Vice President, Advanced Data Science

Job Number 24049963
Job Category Sales & Marketing
Location Marriott International HQ, 7750 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, United States VIEW ON MAP
Schedule Full-Time
Located Remotely? N
Relocation? N
Position Type Management
JOB SUMMARY

The VP of Advanced Data Science (ADS) will lead the development and ongoing operation of Marriott International’s (MI) tools, vendors, and technologies that leverage data science, advanced predictive analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other algorithms. This position will play a key role in evangelizing the application of data science to improve experiences for our customers, our associates, and our owners to further our mission to be “The World’s Favorite Travel Company”.  The VP, ADS is responsible for collaborating with various functional / business unit leaders to define and advance a portfolio of predictive and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI / ML) use cases, specifically in the application to marketing, customer experience, loyalty, and personalization use cases. This is a key role within MI’s Customer Group and partners closely with the VP, Marketing Strategy and the VP of Data Strategy.

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

Education and Experience Required

• Advanced Degree (Masters or PhD) from an accredited university in Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or related major. 
• 15+ years of experience in the practice of Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning with a majority of that experience specifically concentrated on customer marketing and personalization applications. 
• Demonstrating progressive career growth in the marketing data science area.
• Experience leading teams in the development of new insights, advanced modeling techniques, and data science capabilities with a marketing focus.
• Broad awareness of vendors and platform solutions in the marketplace in the areas of marketing and personalization modeling, decisioning, next best offer/product/action, AI and Gen AI applications, and experience in bringing solutions using these capabilities to life using cloud-based platforms (AWS, Azure, etc). 
• Leadership experience leveraging data science, specifically within a consumer business, and experience running a fully functional data science team in a marketing discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of Customer Lifetime Value models, Regression and Time series analyses, clustering and classification, Supervised / Unsupervised Learning techniques, Neural networks, experimental design, and multi-variate testing.
• Hands-on experience working with current relevant technologies such as Jupyter Notebooks, Python, Spark, Tensor Flow, AWS EMR/ Hadoop, SageMaker, Domino Data Labs, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to define and communicate compelling, business-enabling vision for the Advanced Data Science team, along with actionable roadmaps to achieve target state architecture across people, process, and technology dimensions.
• Experience working directly with C-suite executives in the creation of data science strategies against stated corporate strategies.
• Experience building Data Science functions from scratch, including hiring, developing, and retaining talent in this space.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results under difficult conditions, particularly when faced with complexity and ambiguity. 
• Knowledge of information management best practices and data privacy laws, particularly as they impact how we create models that meet privacy regulations and achieve explainability guidelines while delivering economic benefit. 

Education and Experience Preferred

• PhD or post-graduation specialization in AI / ML.
• Experience developing real-time recommendation engines that are performant in high-volume consumer digital environments.

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES 

Leading AI / ML Strategy and Vision

• Develop a vision and strategy for AI and Machine Learning and its applicability to Marriott’s Customer and Technology Groups.
• Create a portfolio of AI / ML driven use cases in partnership with other business leaders.
• Lead the development of data and technical strategy to deliver AI / ML use cases at scale in partnership with the Data Strategy and Technology teams.
• Partner with Privacy team to ensure the AI / ML strategy conforms to the various regulations and can deliver explainable models as needed.
• Evangelize the use of Advanced Data Science techniques to drive business outcomes.

Managing Execution of Strategy

• Develop tactical execution plans for operationalizing the strategy in partnership with the Data, Channel, and Technology leaders.
• Balance “home-grown” solutions with external applications/platforms/vendors to best leverage what is available externally with building ourselves.
• Help drive prioritization of resources and budgets across the most valuable use cases.
• With the team develop and deliver on the appropriate use cases with relevant test strategies and measurement plans in place.
• Present findings and outcomes of the use cases to senior business leaders (e.g., Global Officers, Presidents, etc.,)

Leading the Advanced Data Science Team

• Ensure clarity of mission and communicate the mission effectively to the team.
• Set clear goals for the organization, communicate them effectively, and ensure plans are in place to deliver to the goals.
• Create a sense of pride and accomplishment in the delivery of use cases and outcomes.
• Set specific learning and growth goals for the team. Work with HR to hire and recruit talent. Develop a strategy to work with top educational institutions to learn from the educational faculty and develop a hiring pipeline for top talent.
• Mentor key team members to help them grow in various aspects both technical and non-technical.
• Stay current on the latest data science trends, techniques, and best practices, determining how to incorporate the most suitable practices across the team.

Managing and Conducting Human Resources Activities

• Interviews and hires employees.
• Promotes the fair and equitable treatment of employees.
• Facilitates regular, ongoing communication in the department (e.g., staff meetings).
• Foster's employees are committed to providing excellent service, participate in daily stand-up meetings, and model desired service behaviors in all interactions with customers and employees.
• Incorporates customer satisfaction as a component of staff/operations meetings with an emphasis on generating innovative ways to continually improve results.
• Sets goals and expectations for direct reports using the performance review process and holds staff accountable for performance goals.
• Solicits employee feedback.
• Utilizes an “open door policy” and reviews employee satisfaction results to identify and address employee problems or concerns.
• Promotes adherence to policies consistently, follows disciplinary procedures documents items according to Standard and Local Operating Procedures (SOPs and LSOPs), and supports the Peer Review Process.
• Conducts annual performance appraisals with direct reports according to Standard Operating Procedures.
• Champions change ensures brand and regional business initiatives are implemented and communicates follow-up actions to the team as necessary.
• Identifies talents of direct reports and their teams and assists with their growth and development plans. 

Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.

Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel company, with more brands, more hotels and more opportunities for associates to grow and succeed. Be where you can do your best work,​ begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global​ team, and become the best version of you.

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