Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.
Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.
The Analytics, Data Science, and Economics team is looking for an experienced Director of Data Science to shape strategy and decision-making across Upwork. This role offers the opportunity to drive impactful data science initiatives that inform key business decisions across multiple teams and levels. Data Scientists at Upwork leverage machine learning techniques to uncover insights and translate them into actionable recommendations that enhance our platform. This is a unique opportunity to build and scale a function from an early stage while making a meaningful impact on Upwork’s marketplace dynamics.
Responsibilities
- Use quantitative analysis and data storytelling to uncover insights and guide business strategy.
- Lead a team to develop models that provide key insights into marketplace dynamics, customer value, user behaviors, fraud detection, and long-term trends.
- Hire, scale, and develop a team of data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
- Establish structured processes to evaluate, deploy, and refine models in collaboration with business stakeholders.
- Work closely with machine learning engineering and data platform teams on tooling, shared feature stores, and infrastructure improvements.
- Prototype and deploy models into production to enhance product experiences.
- Advocate for advanced data science methodologies within the broader Analytics, Data Science, and Economics team, mentoring team members to expand their expertise.
What it takes to catch our eye
- Proven experience leading and scaling data science teams.
- Strong background in user segmentation, cohort analysis, mix modeling, regression models, random forests, and other advanced data science techniques.
- Ability to solve complex, ambiguous problems through a structured, hypothesis-driven approach supported by data.
- Passion for diving into details and deriving meaningful insights from data.
- Proficiency in Python for data analysis and modeling.
- Previous experience in a two-sided marketplace or eCommerce environment.
Come change how the world works.
At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 21 states in the United States.
At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.
We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.
Check out our Careers page to learn more about the employee experience.
Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Additionally, a criminal background check may be run on a candidate after a conditional offer of employment is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.
The annual base salary range for this position is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.
Annual Base Compensation
$195,000—$308,000 USD
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