Head of Data Science & Machine Learning

About Niche

Niche leads the school search industry by making researching and enrolling in schools easy, transparent, and free. Our mission is to help millions of people find the right school for them with in-depth profiles, 140 million reviews and ratings, and powerful search tools. We also assist thousands of schools in recruiting best-fit students by highlighting their strengths and simplifying the application process.

Niche fosters a workplace culture where employees find their place and thrive professionally. Our mission drives our daily operations, making Niche a place where people truly enjoy working.

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Data Science and Machine Learning to lead our efforts in data science, machine learning, and AI. This high-impact role requires a hands-on technical leader with expertise in SaaS, B2C, or two-sided marketplace sectors. You will be responsible for establishing our data science and ML practices and leading a team to drive innovation and impact.

As the data science lead, you'll formulate and execute a comprehensive vision and roadmap, delivering critical functionalities like recommendation systems, personalized search, intelligent matching, generative AI, and predictive insights for customer health and retention. This role reports to the VP of Data.

What You Will Do

During the 1st Month:

- Conduct a thorough assessment of current data science and ML capabilities.

- Identify immediate opportunities to enhance customer experience and business operations.

- Build relationships with key stakeholders to align on objectives and expectations.

- Implement quick wins to demonstrate the value of data science and ML.

Within 3 Months:

- Develop and communicate a vision and strategy for data science and ML.

- Collaborate with stakeholders to create a comprehensive roadmap for data science and ML capabilities.

- Begin development work on the data science and ML roadmap.

- Identify infrastructure needs in collaboration with the head of data engineering.

- Mentor and coach members within the larger data organization.

Within 6 Months:

- Deploy initial models into production to optimize customer experience and retention.

- Refine model performance based on data insights and feedback.

- Integrate AI-driven features with product and engineering teams.

- Formalize the data science and ML vision and resource needs for continuous impact.

Within 12 Months:

- Build, recruit, and onboard key talents to foster a culture of learning, performance, collaboration, and excellence.

- Deliver significant progress on the planned roadmap and demonstrate business impact.

- Partner with senior leadership to identify and advocate for strategic data science and AI opportunities.

- Stay updated on industry trends and establish thought leadership through publications and presentations.

What We Are Looking For

- Advanced degree (Ph.D. or Master's) in computer science, statistics, mathematics, or a related field.

- Minimum of 10 years of experience in data science, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

- Proven track record of successful data science projects in SaaS, B2C, or two-sided marketplaces.

- Expert knowledge of machine learning algorithms, data modeling, and statistical analysis.

- Strong leadership skills with experience in building and managing a team of data scientists.

- Hands-on experience with languages like Python, R, and SQL, and frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.

- Experience with cloud data science and ML platforms (e.g., AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, Snowflake, Databricks).

- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

- Ability to think strategically and drive innovation while focusing on execution.

Are you enthusiastic about the responsibilities but worried that your experience doesn't align 100% with the requirements? We believe you are more than a resume. Go for it! You won't want to miss the chance to help students find where they belong.

Compensation

Our national target base salary range is $188,400-$235,500, plus participation in our Annual Bonus and Stock Option Program. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and skills. At Niche, our Total Rewards Philosophy centers around creating a workplace that attracts, motivates, and retains top talent with performance-based compensation, best-in-class benefits, work-life balance, and employee well-being.

Why Niche?

- Fully flexible workforce allowing remote work,