Who We Are:
At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line. Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation. Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:
- Runner First We act in the best interest of the runner.
- Word is Bond We do what we say we’ll do.
- Champion Heart We give our all in everything we do.
- There is no “I” in Run We stay generous with our humanity.
- Keep Moving We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!
We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.
Your Job:
The mission of the Run Research Team is to create and leverage novel, scientific concepts and runner-driven product performance insights to create amazing products to help everyone run their path. As the Senior Run Research Data Scientist, you will be an integral part of the Run Research Team helping to create the future of the run. You will use your advanced knowledge of analytical and statistical models to create and execute research aligned with the brand initiatives. You will be the resident expert regarding techniques for creating data pipelines, modeling data, and unlocking insights from a combination of runner-related data sources to understand the runner and their experience on the run, ultimately to inform how we can optimize and personalize product and services to further empower their run. You will be responsible for generating and leading ideas that advance our data-driven decision-making processes. You will work cross-functionally, collaborating with Run Performance Research Scientists and Run Perception Researchers to understand business challenges, translating complex data into actionable insights and to make qualitative and quantitative data from runners accessible for data analytics. You will partner with members of the IT Data & Analytics team for the integration and iteration of new data sources on the enterprise data platform. The right candidate is excited, curious, and passionate about leveraging and optimizing the Run Research Team’s data to support our next generation of products and data initiatives.
Your Responsibilities:
- Lead assigned data science initiatives from inception to deployment for projects combining a large variety of human performance and runner behavior data, including but not limited to kinetics, kinematics, physiology, runner preferences, and runner perception. Lead project management of owned research projects across multiple business objectives, utilizing project management tools to track project development, tasks, deadlines, and budgets.
- Identify areas for business improvement and how to use data modeling to support strategies related to the run performance and experience.
- Work collaboratively with enterprise data and analytics teams to create and evolve self-service pipelines for data sources used by the Run Research Team.
- Lead and manage the accessibility of enterprise and self-service data, data applications, data cleaning and data optimization for Run Research Team members.
- Lead data preparation (cleaning and optimization) at scale including interfaces between Brooks and third-party systems to enable real-time data preparation from a variety of data sources for further analysis.
- Lead the development and implementation of advanced analytical models and methodologies to solve complex problems across multiple data sources.
- Represent the Run Research Team, providing your point of view on key architectural and technical decisions as they apply to Run Research Data, including but not limited to kinetics, kinematics, physiology, runner preferences, and runner perception.
- Lead and manage collaborative initiatives with appropriate data owners across the company to deliver on data and analytics requirements within Run Research. Data owners and key stakeholders include but are not limited to Run Research, Run Sights, Development, Product Line Management, Design, Digital Products, and Information Technology.
- Effectively translate research project findings and project status updates to Senior Level Executives (Director, VP, SVP). Provide articulate, persuasive, and actionable conclusions with recommendations for next steps and how projects will drive a positive business impact.
- Lead the integration of new data sources and the execution of research initiatives with external collaborators.
- Teach, train and present data science principles to other members of the Run Research Team. Present to technical and non-technical groups, clearly communicating data-driven insights.
- May manage up to 1 direct report, instilling in them the ability to challenge the status quo, think outside the box, and translate research findings and concepts into tangible and actionable product suggestions.
- Lead the creation of specialized development tools and coding to create product features, enhance and/or customize software components.
- Anticipate data quality concerns, creating data cleaning tools that will ensure data quality is held to the highest standards prior to analysis. Lead ongoing run research data service delivery, including documentation and ownership of relevant change control requests including evaluation, test, implementation, and verification.
- Perform root cause analysis to proactively resolve product and operational issues.
- Lead application testing (new support packages, releases, functionality, customization) in close cooperation with the data enterprise team.
- Proactively identify and integrate emerging trends in data science and machine learning to optimize our methodologies and technical capabilities.
- Other responsibilities as required.
Qualifications:
- M.Sc. in Computer Science, Data Science, or related engineering field with an emphasis in biomechanics (Kinesiology, Physiology, Exercise Science, etc.) plus 5+ years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training (e.g., Bachelors and 7+ years).
- Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, running biomechanics, running performance, and injury prevention.
- 7+ years’ experience with data management tools and industry standard relational database systems preferably in the lab-based setting; can be a combination of education and work experience.
- 1+ year experience managing direct reports desired.
- Proven leadership capabilities to supervise a team and lead strategic business objectives.
- Expert knowledge of database technologies and data visualization techniques. Significant experience with tools such as Snowflake, Tableau, PowerBI is strongly preferred.
- Advanced experience working with human subject data (3D motion capture, kinematic and kinetic models, EMG, plantar pressure systems, V02 max) required.
- Expert experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large data sets using statistical, analytical, and programming skills. Proven abilities of using advanced statistical, machine learning, and data mining techniques to develop models that can predict future outcomes or extract insights.
- Expert experience writing programs to analyze human performance and runner behavior data is strongly preferred (Python, SQL, MATLAB, KNIME, Qualtrics).
- Advanced experience in collaboration with cross-functional teams, both technical and non-technical. Proven ability to lead and influence in a collaborative, cross-functional group to meet strategic objectives.
- Proven track record of leading data science initiatives from inception to deployment related to performance athletic products and services.
- Keen attention to detail. Organizational and time management skills with the ability to plan, organize and execute tasks with short timelines.
- Demonstrated ability to develop highly productive relationships with individuals and teams that are made up of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds resulting in effective working relationships across the company.
- Be self-driven and show the ability to deliver on ambiguous projects with incomplete data. Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment, anticipating and resolving problems in a timely manner.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with an advanced ability to communicate points of views concisely and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders.
- Expert Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills.
- Curious and open-minded – always up for a challenge, inventive and creative. Ability to challenge the status quo – always looking to improve our people, products, and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and help wherever necessary.
- Travel 5% of the time.
- A positive attitude that embraces and lives the Brooks values!