Global Head of Data Science - Trust and Safety

TikTok; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok seeks a senior leader to shape the global Data Science strategy for Trust & Safety, aligning with business priorities and long-term goals. You will build and guide world‑class teams across regions and partner with Product, Engineering, Policy, Operations and executive leadership to translate challenges into scalable data‑driven solutions.

You will define measurement frameworks, drive advanced analytics and ML models, improve data quality and governance, and deliver executive insights

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years in Data Science, ML, Analytics, or related quantitative field.
• 5 years leading and developing global Data Science/Analytics teams in tech.
• Experience defining organization-wide data strategies influencing product decisions.
• Strong expertise in statistical analysis, experimentation, ML, and large-scale data analytics.
• Experience with distributed data platforms and modern analytical technologies (SQL, Python, Spark, Hadoop, cloud data platforms).
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to executives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and define the global Data Science strategy for the Trust & Safety organization, ensuring alignment with business priorities and long-term company objectives.
• Build, develop, and lead high-performing teams of Data Scientists across multiple regions.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Policy, Operations and executive leadership to translate business challenges into scalable data-driven solutions.
• Define and evolve the organization's measurement framework, including north-star metrics, experimentation strategy, and operational KPIs.
• Drive the development of advanced analytics, machine learning, forecasting, and optimization models that improve Trust & Safety decision‑making and operational effectiveness.
• Establish a strong data foundation by improving data quality, governance, observability, and measurement consistency across the organization.
• Deliver executive-level insights through clear storytelling, influencing strategic investments and business priorities.
• Champion an AI‑first approach by identifying opportunities to leverage automation, GenAI, and predictive analytics across Trust & Safety workflows.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning while attracting and developing world‑class talent.
• Represent the Data Science organization as a trusted strategic partner across global cross‑functional leadership teams.

Skills

Data Science Leadership

Machine Learning

Analytics

Statistical Analysis

SQL

Python

Spark

Cloud platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in quantitative field

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

SQL

Python

Spark

Hadoop

Cloud platforms

Job description

Responsibilities

The Trust & Safety Data Science team's mission is to provide strategic and analytical support that enables TikTok to be the most trusted platform for our users and creators. The team partners with various functions across the organization - including Policy, Risk Prevention & Response, and Transparency Reporting, among others – to drive operational excellence through data. Its charter is to establish shared success metrics, develop trusted insights, and enable strategic decision-making across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead and define the global Data Science strategy for the Trust & Safety organization, ensuring alignment with business priorities and long-term company objectives.
• Build, develop, and lead high-performing teams of Data Scientists across multiple regions.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Policy, Operations and executive leadership to translate business challenges into scalable data-driven solutions.
• Define and evolve the organization's measurement framework, including north-star metrics, experimentation strategy, and operational KPIs.
• Drive the development of advanced analytics, machine learning, forecasting, and optimization models that improve Trust & Safety decision‑making and operational effectiveness.
• Establish a strong data foundation by improving data quality, governance, observability, and measurement consistency across the organization.
• Deliver executive-level insights through clear storytelling, influencing strategic investments and business priorities.
• Champion an AI‑first approach by identifying opportunities to leverage automation, GenAI, and predictive analytics across Trust & Safety workflows.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning while attracting and developing world‑class talent.
• Represent the Data Science organization as a trusted strategic partner across global cross‑functional leadership teams.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification(s):

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or another quantitative discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5 years of experience leading and developing global Data Science or Analytics organizations within a technology company.
• Demonstrated experience defining and executing organization‑wide data strategies that influence product and business decisions.
• Strong expertise in statistical analysis, experimentation, machine learning, and large‑scale data analytics.
• Experience working with large‑scale distributed data platforms and modern analytical technologies (e.g., SQL, Python, Spark, Hadoop, cloud data platforms).
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts and analytical insights to executive leadership and influence strategic decisions.

Preferred Qualification(s)

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Experience leading Data Science organizations supporting Trust & Safety, Integrity, Risk, Fraud, Security, or other large‑scale online platform ecosystems.
• Experience building AI‑powered decision systems, including predictive analytics, GenAI, or LLM‑enabled products.
• Strong understanding of experimentation frameworks, causal inference, and large‑scale measurement systems.
• Experience driving organizational transformation through data governance, observability, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading globally distributed teams across multiple regions and time zones.
• Track record of influencing executives and driving company‑wide strategic initiatives through data.
• Experience partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Policy organizations to deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain world‑class technical leadership talent.
• Passion for building safe, trustworthy, and responsible technology platforms.

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short‑form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Why Join Us

Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.

We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion

TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.