Microsoft

Data Science Strategy Lead

Microsoft$142K — $274K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Doctorate in Data Science or related field with 5+ years of experience in data science OR Master's Degree with 7+ years OR Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years; equivalent experience acceptable.
  • Advanced application of statistical modeling or machine learning techniques for complex business problems.
  • Proven experience in defining product vision, building roadmaps, and making long-term data-driven investment decisions.
  • Ability to influence Data Science strategy and standards across teams or domains.
  • Experienced in framing ambiguous problems and establishing success metrics.

Responsibilities

  • Set the long-term data science strategy, identifying key areas for investment and prioritization.
  • Create a multi-year vision and roadmap for data science capabilities based on customer needs and market trends.
  • Evaluate Data Science initiatives and provide recommendations for action based on strategic analysis.
  • Strengthen collaboration between Data Science and business partners by clarifying goals and success metrics.
  • Translate analytics capabilities into measurable business outcomes to inform investment decisions.
  • Offer technical and strategic guidance to align business goals with data science modeling choices.
  • Influence the operating model for Data Science to improve collaboration and insights integration.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage.
  • Generous paid time off policies.
  • Opportunities for ongoing professional development.
  • A commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities
• Formulate Data Science Strategy: Set the long term Data Science strategy, defining where to intentionally invest, differentiate, and deprioritize to maximize sustained business value.
• Develop Multi Year Vision and Roadmap: Create a multi year vision and roadmap for Data Science capabilities, grounded in the voice of the customer, incorporating external perspectives such as industry trends, emerging technologies, best practices, and the voice of customer.
• Shape Portfolio Level Decisions: Establish and apply frameworks to evaluate Data Science initiatives, making explicit stop, continue, pause, or pivot recommendations based on strategic priorities.
• Strategic Business Integration and Value Framing: Define and strengthen the engagement and decision interface between Data Science and business partners, ensuring clarity in problem framing, success metrics, and prioritization ownership.
• Articulate Business Value of Data Science: Translate analytics and AI capabilities into measurable business outcomes such as decision quality, agility, resiliency, productivity, speed, and scale, and ensure these outcomes guide prioritization and investment decisions.
• Technical Advisory and Strategic Enablement: Provide technical and strategic guidance on how business intent should be translated into modeling choices, platforms, architectures, and dependencies aligned with long term Data Science strategy.
• Evolve Data Science Operating Model: Influence operating models, role clarity, and collaboration patterns across Data Science, engineering, product, and business teams to improve effectiveness, accountability, and integration of insights into business outcomes.
• Drive Cross Organizational Execution: Orchestrate execution of complex, cross organizational initiatives by aligning stakeholders, managing dependencies, and ensuring Data Science solutions are operationalized and adopted at scale.
• Executive Communication and Influence: Communicate strategy, trade offs, progress, and impact clearly to senior and executive stakeholders through concise, data driven narratives that inform decisions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Doctorate in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 5+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)
    • OR Master's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 7+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 10+ years data science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)
    • OR equivalent experience.


Other Requirements:

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following specialized security screenings:
  • Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Doctorate in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 8+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)
    • OR Master's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 10+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 12+ years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • Advanced experience applying statistical modeling or machine learning techniques to complex business problems, with demonstrated ability to translate analysis into actionable, decision driving outcomes.
  • Experience defining product or capability vision, building roadmaps, and making long term investment trade offs informed by data, customer needs, and business priorities.
  • Proven ability to influence Data Science direction beyond individual projects and shaping strategy, standards, or investment decisions across teams or domains.
  • Demonstrated strength in framing ambiguous problem spaces, establishing success metrics, and balancing analytical rigor, scalability, and business practicality.
  • Experience leading complex, cross functional initiatives involving Data Science, engineering, product, and business partners, with accountability for delivery and adoption.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries and operate as a trusted advisor in highly ambiguous environments.
  • Strong executive communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders through clear, data driven narratives rather than formal authority.


Data Science IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800.00 - $274,800.00 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000.00 - $304,200.00 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

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Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ

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