Data Scientist - Sally Beauty Holdings

Overview

Essentials Functions:

This Senior-Level Data Scientist role is ideal for the candidate with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, combined with deep expertise in applying advanced machine-learning techniques using big-data platforms and tools. An excellent verbal and written communicator, with ability to collaborate closely with business stakeholders across merchandising, marketing, and finance. This role will focus on optimizing pricing and promotional effectiveness to maximize sales, margin, customer engagement, and overall business performance.  This is a hybrid role, reporting into the office in Denton Texas on Tuesdays and Weds of each week, working remotely the rest of the work week, so you must be located in the DFW area.

“At Sally Beauty Holdings, we find beauty in diversity.  Our inclusivity and self-expression are what fuel our innovation and growth. You are welcome here, and you can thrive here. We find beauty in YOU. Join us.”

Primary Duties:

• Engage with business teams to find opportunities, gather requirements, and translate them into scalable technical solutions to deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Lead the design and development of advanced data-science solutions, applying closed-loop testing and measurement methodologies to continuously optimize pricing and promotional effectiveness for maximum business impact.
• Lead and develop machine learning models through all phases of development - design, training, evaluation, validation, and deployment - ensuring high performance and alignment with business goals.
• Work closely with data engineers and platform architects to implement robust data pipelines, enabling real-time and batch decisioning solutions.
• Monitor the health of operational and business metrics for solutions in production. Analyze trends and behavior patterns, and implement changes as needed to ensure sustained performance.
• Present complex data-driven insights to business partners and executives. Translate technical results into business strategies and actionable recommendations that drive decision-making.
• Research and apply new technologies and methodologies to continuously improve the team's technical capabilities, drive innovation, and foster a culture of learning.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Technical Skills:

• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or other similar languages, for data analysis and machine learning.
• Proficient in SQL for querying large relational databases, with a solid understanding of database modeling and data warehousing principles.
• Hands-on experience with MS Azure Databricks or other cloud-based data platforms.
• Familiarity with Big Data tools like Spark, Hive etc.
• Proven experience in building scalable data pipelines for analytics solutions.

Analysis and Modeling Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of machine learning techniques, including: 
  • Supervised learning algorithms (e.g., XGBoost, CatBoost, Random Forests) for predictive modeling.
  • Unsupervised learning techniques (e.g., clustering/segmentation) and customer behavior analysis.
• Experience in time-series forecasting, simulation, and optimization for demand prediction and promotional planning.
• Knowledge of A/B testing, ANOVA/ANCOVA, and promo-mix modeling for measurement and evaluation.

Insights and Communication Skills:

• Ability to extract actionable business insights from complex data and identify the stories behind the patterns.
• Excellent presentation skills, distilling complex analysis and concepts into concise business-focused takeaways.
• Creativity to engineer novel features and signals, and to push beyond current tools and approaches.
• Exceptional project management skills, with a focus on attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Mentor junior data scientists and foster a culture of continuous learning within the team.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field (PhD preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, or related fields.
• Prior experience in retail analytics, particularly in pricing, promotions, or customer behavior analysis is highly preferred.

Competencies/Attributes:

• Takes ownership of results, maintaining high performance while balancing multiple complex tasks.
• Communicates clearly and proactively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to connect data insights to real-world business outcomes.
• Detail-oriented and committed to continuous improvement.

Working Conditions /Physical Requirements
 

• The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, retail stores, and residences or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals, etc. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
• The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, files, books, small parts; using a keyboard, driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

We offer a competitive salary and outstanding benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, paid vacation and sick days, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement and 401(k) with company match. In addition, associates of SBH may take advantage of our in house salon with complementary services and a varied selection of food options at our corporate campus. Also, featured at our corporate campus, is both a Sally Beauty and CosmoProf Professional onsite store, where associates enjoy a great merchandise discount!

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