Director Data & Insights

EXPRESS; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

EXPRESS is seeking a Director, Data & Insights in Columbus, Ohio, to lead the enterprise-wide data strategy. This role encompasses managing data warehouses, analytics, and cloud solutions while driving organizational impact through insights.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in data transformation and leadership, managing complex portfolios. This is an opportunity to foster innovation and ensure effective data governance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data, integrations, analytics, big data.
• 5+ years in a leadership role delivering data capabilities.
• Exceptional executive presence and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute long-term data and integration strategy.
• Lead and mentor a team of technology professionals.
• Transform raw data assets into tangible business value.

Skills

Data transformations

Cloud environments

Leadership

Communication

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or relevant area

Job description

About PHOENIX

PHOENIX Retail, LLC is a retail platform operating the Express and Bonobos brands worldwide.

Position Overview

The Director, Data & Insights provides strategic leadership for the enterprise-wide data strategy, overseeing a multi‑brand portfolio of data warehouses, reporting and advanced analytics, and enterprise integrations. This leader is responsible for defining the technology roadmap, aligning data initiatives with business objectives, and fostering a culture of innovation across the organization. The Director leads high‑performing teams to deliver scalable cloud solutions, ensures data integrity and security, provides operational excellence, and drives organizational impact through real-time insights and fiscal accountability. The Director is accountable for oversight and support for all data solutions and must support and implement new enterprise projects in conjunction with daily operations, as well as modernizing our data technology stack and leading a high performing team. This role leads team members in data engineering, enterprise integrations, data architecture, data science, and reporting and analytics.

Key Responsibilities

• Organizational Strategy & Vision: Define and execute the long‑term data and integration strategy, aligning technology investments with enterprise‑wide business goals, and delivering high impact data solutions.
• Strategic Leadership: Lead and mentor a diverse team of technology professionals, fostering professional growth and building a high‑performing, agile organizational culture.
• Strategic Roadmapping & Modernization: Partner with senior leadership to shape strategic pillars and modernize the data stack, transitioning legacy systems to real‑time insights and scalable cloud architectures.
• Budget & Fiscal Oversight: Direct the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the data ecosystem, managing data budgets and optimizing cloud resource utilization.
• Cross‑Functional Partnerships: Cultivate and leverage strong partnerships across the enterprise to drive alignment on the prioritization of critical initiatives and ensure cohesive roadmap execution.
• Enterprise Data Governance: Champion global data governance and security standards, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and the integrity of enterprise data assets.
• Driving Data Democratization: Develop and execute a strategy to maximize self‑service analytics capabilities, enabling internal users to derive insights independently while maintaining data integrity.
• AI Strategy & Innovation: Leverage enterprise data assets to identify, prioritize, and drive AI and machine learning initiatives that provide actionable insights and competitive advantages across the business.
• SDLC & Process Governance: Define and enforce an Agile‑first Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC); oversee project documentation, resource planning, and continuous delivery improvements.
• Vendor Management: Interface regularly with, and manage, third‑party vendor relationships to ensure deliverables meet brand standards.
• Operational Excellence: Provide 24x7 oversight for business‑critical applications, serving as the primary escalation point for data pipeline or reporting outages.
• Value Realization: Identify and pursue opportunities to transform raw data assets into tangible business value or operational efficiencies, and establish key performance indicators to gauge effectiveness of data initiatives.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or relevant area of study
• 10+ years of experience in data, integrations, analytics, big data, data warehouses, cloud environments, and strategic data architecture
• 5+ years in a leadership role delivering data capabilities
• Proven ability to lead large‑scale data transformations, and manage a complex enterprise portfolio
• Exceptional executive presence and communication skills, with a track record of influencing senior and executive leadership, and a demonstrated ability to partner with business/IT partners across the organization
• Participate in 24/7 on‑call support activities as an escalation point
• Excellent troubleshooting, root cause analysis and resolution skills
• Excels in a fast‑paced environment, comfortable navigating through ambiguity, thrives under pressure
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple priorities effectively

Critical Skills & Attributes

• Strong coaching, interpersonal, and leadership skills
• Excellent communication skills with all levels of management and third party vendors
• Approaches obstacles proactively and looks for ways to resolve problems and issues
• Ability to multi‑task and re‑prioritize as needed
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize, cope with change and maintain composure under pressure
• Accountable for results
• Possesses a sense of urgency; self‑motivated and detail‑minded
• Solid verbal presentation, group dynamic, and facilitation skills
• Proactive approach to resolving problems and issues

Closing

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Applicants must be currently authorized to work full‑time in the United States. PHOENIX does not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H‑1B or TN status) for this position.

An equal opportunity employer, PHOENIX does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or any other terms and conditions of employment hiring on the basis of any federal, state, or locally protected characteristic. PHOENIX only hires individuals authorized for employment in the United States. PHOENIX is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to search and apply for a job position due to a disability, please call 1-800-964-9793 and say 'Associate Relations' or send an e‑mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Notification to Agencies

PHOENIX does not accept unsolicited resumes or calls from third‑party recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Master Service Agreement and approval from HR to submit resumes for a specific requisition, PHOENIX will not consider or approve payment to any third‑parties for hires made.