Head of Data Acquisition & Strategy

Head of Data Acquisition & Strategy

Predictive analytics and machine learning power Socure’s groundbreaking technology and fuel our mission to verify 100% of good identities in real time and completely eliminate identity fraud on the internet.

Socure is the world leader in digital identity verification and fraud prevention. Our recent awards include Forbes 2022 America’s Best Startup Employers, The Forbes Cloud 100, The Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and Inc. 5000’s fastest growing companies.

Listen to why some of the world’s top technology investors see the enormous, transformative potential in Socure’s mission and products:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifM9_jPQCv8

Role Overview

As the Head of Data Acquisition and Strategy at Socure, you are at the forefront of a mission-driven endeavor. With our goal to verify 100% of good identities in real-time and eliminate identity fraud for every internet applicant, your role is pivotal. You will lead the charge in expanding our global data assets, a critical step towards achieving our vision of becoming the world's most accurate and inclusive risk and identity verification company. This role demands a deep dive into data strategy development, closely working with product teams to align data acquisition with our ambitious objectives. You will be instrumental in sourcing and evaluating global data providers, ensuring they meet the sophisticated requirements in fraud and anti-money laundering (AML) contexts. Your expertise in data science, technology, and keen business acumen will be key in negotiating and forging essential partnerships with new vendors. Through your strategic and thoughtful leadership, you will help Socure not only meet but exceed the increasingly complex demands of identity verification, shaping a safer, more reliable internet environment for users worldwide

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

Lead the strategic expansion of our data assets:

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive, global data acquisition strategy aligned with business objectives, product/market demands and deliver on our company’s vision. Work directly with Product leaders to understand their data needs and engage with Applied AI & ML data scientists

  • Negotiate contracts with data vendors, ensuring favorable terms and pricing for the assets and proper data processing agreement terms based on geography and use case

  • Create and maintain intake documentation, such as RFIs and RFPs, to ensure data vendors assets, capabilities, and compliance are evaluated via an informed and equitable process

  • Establish a repeatable and scalable infrastructure to test, score, negotiate contracts, and deploy new vendors that provide value 

  • Maintain organized documentation of purchased data, track engaged vendors and monitor usage of different data sets 

  • Maintain Cost/Value metrics for each data set for comparison

  • Collaborate strategically with the Chief Product Officer (CPO) and Product leadership team to make informed and effective decisions regarding the “build, buy, or partner” approach for key initiatives, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and efficient resource allocation 

Navigate complex data challenges:

  • Work with the Product leaders to address the complexities of expanding global data coverage and normalizing data for different naming conventions, qualifying criteria, and cultural considerations

  • Collaborate with the Legal team to ensure proper diligence is performed on regulated data sets

  • Support the Data Governance Council in facilitating creation and enforcement of data governance policies and procedures, including data inventory, data mapping, data lineage reviews, and records of data processing activities 

  • Have a basic understanding of regulations impacting data protection and artificial intelligence, such as GLBA, FCRA, GDPR, CCPA, the California Delete Act, EU AI Act

Strengthen relationships and partnerships:

  • Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to build strong relationships and partnerships

  • Leverage these relationships to enhance our data acquisition efforts and stay on the cutting edge of data sourcing

  • Create strategic goals for each relationship and work with your team to achieve those goals

Drive expansion in specific regions:

  • Oversee the expansion of person-telephone and person-address coverage in key regions such as Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America.

Stay informed and drive innovation:

  • Stay up to date with industry trends, conferences, and best practices in data acquisition and vendor management.

  • Foster a culture of innovation within the team, continually improving data acquisition processes and strategies. 

Team leadership and collaboration:

  • Provide leadership and guidance to a team of data acquisition professionals.

  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Data Science, Legal, and other teams to drive data-driven results and achieve business objectives.

Required Qualifications 

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field. MBA is preferred

  • 10+ years of proven experience in leading data acquisition efforts, managing complex data challenges, and expanding data coverage in diverse regions

  • 10+ years of complex solution selling, contracting negotiation, project management or procurement experience

  • In-depth knowledge of data discovery processes and ability to evaluate data quality and usefulness

  • Demonstrated ability to create scalable infrastructures and maintain organized documentation

  • Strategic mindset with a keen understanding of the data landscape and market trends

  • Experience in building and maintaining strong relationships with vendors and partners

  • Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to lead and inspire a team

  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills

  • Knowledge in Identity and Fraud management practice and solutions

Salary Disclosure:

Base Salary range: $235,000 - $290,000

This represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Final offers may vary from the amount listed based on factors including geography, candidate experience and expertise, and other job related factors. Socure's compensation and rewards package for full time roles includes a market competitive salary, equity,  comprehensive benefits, and, for applicable roles, commissions plans or an annual discretionary performance bonus.

Socure is all about encouraging people to push the boundaries of what’s possible through top-tier performance, innovation, ownership, and shared expertise.

We empower excellence by providing great perks and benefits to both our fully remote employees in North America and our hybrid teams in India.

To learn more, check out Socure’s Career Page: https://www.socure.com/company/careers

Socure is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity of all kinds at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

To learn more about how our work is changing the world, check out these articles and videos:

  • Socure is Forbes' 2022 Best Startup Employer: https://bit.ly/3fbNw8S

  • Socure Accelerates Onboarding for 50+ Crypto, Neobanks, and More: https://bit.ly/3dwN2K7

  • Socure's Impact on Financial Inclusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6nBc6s1wsU

  • Socure's Impact on Fraud Prevention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M46UG8QyKe4

  • Archives & Press Releases: https://learn.socure.com/about/press-release

Logos/outerjoin logo full

Outer Join is the premier job board for remote jobs in data science, analytics, and engineering.