Coaches and mentors employees to provide support and guidance. Has regular open and honest conversations with employees to discuss work performance and career development. Identifies learning opportunities to strengthen employee knowledge, skill and ability.
• COMMUNICATION: Regularly shares information with employees via meetings and one-on-one conversations. Successfully navigates difficult conversations with employees, members, and suppliers. Listens, expresses empathy and adapts to get points across. Addresses issues immediately to ensure a timely resolution and to avoid escalating the situation. Consistently demonstrates business knowledge during interactions with senior management.
• SELF-MANAGEMENT: Demonstrates sound judgement, taking a partner when necessary. Ability to maintain self-control in the face of hostility or provocation or in intense, hectic situations.
• INCLUSION : Encourages different approaches and ideas to work and to accomplish goals. Seeks employee input. Takes the time to get to know or reach out to candidates who show potential that may not come forward on their own.
• COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY: Takes measures to ensure employee and member information is kept confidential and adheres to IS security policy.
• Leads the data science team through opportunity identification, validation, delivery and support of business priorities.
• Defines the AI / Data science roadmap by business areas, identifies AI trends and suggests ways to improve business outcomes through use of AI.
• Collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams including data team, business partners and EA to ensure successful implementation delivery of AI solutions.
• Mentors and coaches the team and partner teams to increase AI literacy.
• This is a full-time management/leadership position (40+ hours per week).

Required

• 15 years of experience in leading AI, Data Science to support critical business needs.
• 10 years experience building and deploying scalable AI solutions.
• 5 years of increasing leadership experience in managing and leading teams.
• Experience in defining and implementing data and AI strategy.
• Proficiency in Python, (or R), Machine Learning / Deep Learning, Data Visualization and data story telling.
• Hands on experience and conduct code reviews with the team.
• Proactively partner and identify opportunities, set priorities and establish goals.

Recommended

• 15 years experience with a Bachelor's degree, 12 years experience with Masters or 10 years experience with PhD.
• Experience in retail, marketing, supply chain, e-commerce industries.
• Proficient in Google Workspace applications, including Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Gmail.

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume

California applicants, please click to review the Costco Applicant Privacy Notice.

Pay Range: $160,000 - $230,000; Bonus and Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) eligible

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health benefits - medical/dental/vision/hearing aid/pharmacy/behavioral health/employee assistance, health care reimbursement account, dependent care assistance plan, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance, AD&D insurance, life insurance, 401(k), stock purchase plan to eligible employees.

Costco is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Costco is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected]

If hired, you will be required to provide proof of authorization to work in the United States. Applicants and employees for this position will not be sponsored for work authorization, including, but not limited to H1-B visas .