Data Science Manager, Forecasting & Optimization

Who We Are:

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

The Data Science Team at New Balance is the center of excellence for applied data science across our global commercial businesses, creating value through actionable insights, scalable models, and AI-enabled decision support. As the Data Science Manager, Forecasting & Optimization, you will lead New Balance’s planning-focused data science group and own high-value forecasting and optimization work that improves global planning, inventory, and supply chain decisions.

This is a hands‑on player/coach role where you will write production-quality code, develop and deploy models, lead and develop data scientists and contractors, partner with stakeholders, and ensure solutions are adopted, monitored, and improved.

• Technical Excellence
  Develop, deploy, and improve forecasting and optimization models for demand planning, allocation, assortment, inventory, and related planning decisions.
  Write, review, and maintain high-quality Python and SQL code that can scale from experimentation into reliable production workflows.
  Connect model performance metrics such as accuracy, bias, stability, and service levels to business outcomes including sales, inventory productivity, margin, and efficiency.
• Business Partnership & Product Delivery
  Partner with stakeholders to define priorities, align roadmaps, and translate business needs into scalable data science products.
  Document model logic, business rules, assumptions, and operating practices so solutions can scale and be supported over time.
  Work with ML engineering and MLOps partners to make models production-ready, monitored, explainable, and maintainable.
• Team & Operational Leadership
  Manage and coach a small team (1-3) of data scientists while staying hands‑on in model development, code reviews, technical design, and production delivery.
  Create repeatable standards for experimentation, validation, governance, documentation, stakeholder communication, and adoption measurement.
  Build a culture of technical excellence, pragmatic problem-solving, collaboration and stakeholder empathy, and continuous learning.

• 6+ years of experience in data science, forecasting, optimization, operations research, or a related field, including hands‑on model development and deployment.
• 2+ years leading projects and/or guiding cross‑functional delivery while remaining hands‑on with technical work.
• 2+ years leading data scientists.
• Deep expertise with forecasting models and optimization techniques across areas such as demand planning, inventory optimization, simulation, or decision science, ideally in a retail environment.
• Strong Python and SQL skills with experience building scalable, production‑quality modeling workflows using large datasets.
• Ability to partner with senior stakeholders, define roadmaps, influence priorities, communicate clearly, and drive adoption of analytical or AI‑enabled solutions.
• Strong understanding of model evaluation, monitoring, retraining, governance, documentation, and lifecycle management.
• BA/BS in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, Operations Research, or a related technical field;
  Master’s or PhD preferred.
• Practical data science experience in retail, consumer products, or supply chain is preferred.
• Experience with…