[Remote] Director of AI Analytics

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Sur La Table is a community-focused culinary retailer seeking a Director of AI Analytics to lead their analytical efforts across various business functions. In this foundational leadership role, you will define analytical standards, govern AI-enabled workflows, and ensure the organization operates from a unified view of performance.ResponsibilitiesServe as the primary analytics leader across eCommerce, Marketing, Finance, Retail, Merchandising, Inventory Planning, and OperationsOwn problem definition for analytics — determining which business questions matter and what decisions insights should informMove analysis beyond "what happened" to "why it happened," "how it happened," and "what we should do next."Proactively mine data to identify risks, opportunities, inefficiencies, and performance driversInfluence senior leaders through clear implications and actionable recommendationsOwn the integrity, governance, and usability of core commerce, customer, and operational datasets across platforms (eCommerce, POS, CDP, email, data warehouse)Validate insights using business context and commercial logic — not just technical correctnessDefine, document, and continuously evolve company-wide KPI frameworks in partnership with Finance and functional leadersIdentify and resolve cross-functional metric misalignment to ensure a single, trusted understanding of performanceEstablish standards for data quality, documentation, and analytical transparency across the organizationLeverage AI as a core component of advanced analytical work, including hypothesis generation, exploratory analysis, pattern detection, insight synthesis, and narrative developmentDesign, operationalize, and scale repeatable AI-assisted workflows that support recurring company-level decisions (growth, margin optimization, inventory productivity, forecast alignment)Establish validation frameworks to pressure-test AI-generated outputs against source data, historical performance, customer behavior, and commercial logicEmbed AI-enabled insights into planning, forecasting, and executive performance reviewsPromote responsible, explainable, and outcome-driven AI usage across analytics workflowsOwn web and digital analytics strategy using Heap, including funnel performance, customer journey analysis, and conversion optimizationEnsure tracking integrity and event schema accuracy, including review of structured data formats (e.g., JSON, data layers) in partnership with Product EngineeringTranslate behavioral data into commercial implications that influence merchandising, marketing, inventory, and operational decisionsEnsure behavioral insights are aligned with downstream systems and financial realitiesReconcile demand, margin, inventory, and operational perspectives into cohesive performance narrativesSupport planning, forecasting, and performance alignment across Finance, Retail, Merchandising, and OperationsChallenge assumptions and reframe business narratives using data-backed insightServe as a connector between commercial strategy and operational executionEstablish analytical standards that prioritize clarity, trust, commercial relevance, and decision impactReduce reactive ad hoc work by building scalable, decision-focused reporting and automation frameworksDesign the structure, workflows, and expectations for the analytics functionHire, mentor, and develop junior analytics talent once foundational systems are establishedChampion a modern, insight-driven analytics culture across the companySkills8+ years of experience in Analytics, Strategy, or Data Leadership rolesDemonstrated experience leading analytics across multiple business functionsStrong experience in commerce-driven businesses (retail, eCommerce, CPG, marketplace)Comprehensive knowledge of all traffic acquisition channels and their downstream impact on site behavior, using that expertise to develop reliable forecasts that drive strategic decision-makingAdvanced SQL and strong analytical modeling capabilitiesDemonstrated experience designing and governing AI-enabled analytics workflowsStrong capability to pressure-test AI-generated insights against data, customer behavior, and commercial logicHands-on expertise with Heap or similar event-based web analytics platformsComfort working with structured data formats (e.g., JSON), event schemas, and data instrumentationExperience defining KPI frameworks and resolving cross-functional metric misalignmentProven ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling stories that inform and influence executive decision-making — moving leadership from insight to action with confidence and convictionTrack record of proactive insight generation, not reactive reportingAbility to work standard Eastern Time business hoursExperience with dbt, Looker, or similar modern data stack toolsProficiency in Python for analytical modeling or automationPrior experience building or scaling an analytics function from an early-stage foundationFamiliarity with CDP platforms (e.g., Segment, Klaviyo) and their integration into analytics workflowsExperience presenting to C-suite or board-level stakeholders in a retail or eCommerce contextBenefitsComprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage401(k) with company matchGenerous PTOEmployee discounts across Sur La Table and CSC Generation brandsAccess to cooking classesCompany OverviewSur La Table is an online store that sells table tops, cookware, bakeware, ovens, and kitchen tools for domestic use and gifting purposes. It was founded in 1972, and is headquartered in Brownsburg, Indiana, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is https://www.surlatable.com.