Purpose of Job

About USAA
USAA knows what it means to serve. We facilitate the financial security of millions of U.S. military members and their families. This singular mission requires a dedication to innovative thinking at every level.

USAA is looking for an experienced Director of Data Science to help drive the future of our Predictive Analytics & Optimization team. In this role, you'll manage the build and implementation of impactful and scalable solutions to solve a variety of product, pricing and underwriting problems across our P&C Personal Lines organization. You will help architect, design and build algorithms using big data and highly scalable data science technologies to drive business value. You’ll be working alongside our Pricing Activation and Modernization, Strategy and Data Enablement teams from ideation to deployment, rapidly researching and testing new, innovative approaches to loss cost modeling, member segmentation/experience and other big data problems. The ideal candidate will be able to jump in and work alongside their team to build and test proposed solutions in personal lines auto, property and customer domains all while providing thought leadership and continuous improvement of our predictive performance of our loss cost platforms.

This Director will work in a Hybrid Work Environment preferably from our San Antonio, TX office location. We may consider this leader to work in a Hybrid Work Environment from another USAA office location to include Tampa, FL, Chesapeake, VA, Phoenix, AZ, or Colorado Springs, CO. However, a Remote (Work@Home) opportunity may also be considered. USAA values a culture that is highly collaborative, and we have found that a hybrid work type helps employees gain the best of both worlds – collaborating in-person in the office and working from home. The actual onsite days are settled between each employee and the employee’s leader. Candidates working in the Hybrid Work Environment are expected to live a commutable distance from the selected USAA office location.

Leads a team of Data Scientists responsible for advanced analytical solutions that include predictive analytics, machine learning, simulation, and optimization techniques to that generate management insights and enable customer-facing applications. Applies technical acumen and in-depth understanding of business processes and practices to influence the creation and execution of operational and strategic plans. Partners with IT and other areas to build major improvements to analytical processes and systems. Advises Senior Leadership on the development of data science solutions and long-term goals and or strategies. Maintains relationships with academic and industry leaders with vision to ensure the enterprise has access to ground breaking thinking and technologies.

Job Requirements

Tasks:

• Identifies and manages existing and emerging risks that stem from business activities and the job role.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled.
• Follows written risk and compliance policies, standards, and procedures for business activities.
• Collaborates with other analytical leaders to fulfill the strategic direction of the business through data and information exploration, research of emerging technologies or analytical techniques and long-term defined/project specific strategic assignments.
• Oversees and carries out the exploration of promising new technologies, analytical methods and data sources (internal to USAA & external) that have potential to contribute to the enterprise.
• Partners with enterprise analytical and IT teams to build USAA core capabilities and processes.
• Identifies additional resource needs ranging from IT investments, 3rd party support or additional analysts.
• Understands the business direction, and environment and strategies to identify and recommend solutions that influence decision makers and inspire change.
• Directs the design and construction of large and complex data sets from large amounts of structured and unstructured data (internal and external) to enable analytical solutions.
• Builds and leads a high performing team of experts in advanced analytics; develops team reputation as highly skilled experts in the field of data science.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Quantitative Economics, Statistics, or related field OR 6 additional years of related experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
• 8 years of experience in predictive modeling, large data analysis and computer science.
• 3 years of direct management experience.
• Experience in stochastic modeling, machine learning, and other advanced mathematical techniques (e.g., neural nets, simulation, graph analysis).
• Expert in at least one compiled language (e.g., Java, C) and one dynamic scripting language (e.g., Python, PERL, Ruby).
• A strong track record of communicating results, insights, and technical solutions to Senior Executive Management (or equivalent).
• Extensive background in data mining and statistical analysis.
• Excellent pattern recognition and predictive modeling skills.
• Knowledge and application of Data Science principals and experience with data science methodologies.
• Experience with the following statistical and predictive modeling approaches: Gaussian Process; Markov Models; Hierarchical Clustering; K-Means; Linear Regression; Logistic Regression; Monte Carlo Simulation; Neural Networks.
• Deep technical skills, consulting experience, and business savvy to work with all levels and disciplines within our customers’ organization.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate ideas with team members and/or business leaders to convey and present very technical information to an audience that may have little or no understanding of technical concepts in data science.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in experimental design
• Advanced knowledge of statistical methods, mathematics, and AI/ML algorithms including traditional general linear model (GLM) family models (including linear and logistic), tree-based methods (random forest, gradient boosted models), deep learning methods (neural networks, etc.), and general optimization methods (e.g., gradient descent, etc.).
• Knowledge in model performance evaluation techniques, metrics and validations strategies (nested-cross-validation, etc.).
• Expert in data visualization using Python/R and Tableau
• Expert in communicating concepts, proposals, ideas and results to key decision makers

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

Compensation:

USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market position. The salary range for this position is: $155,400 – 279,800*.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance or at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

*Geographical Differential: Geographic pay differential is additional pay provided to eligible employees working in locations where market pay levels are above the national average.

Shift premium will be addressed on an individual basis for applicable roles that are consistently scheduled for non-core hours.

Benefits:

At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

To see details on our outstanding benefits, visit USAA Total Rewards.

Relocation assistance is available for this position.