Data Science Director, Customer & Loyalty

JOIN OUR TEAM! At Circle K, our mission is simple: to make our customer’s lives a little easier everyday. You may have already stopped for coffee, refueling your car, or eating something on the go. Then, you know what Circle K is. Since the opening of a first store in Laval, Québec, our parent company, Alimentation Couche-Tard has never ceased to grow. We are have grown into a successful global company with over 16,800 stores in 31 countries, serving almost 9 million customers every day. In total, more than 149,000 people work in our stores and offices.  We make journeys easier by offering fast and friendly service. We care about our people and our communities, and we look for ways to uplift people first. Wherever your journey’s going, we can help you get there.   Are you ready to grow your career? Let's grow together!

THE ROLE

We’re seeking an innovative and dynamic Director, Data Science – Customer & Loyalty to lead the development and implementation of cutting-edge customer data, analytics, and AI strategies that enhance personalization, optimize loyalty programs, and drive business growth. In this global role, you will leverage your deep expertise in data science, machine learning, and customer analytics to design, develop, and deploy advanced models for priority loyalty use cases—transforming customer behavior insights into actionable business strategies in a fast-paced retail environment. You will lead a high-performing team of data analysts, data scientists, and machine learning engineers, combining strategic vision with a hands-on approach to deliver innovative and impactful customer insights.

Our global loyalty program is one of our most valuable assets, boasting millions of members across North America and Europe. Highly data-driven and innovative, the program leverages advanced segmentation, behavioral analysis, and predictive modeling to create personalized offers that enhance customer engagement and long-term value. As the program continues to grow rapidly, it plays a critical role in building lasting relationships and driving our business forward.

As a key leader on the Global Data & Analytics team, you will collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Digital, Operations, and Technology teams to ensure our analytical solutions are fit to serve and that our data-driven initiatives deliver personalized customer experiences. Experience working with digital product teams is highly preferred, as it will be instrumental in transforming customer insights into digital innovations and measurable business outcomes. A background working with large-scale customer loyalty programs and knowledge with personalization strategy execution through Customer Data Platform (CDP) will be essential to our success. This role will also require you to build strong relationships with stakeholders across North America, Europe, and Asia, with some travel expected.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Collaborate with business stakeholders and digital product teams to define business requirements, KPIs, and acceptance criteria for customer loyalty and marketing analytics initiatives. Act as a data-driven thought partner to Loyalty and Marketing teams, providing analytical support and challenging priorities based on insights.
• Develop and own Customer Analytics Strategic Roadmap aligned with company goals, serving as the key decision maker for all Loyalty & Customer Data initiatives.
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced analytics and AI/ML models to optimize customer segmentation, personalization, loyalty programs, and promotions. Develop predictive models for customer lifetime value, churn prediction, product recommendations, and pricing optimization.
• Oversee the end-to-end analytics and data science workflow—including data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training, validation, deployment, and evaluation (e.g., A/B testing). Partner with Marketing, Digital, Operations, and Technology to ensure robust data pipelines, scalable model deployment, and data-driven decision making. Enhance agility by proactively identifying and remediating data issues.
• Present actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership to influence business strategies and continuously enhance the value generation from loyalty programs.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and diversity. Provide guidance on career development, resource allocation, and recruitment for analytics talent.
• Create and foster a community of practice for machine learning, data science, and analytics across the organization. Stay current with emerging trends in AI, machine learning, and customer analytics, driving process automation and operational improvements.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Master's degree required (Ph.D. preferred) in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or a related analytical discipline. An advanced business degree is a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in data science and analytics, including 3+ years in leadership roles driving large-scale projects, ideally within retail or customer/digital/loyalty domains.
• Extensive experience with data science methodologies and tools including statistics, regression, clustering, predictive modeling, time series analysis, machine learning, deep learning, NLP, and computer vision. Familiarity with analytical approaches such as exploratory data analysis, descriptive analytics, hypothesis testing, and A/B testing, as well as Agile development methodologies.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, SQL, and R, along with hands-on experience on cloud-based AI/ML platforms (e.g., Azure, Google Cloud Platform, AWS).
• Solid working knowledge of data engineering workflows including ETL processes, real-time and batch processing, model deployment, and version control best practices.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable results from customer loyalty programs in large retail environments. Knowledge of personalization strategies execution through Customer Data Platform (CDP) is a competitive advantage.
• Ability to translate data, analytics, and AI/ML insights into actionable business strategies and outcomes, supported by a strong commercial mindset.
• Demonstrated ability in talent acquisition, team development, coaching, and mentoring.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate technical information to all levels of the organization and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Data Engineering, Machine Learning Engineering, Architecture, and Platform partners.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging diverse teams and senior leaders across geographies and managing multiple projects with clear prioritization and timeline communication.
• Collaborative and proactive, with the initiative to drive projects to successful completion.
• Adaptable to new and evolving technologies and business needs. Curious and committed to continuous learning in both business and technology domain.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK HERE: At Circle K, we believe that our team members are the heart and soul of our business. When you join us, you're not just getting a job – you're becoming part of a vibrant community where your talents are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your contributions make a real difference. Here's why you'll love working with us.

Apply Today and Help Shape the Future of Data Analytics!

Circle K is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Company complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) and all state and local disability laws.  Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the ADA and certain state or local laws as long as it does not impose an undue hardship on the Company. Please inform the Company’s Human Resources Representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

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