Senior Director of Analytics & Decision Science

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Competitive Analytics and Decision Science will be an embedded analytics partner to coaching and performance staff. The role owns the vision, architecture, and roadmap for unified athletic information systems that integrate departmental data into a single decision engine. The core purpose is to build and maintain statistical and machine‑learning models that directly inform on‑court and on‑field strategy, roster decisions, recruiting, and the allocation of competitive resources.

This hands‑on decision‑science role scopes questions that matter, builds models and tools, and translates results into clear, actionable recommendations.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent plus 12 years of professional experience, including 5 years of supervisory experience.

• Degree in statistics, data science, computer science, applied mathematics, economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Five or more years of experience in analytics or data science, including building and deploying models that informed real decisions.

• Expertise building, validating, and maintaining statistical and machine‑learning models.
• Strong programming and data skills in Python or R and SQL, and the ability to assemble and maintain data needed for modeling.
• Proven ability to translate technical analysis into clear, persuasive recommendations for coaches and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration skills and credibility to embed with coaching and performance staff.

Decision Science & Coaching Partnership

• Partner directly with coaching and performance staff to scope analytical questions and lead development and delivery of models and tools.
• Build, validate, and maintain machine‑learning models that inform strategy, roster decisions, recruiting, and resource allocation.
• Provide opponent scouting, self‑scouting, and tendency analysis to support game and match preparation.
• Develop in‑game and in‑match decision support, including situational, lineup, rotation, and play‑selection insights.
• Build player‑evaluation and roster‑construction models to support recruiting prioritization and talent projection.
• Support practice planning and allocation of competitive resources with data‑informed analysis.

Data & Tooling (Support of Modeling)

• Assemble, clean, and maintain datasets, pipelines, and tools required for analytical work.
• Work within existing platforms and vendor relationships, partnering with athletics and university IT rather than directing a systems build‑out.
• Evaluate and recommend analytics tools and data sources that strengthen modeling; surface needs to IT and leadership.

Decision Support for Coaches and Leadership

• Develop dashboards, reports, and decision‑support tools tailored to coaching staffs and athletic leadership.
• Support roster and competitive‑resource allocation and performance evaluation with rigorous analysis.
• Proactively surface trends, risks, and opportunities relevant to competition through original analysis.

Collaboration and Capability Building

• Serve as the department’s subject‑matter expert on competitive analytics and decision science.
• Help shape the department’s approach to data‑informed competitive decision‑making.
• Recruit, mentor, and manage additional analysts as the function grows.
• Work closely with coaching, performance, and recruiting staff as primary stakeholders.
• Coordinate with IT, sports science, and other units to access data and tools, respecting each function’s ownership.

Systems Integration

• Partner with IT to define how competitive analytics data can connect with other departmental data sources.
• Advise on data standards, definitions, and quality practices to facilitate future integration.
• Assist with evaluation of platforms and tools that support a more connected athletic information environment.

Stand, walk, use hands and reach. Lift up to 25 pounds. Vision abilities: close, distance, and peripheral vision.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, veteran status or other protected status.

Contact:
Amy Thomas, amy.thomas