Data Technology Leader

at  CDM Smith

CDM Smith is seeking a Data Technology Leader to join our Digital Engineering Solutions team. This individual will lead the Data Technology group within the Digital Engineering Solutions team, helping to drive strategic Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) initiatives through the use of cutting-edge data technologies and analytics to deliver actionable business insights and robust solutions for AEC professionals and client outcomes. The Data Technology group will lead the firm in AEC-focused Business Intelligence and data services by providing architectural guidance, technological vision, and solution development. The Data Technology group will specifically utilize advanced analytics, data science, and AI/ML to give our business and our products a competitive advantage. It includes understanding and managing the data, how it interconnects, and architecting & engineering data for self-serve BI and BA opportunities. This position is for a person who has demonstrated leadership capabilities, is business savvy, experienced with data technology and processes, and enjoys framing a problem, shaping and creating solutions, and helping to lead and champion implementation. As a member of the Digital Engineering Solutions team, the Data Technology group will also engage in research and development and provide guidance and oversight to the AEC practices at CDM Smith, engaging in new product research, testing, and the incubation of data technology-related ideas that arise from around the company.

The ideal candidate will have a proven record as a team leader and expert in the field of data technology, with a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity leading to tangible results.

• Lead, monitor, and supervise the Data Technology group. This includes aligning the group to the Digital Engineering Solutions team’s goals and objectives. This further includes providing guidance, instruction, training, and leadership skills to inspire the group to perform at their optimum, working efficiently together and maximizing the team’s potential.
• Motivate and inspire the Data Technology group by creating an environment that promotes positive communication, encourages bonding of group members (both within the Data Technology group and across the broader team as a whole), and demonstrates flexibility.
• Display excellent interpersonal skills to build quality relationships with the team and across the organization, be goal-driven, and manage the day-to-day activities of the team efficiently.
• Achieve goals that contribute to the growth of the organization.
• Identify and prioritize business use cases.
• Provide oversight and management of the collection and preparation of data solutions for AEC-related needs. Employ infrastructure requirements to establish data environments and the Machine Learning (ML) Ops framework. Identify business and outside data needed to produce the most useful insights and future analytics. Build end-to-end advanced analytics and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) solutions. Direct and provide insight on data analytics initiatives/areas of focus. Provide oversight and guidance on centralized data management, governance, and support.
• Evaluate emerging and next generation data technology solutions and establish common standards, best practices, etc. for CDM Smith’s AEC practices. Work closely with CDM Smith’s Information Technology team and support the IT infrastructure, cyber security, and other IT-related organizational policies.
• Be a collaborative partner to our business line stakeholders by understanding the business needs, the key strategic objectives of the business line stakeholders, and what those stakeholders need to achieve their strategic objectives. Be seen by the business line stakeholders as an extension of their team.
• Help drive the business strategy, working with leadership to identify and prioritize problems utilizing advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning solutions. Effectively translates business challenges into advanced analytics/data science solutions and leads quantifying the various types of risks and rewards for solutions to be prioritized.
• Synthesize analytics-derived insights into easy-to-understand, actionable recommendations for business users. Ensure that the insights generated through sophisticated analytics translates to driving better/faster/smarter design delivery and various types of AEC client-facing project deliverables.
• Manages staff, evaluates performance, mentors, and plans career paths, approves paid time off (PTO) and training, ensures human resources (HR) policies are followed and makes recommendations regarding staffing decisions.
• Present to external audiences as needed.
• Assist with marketing, communications, and business development descriptions and activities as needed.
• Assist with internal and external website descriptions as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Expert ability to lead teams of managers and staff. Team-oriented, positive, collaborative and reliable, actively communicating, listening, and being accountable and respectful to others.
• Proven leadership capabilities with the ability to organize, plan, prioritize, and to manage time and changing priorities.
• Possesses excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to interact with varying levels of staff, including senior management and vendors. Ability to communicate well with people from both technical and non-technical backgrounds. Passionate about creating clarity by using accessible language.
• Skilled storyteller with a passion for data and the aptitude to analyze and evaluate data, creating innovative advanced analytics that provide the business with a competitive edge.
• Expert knowledge and proven ability to develop and oversee large and highly complex data programs and projects. Inquisitive, with a desire to ask questions and get a deeper understanding of business and data issues.
• Innovative and able to imagine new analytical solutions to any problem.
• Business-oriented with a solid understanding of business requirements and vernacular.
• Ability to develop a deep knowledge of business units and build positive relationship development, both horizontally and vertically. Passionate about helping business lines drive their success utilizing data.
• Ability to listen, build rapport, and credibility as a strategic partner vertically within the business unit, as well as with leadership and functional teams.
• Advanced organizational and decision-making skills. Highly detailed or less detailed as appropriate.
• Advanced ability to understand the function and capabilities of new technology trends. Curious. Stays abreast of current and upcoming technologies and tools.
• Confident in challenging perceptions and biases of individuals diplomatically at every level of the organization to enact improvements.
• Ability to operate in a high-energy, high-intensity, and evolving environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 12 years with at least 4 in a management or leadership capacity.
• Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a college degree.
  Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.

Please refer the Job description for details