Executive Vice President, Advanced Analytics; Data Science

Position: Executive Vice President, Advanced Analytics (Data Science)
Company description

Spark Foundry is a global media agency that exists to bring HEAT – Higher Engagement, Affinity, and Transactions – to brands. By combining flawless media fundamentals with aggressive innovation, Spark inspires consumers to pay more attention, to care more about our clients’ brands, and to buy more products and services from them.
Balancing the nimble spirit of a startup with the powerhouse soul of Publicis Media, Spark Foundry delivers the best of both worlds to a client roster that spans some of the world’s best and most beloved brands and companies. We combine boutique-caliber insights and service with the buying clout and first-look access of a global leader, bringing the heat to challenger brands that want to act like giants, and to giant brands that want to act like challengers.
With a bottom-up culture that celebrates diversity and aims for all voices to be heard, Spark has become a magnet for the industry’s best talent, with one of the best retention rates in the industry. And by applying a whole-person approach to professional and personal development, Spark develops a workforce that is well prepared for today’s challenges, and also poised to create meaningful careers in the years to come.
Because we know that heat arises the intersection of complementary forces, our professionals come from myriad disciplines and backgrounds: data, analytics, and insights, content and creative production, communications and strategy, finance and marketing, and sociology, psychology, and other liberal arts disciplines.

Overview

The EVP, Data Science will lead Spark Foundry’s audience-first data science vision and strategy, driving innovation in advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI-powered solutions. This role will oversee the development of scalable data products and predictive models that enhance media planning, audience targeting, and campaign optimization. The role requires a forward-thinking leader who can bridge business objectives with technical expertise, fostering a culture of experimentation and continuous optimization.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
- Define and execute Spark Foundry’s data science roadmap aligned with agency and client growth objectives.
- Champion the integration of AI/ML into media planning, measurement, and optimization processes.

• Innovation & Product Development:
- Lead the creation of proprietary data science tools and platforms to deliver automation, business impact, and competitive advantage.
- Identify emerging technologies and trends to keep Spark Foundry at the forefront of data-driven marketing.

• Client Solutions & Consulting:
- Partner with senior client stakeholders to translate complex data insights into actionable strategies.
- Develop advanced analytics solutions for attribution, forecasting, and ROI measurement.

• Team Leadership & Development:
- Build and mentor an innovative data science team, fostering collaboration across analytics, engineering, and data strategy.
- Promote diversity of thought and continuous learning within the organization.

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Collaboration:

- Work closely with Publicis Groupe data and technology leadership to ensure alignment and scalability.
- Collaborate with Strategy, Planning, Investment, and Analytics teams to embed data science into every stage of the agency process.

Qualifications

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Education:

- Advanced degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or related field.

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Experience:

- 15+ years in data science leadership roles, preferably within media, advertising, or technology sectors.
- Proven record of building and scaling data science capabilities in a matrixed organization.
- Experience using predictive analytics on large consumer-level data assets (e.g., Epsilon, Merkle, Acxiom) and marketer first-party data to drive marketing outcomes.

• Technical Expertise:
- Advanced knowledge of machine learning, AI, predictive modeling, and big data technologies.
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and modern data engineering practices.
- Firsthand experience working with advanced statistical modeling and other forms of quantitative analysis, as well as knowledge of database structure and…