Director - Data Science

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.

We seek an impactful and strategic Director of Data Science & Marketplace Dynamics to shape strategy and decision-making across the company. As part of the Analytics, Insights, and Pricing (AIP) team, you will harness advanced analytical methods—including machine learning—to extract insights and guide data-driven recommendations for all facets of the marketplace.

Your Responsibilities:

• Build and Lead: Hire, mentor, and scale a world-class data science team.

• Communicate Clearly: Present insights with conviction, linking metrics to key business drivers and guiding strategic decisions.

• Collaborate & Partner: Work closely with AI/ML engineering and data platform teams to enhance decisioning engines and maintain shared feature stores.

• Optimize Practices: Reinforce rigorous processes for model selection, validation, and retraining in partnership with business leaders with a keen eye on business impact.

• Champion Data Science: Evangelize cutting-edge techniques across the broader community and mentor colleagues seeking advanced capabilities.

What it takes to catch our eye:

• Master’s or PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, Machine Learning, or a related.

• 10+ years of experience in Data Science, AI/ML, or Econometrics with causal inference / predictive modeling.

• Demonstrated Impact: Proven success with supply-demand models, econometric modelling, market mix, segmentation, and other optimization tools.

• Structured Thinker: Ability to tackle ambiguity through a hypothesis-driven, data-centric mindset.

• Clarity & Empathy: Keen attention to detail coupled with the ability to articulate ideas succinctly and in an empathetic manner.

• Sound Judgement: Balance of the art and science of Data Science while staying objective and pragmatic.

• Effective Relationships: Build and gain trust with relationships to drive decisions in a consensus manner. 

• Startup Mindset: Own, operate, lead and influence in an agile startup environment and high-performing team.

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 physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees. 

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.

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.