Senior Director Data Products & Platform

Job Location: Hershey, PA 

This is a hybrid position is based in either Hershey, PA or Dallas, TX 3 days per week.  Our ideal candidate will be located within a drivable distance to Hershey or Dallas.

The Hershey Company has a new opportunity for an experienced Senior Director Data Products and Platform leader to join our Information Technology team. 
The Senior Director Data Products and Platform will lead the strategic development and management of data products and platforms to drive business innovation and efficiency. This role involves defining the vision, strategy, and roadmap for data platforms, ensuring they align with the company's business objectives and technological advancements. The Sr. Director will oversee the integration of data from various sources, ensuring data quality, security, and accessibility, and development of data products and solutions to meet/exceed the business needs. Additionally, this role requires close collaboration with our offshore 3rd party provider (GCC) and close collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable and robust data solutions that support the company's growth and operational excellence.

Core Responsibilities & Outcomes:

• Vision and Strategy: Define and lead the vision, strategy, and roadmap for data products and platforms, aligning with business objectives and technological advancements.
• Data Product/Platform Development: Oversee the design, development, and deployment of data platforms/products/solutions, ensuring seamless data integration, quality, and security.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with IT, business units, and external partners to ensure data solutions meet business needs and drive innovation.
• Performance Monitoring: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success and impact of data products and platforms.
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure all data platforms comply with industry standards and regulations, implementing robust governance and security measures.
• Collaboration with offshore team: Ensure offshore 3rd party or GCC delivers the required support, implementation, deployment, and testing work with high quality and in a timely fashion to meet the business needs, and the ongoing support and sustainment of our data platforms and solutions meeting the agreed upon SLAs and KPIs. Develop a strong partnership with our 3rd party provider on- and offshore (GCC) and ensure the offshore team is highly engaged to effectively support Hershey.

Key Deliverables:

• Innovation and Improvement: Continuously evaluate and integrate emerging technologies to enhance data platforms/products/solutions and drive innovation.
• Resource Management: Manage resources effectively to ensure the successful delivery of data projects and initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Management, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience: At least 10 years of experience in data product management, data platform development, or a related field, with 5+ years in a senior leadership role. Experience in the CPG industry and with cloud technologies is highly desirable.
• Certifications: Relevant certifications in data management (Databricks, Snowflake) or cloud technologies (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer) are a plus

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of data architecture, data modeling, data integration, data products & solutions techniques, with experience in cloud technologies.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead and mentor a team, with strong project management skills.
• Analytical Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on delivering data-driven insights and solutions.
• Communication Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with CPG business processes and experience with SAP S/4 HANA is highly desirable.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Knowledge of data privacy regulations and compliance requirements.
• Offshore Experience: Extensive experience to work with offshore teams. Ability to work effectively with and engage an offshore team (3rd party or internal)

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