Senior Data Scientist

Are you a data scientist ready to lead enterprise AI/ML initiatives in a collaborative environment? Want to build impactful data science solutions on a best-in-class tech stack and strong data foundation?  Then read on.

With nearly 2,900 stores across 19 states, Casey’s is the 3rd largest convenience store chain and 5th largest pizza chain in the United States. Known for our legendary made from scratch pizza and small-town charm, we’re a brand rooted in community and convenience.

Casey’s is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to lead the development of enterprise data science initiatives that support Casey’s strategic priorities and enable data-driven decision making. As part of our centralized Data & Analytics team, you’ll collaborate with a talented group of data scientists, analysts, engineers, and product owners, building and deploying scalable AI/ML solutions on a best-in-class tech stack and robust data foundation.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with deep technical expertise, has an eagerness to dig into new topics and fields of study, is capable of mentoring junior team members and influencing data-driven decision-making across the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders, product owners, data and platform engineers, and various IT functional areas to lead end-to-end data science initiatives and develop sophisticated AI/ML solutions.
• Research, select, and apply the best analytical approach(es) (optimization, prediction, segmentation, simulation, etc.) and techniques (statistical analysis, machine learning, generative AI, etc.) to solve the problem at hand.
• Translate complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Partner with the Data Governance team to document solutions and implement automated model performance monitoring and reporting.
• Follow ML/DevOps best practices including version control, unit testing, peer review, and change management.
• Lead continuous improvement and analytic maturity efforts to improve our Data & Analytics operation and support models. This includes influencing strategy, establishing standards, and setting technical directions.
• Stay up to date on the latest advancements in the field of data science and AI and strive to be a voice of authority in those areas at Casey’s.
• Mentor junior data scientists and analysts and contribute to a culture of innovation, experimentation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Casey’s is headquartered in Ankeny Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines. Ankeny and the Des Moines Metro consistently rank among the best places to live in the U.S. thanks to affordable big-city perks and small-town warmth that make it ideal for young professionals and families alike.  Whether you’re into biking trails, live music, craft breweries, golf, or quiet family friendly neighborhoods, you’ll find your place here.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a quantitative field (e.g. computer, actuarial, or data science, statistics, engineering, or related field) or equivalent work experience.
• At least 5 years of industry experience working in data science or another quantitative field.
• Hands-on experience and understanding of advanced data analysis and application of statistical and ML models (e.g. forecasting, regression, classification, segmentation, text analysis, recommender systems, generative AI) and methods (e.g. parameter tuning, model interpretation, model evaluation, sampling, hypothesis testing).
• Strong technical proficiency with data science languages (e.g. Python, R, SQL) and packages (e.g. Scikit-Learn, Caret, Mllib, Nixtla).
• Advanced experience with cloud data and analytics platforms (e.g. DataBricks, Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Snowflake).
• Experience deploying models in a production environment using ML/DevOps procedures and tools (e.g. GitHub, Azure DevOps, MLflow).
• Knowledge of software engineering principles and proven ability to write quality code that is scalable, readable, and bug-free.
• Experience leading end-to-end development of advanced data science solutions from discovery to deployment.
• Excellent communication skills; able to tell compelling stories with data.
• Detail oriented with strong attention to accuracy and quality.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and guide junior team members.
• Desire to experiment with new, innovative approaches and technologies.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Prior corporate experience in retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail food service, or logistics.
• Experience developing multi-agent AI systems or components.
• Experience with CI/CD workflows.
• Working knowledge of BI tools such as Tableau, Looker, or Power BI is a plus.

Casey's is not able to offer employment sponsorship for work authorization in the United States for this role now or in the future. 

This role does not allow for 100% remote work. Qualified out of state candidates must be willing to relocate and will need to live within a daily commutable distance of Casey's Store Support Center in Ankeny, IA and be willing to work onsite 5 days a week. 

Compensation:

Starting pay range:‏‏‎ ‎$114,000‏‏‎ ‎-‏‏‎ ‎$156,800.‏‏‎ ‎ Actual pay may vary based on Casey’s assessment of the candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), related experience, education, and qualifications. Other factors impacting pay include local prevailing wages and internal equity. This position is eligible for annual cash bonuses based on company performance. Our full salary range for this role does extend beyond the typical hiring range listed, allowing team members the opportunity to continue to grow within the company. 

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