Associate Director, Data Science - Toronto, ON - DAC Group / Canada Ltd.

Description

Move Your Career Forward with DAC as Associate Director, Data Science

Who We Are

We are DAC—a global full-funnel performance media agency dedicated to delivering transformative results. With expertise spanning SEO, paid media, creative production, analytics, and local optimization, we combine the brightest minds with innovative technology to deliver seamless, forward-thinking strategies. Powered by AI, data, and creative ingenuity, we deliver integrated campaigns that engage customers at every touchpoint—from global audiences to individual store locations.

Role Summary

We are seeking a proactive Associate Director, Data Science who will drive the development and implementation of advanced statistical methodologies while maintaining hands-on involvement in model development. This role requires a strategic thinker who can independently develop innovative analytical frameworks, lead client consultations, and contribute to new business development—all while remaining deeply engaged in the technical execution of complex statistical analyses including Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) and beyond.

The ideal candidate will bring strong statistical expertise with the ability to apply rigorous analytical methods to diverse business challenges. You'll be expected to be both a thought leader and a practitioner, setting methodological standards while personally delivering high-impact analyses.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Innovation

• Develop and champion novel statistical methodologies and analytical frameworks tailored to client needs

• Lead client consultations as the primary data science expert, translating complex statistical concepts into strategic business recommendations
• Drive new business development by contributing to pitches, proposals, and thought leadership initiatives
• Establish best practices for statistical rigor, model validation, and analytical quality across the organization
• Proactively identify opportunities to apply advanced analytics to solve emerging business challenges

• Hands-On Technical Delivery

• Personally build and deploy sophisticated statistical models including MMM, causal inference models, time series forecasting, and experimental design frameworks

• Lead end-to-end model development from hypothesis formation through data preparation, model building, validation, and deployment
• Conduct advanced statistical analyses using techniques such as hierarchical Bayesian modeling, machine learning, and econometric methods
• Design and analyze experiments including A/B tests, geo-lift studies, and synthetic control methods
• Develop custom analytical solutions that go beyond standard approaches to address unique client challenges

• Client & Stakeholder Management

• Present findings and recommendations directly to C-suite executives and senior stakeholders

• Build trusted advisor relationships with clients through strategic engagement and thought partnership
• Translate technical insights into compelling narratives that drive strategic decision-making
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with media, strategy, and creative teams to ensure analytical insights are actionable

• Technical Infrastructure & Innovation

• Architect scalable analytical solutions using modern data science tools and cloud platforms

• Drive automation initiatives to increase efficiency and reproducibility of analyses
• Evaluate and implement emerging statistical techniques and technologies
• Explore AI and GenAI applications to enhance analytical capabilities and client solutions
• Mentor team members on advanced statistical concepts and methodological approaches

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related quantitative field

• 4-5 years of hands-on experience in applied statistics, data science, or quantitative research
• Demonstrated track record of developing and implementing analytical approaches to business problems
• Experience presenting to senior stakeholders and executive audiences

• Technical Expertise

• Expert-level proficiency in statistical programming (Python or R) with ability to write production-quality code

• Deep understanding of statistical theory including causal inference, experimental design, time series analysis, and Bayesian methods
• Proven experience building complex models from scratch, not just using pre-built packages
• Strong SQL skills for data extraction and manipulation
• Experience with version control (Git) and collaborative development practices

• Leadership & Business Acumen

• Strong initiative with ability to identify opportunities and drive projects independently

• Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence and educate stakeholders
• Business development experience including proposal writing and pitch presentations
• Strategic thinking with ability to connect analytical insights to business outcomes
• Intellectual curiosity and drive to continuously expand methodological toolkit

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Snowflake or similar cloud data warehouses
• Background in marketing analytics, MMM, or media measurement
• Experience with causal ML methods (Double ML, causal forests, etc.)
• Enthusiasm for AI and GenAI applications in data science
• Experience building and mentoring data science teams
• Familiarity with marketing channels and performance metrics

What You'll Get

• Professional Growth: Work with top-tier clients and cutting-edge tools in the performance marketing industry.
• Collaborative Culture: Be part of a global organization that values curiosity, transparency, and innovation.

• Competitive Benefits:

• Competitive salary and comprehensive health benefits.

• Generous PTO, wellness initiatives and parental leave.
• Retirement saving plans.
• Opportunities for continued learning and professional development.
• A supportive, collaborative, and casual work environment.

How We Work

This role requires three in-office days per week. Remote work is not available for this position.

This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this position. The actual duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may vary based on assignment or group. DAC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, provincial, state, or municipal law. If you require an accommodation in any aspect of the selection process, please reach out to

At DAC we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, vision, dental, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and employee assistance support. Full-time employees are eligible to participate in the DAC benefit programs.

Salary at DAC is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements.