Director of Data Analytics Summary:

The Director, Data Intelligence & Analytics is responsible for leading Townsend's enterprise data, analytics, and artificial intelligence capabilities while partnering with business leaders to drive measurable operational and strategic outcomes.

This position leads a diverse team of data engineers, visualization professionals, and AI/ML specialists supporting business units across Townsend. The Director is responsible for advancing the organization's data strategy, improving delivery capabilities, strengthening technical standards, and identifying opportunities to use data and emerging technologies to improve business performance.

This is a hands-on, player-coach leadership role. In addition to providing strategic and people leadership, the Director is expected to remain actively involved in technical delivery and work directly within the platforms and technologies used by the team. This may include developing and reviewing code, troubleshooting data pipelines, reviewing data models, developing proofs of concept, and working alongside team members to resolve complex technical challenges.

Approximately 50-60% of this position is expected to involve direct technical contribution.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership

• Provide hands-on technical leadership across data engineering, analytics, visualization, AI/ML, and GenAI solutions.
• Work directly within the technology stack to develop and review code, build and troubleshoot data pipelines, model data, and develop reports and dashboards alongside the team.
• Personally develop prototypes and proofs of concept to evaluate new approaches and capabilities before broader implementation.
• Serve as a senior technical reviewer by participating in code reviews, design reviews, and architectural decisions.
• Establish and maintain high standards for solution quality, performance, scalability, maintainability, and technical delivery.
• Step into critical-path technical work when necessary to support escalations, meet important deadlines, resolve delivery issues, or remove technical blockers.
• Evaluate and pilot emerging technologies, AI/Gen, AI capabilities, platform features, and new tools to determine their practical application within Townsend.
• Develop reusable frameworks, accelerators, templates, standards, and internal tools that improve productivity and delivery across the department.
• Maintain a strong understanding of day-to-day technical work to ensure estimates, commitments, and technical decisions are realistic and well informed.
• Remain current on advancements in data engineering, analytics, AI, machine learning, cloud technologies, and related industry trends.

People & Department Leadership

• Lead and develop a department consisting of data engineers, visualization professionals, and AI/ML specialists.
• Build a culture where team members feel supported, valued, accountable, collaborative, and encouraged to continuously grow and innovate.
• Establish strategic and operational goals for the Data Intelligence & Analytics department and translate those goals into measurable actions and outcomes.
• Support employee development and identify career growth opportunities for team members.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and technical mentorship to team members and department leaders.
• Strengthen service capabilities, development practices, and Software Development Life Cycle processes to improve delivery outcomes.
• Partner with business leaders, project managers, and program managers to optimize delivery models while balancing structure, flexibility, priorities, and available resources.
• Oversee department capacity and resource allocation to ensure effective use of team capabilities.
• Manage the portfolio of data and analytics initiatives, identifying risks, competing priorities, resource needs, and opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Hold teams accountable for commitments, quality standards, business outcomes, and continuous improvement.
• Promote automation, reusable solutions, and team-based delivery practices that improve efficiency and scalability.
• Champion continuous improvement across department processes, technical capabilities, service delivery, and team performance.

Business Partnership & Value Creation

• Partner with business leaders to identify high-value opportunities where data, analytics, automation, and emerging technologies can improve Townsend's operations and business performance.
• Lead discovery sessions with business stakeholders to understand challenges, opportunities, requirements, and desired outcomes.
• Translate business needs into practical data, analytics, and technology solutions.
• Develop and present business cases, project charters, recommendations, and funding proposals to secure investment and executive sponsorship for strategic initiatives.
• Help business stakeholders maximize the value of enterprise data through modern data platforms, data engineering initiatives, meaningful metrics, visualizations, automation, AI, and GenAI solutions.
• Demonstrate the business value and potential impact of data-related investments and capabilities.
• Participate in vendor evaluations, technology selection, solution planning, and technology procurement.
• Coordinate with technical leaders and business partners to establish appropriate solution approaches, scope, and implementation plans.
• Partner with communications, training, and change management resources to help ensure new data products and capabilities are understood, adopted, and trusted throughout the organization.
• Identify opportunities to create measurable value through cost savings, improved decision-making, process automation, operational efficiency, and other business outcomes.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with executives, business leaders, technical teams, and cross-functional partners throughout Townsend.
• Maintain a high level of stakeholder satisfaction across data and analytics initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted technology and data partner to business leaders.
• Manage competing priorities, conflicts, scope changes, and delivery challenges in a professional and solution-oriented manner.
• Communicate project status, risks, technical recommendations, business value, and decisions clearly and transparently.
• Collaborate effectively with HR/Talent, Finance, Information Technology, business unit leadership, project teams, and peer directors.
• Model Townsend's culture, values, accountability, and commitment to collaboration.
• Build strong relationships through both in-person and virtual interactions with team members and business partners.

Strategy & Operational Leadership

• Execute the Data Intelligence & Analytics strategy in alignment with Townsend's broader enterprise and technology objectives.
• Participate in enterprise technology strategy and long-term planning.
• Translate executive strategic vision into actionable departmental initiatives and priorities.
• Evaluate department capabilities and identify opportunities for investment, expansion, modernization, and improvement.
• Ensure investments in people, platforms, technology, and processes align with business priorities.
• Make effective decisions in complex, fast-paced, and evolving environments.
• Provide clear direction and transparency regarding departmental priorities, performance, risks, and outcomes.
• Support the continued development and adoption of modern data technologies, responsible AI practices, delivery standards, and reusable enterprise solutions.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in data, analytics, application development, or a related technical field, including experience partnering directly with business stakeholders and executives.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and complex enterprise initiatives.
• Strong hands-on experience developing Data Engineering, Visualization, AI/ML, and/or GenAI solutions.
• Demonstrated experience personally building technical solutions rather than solely overseeing technical teams.
• Current working proficiency with SQL and Python.
• Experience working with modern data platforms and technologies such as Snowflake, Databricks, Power BI, or comparable platforms.
• Experience with data orchestration, CI/CD practices, cloud services, modern data architecture, and technical development practices.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to remain actively involved in technical delivery while serving in a senior leadership role.
• Proven experience improving operational efficiency, technical delivery, automation, and organizational capabilities.
• Experience leading complex projects in multi-stakeholder and cross-functional environments.
• Experience building strong stakeholder relationships and managing competing priorities.
• Experience managing vendors, technology investments, budgets, and contracts.
• Ability to support compliance with applicable industry standards, organizational policies, and technology requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills with the ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, business stakeholders, and executive leadership.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to balance strategic leadership responsibilities with hands-on technical execution.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to translate executive strategy and organizational priorities into actionable technical and departmental initiatives.
• Demonstrated bias for action with the ability to identify issues, recommend solutions, and move initiatives forward.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and responsiveness.
• Ability to balance deep technical analysis with the need for timely delivery and business results.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, complex, and evolving environment.
• Strong understanding of emerging technologies and their potential application within business operations.
• Ability to evaluate new technology capabilities through direct technical exploration and practical application.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills.
• Ability to address conflict professionally and identify opportunities for alignment.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Ability to lead transformational initiatives and support organizational change.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to establish credibility with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to develop scalable, reusable, automated solutions that improve organizational capabilities and accelerate delivery.
• Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, improvement, and professional development.
• Ability to provide appropriate support and responsiveness outside of traditional business hours when business needs, critical delivery issues, or escalations require leadership involvement.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, by telephone, and through written communication.
• Ability to operate standard office and computer equipment.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move office equipment or materials weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment

This position primarily operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment and technology. The role requires regular interaction with employees, business leaders, executives, vendors, and technical teams through both in-person and virtual settings.

The position may require flexibility in work hours based on project deadlines, business priorities, system issues, escalations, and other operational needs.

Travel Requirements

Travel may be required between Townsend locations and other business locations to support team collaboration, business partnerships, strategic initiatives, and enterprise projects.

Pay Range: $150,000 - $160,000 per year