Director, Data Science & Applied AI

Job description

**_Welcome to Warner Bros.

Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of._**

**Who We Are…**

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth.

Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the _storytellers_ bringing our characters to life, the _creators_ bringing them to your living rooms and the _dreamers_ creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves.

Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

**Your New Role** **:**

As the Director of Data Science & Applied AI, you will drive the next wave of data-driven innovation in the Media & Entertainment industry.

This is a high-impact, high-visibility role, responsible for leading the strategic direction, execution, and scaling of enterprise-wide data science and applied AI initiatives.

You will partner with cross-functional teams—including Data Scientists, ML Engineers, Software Engineers, and Business Leaders—to deliver transformative Data Science & AI-powered solutions that enhance audience experiences, streamline operations, and unlock business value.

You will lead and inspire a best-in-class data science and applied AI team, bringing deep technical expertise, a strong business mindset, and the ability to solve complex, high-value problems at scale.

Your role will be instrumental in advancing our mission to be a global leader in AI-driven media and entertainment.

**1.

Advanced Data Science & AI Solution Delivery**

+ Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of data science and AI solutions—from problem framing, exploratory analysis, and modeling to deployment, monitoring, and iteration.
+ Lead the development and deployment of advanced analytics, machine learning, NLP, computer vision, and generative AI models that address complex business challenges.
+ Ensure the creation of robust, scalable, and production-ready AI pipelines, leveraging cloud-native, microservices-based architectures.
+ Embed best practices in MLOps, model governance, and responsible AI to ensure reliability, fairness, transparency, and compliance.

**2.

Strategic Leadership & Team Development**

+ Build, develop, and mentor a world-class data science and applied AI team, fostering a culture of excellence, experimentation, and continuous learning.
+ Define and execute the roadmap for applied AI and data science projects, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and business impact.
+ Champion data-driven decision making and thought leadership, elevating the visibility and influence of the AI team across the enterprise.
+ Establish and monitor performance metrics for teams and individuals, driving accountability and high-impact delivery.

**3.

Innovation, Research & Applied AI Strategy**

+ Identify, evaluate, and implement emerging technologies, algorithms, and methodologies to keep the organization at the forefront of AI innovation.
+ Develop and execute the applied AI strategy in close partnership with executive leadership, influencing product and business roadmaps.
+ Spearhead pilot programs and research initiatives in generative AI, large language models (LLMs), reinforcement learning, and other advanced fields.
+ Drive thought leadership and represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and in AI communities.
+ **4.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management**
+ Partner with product management, engineering, and business teams to translate complex business problems into technical Data Science/ AI solutions.
+ Collaborate on the integration of ML models into products and workflows, ensuring smooth end-to-end delivery from prototype to production.
+ Act as a trusted advisor to executives and stakeholders on ML capabilities, project status, risks, and business impact.
+ Drive the development and implementation of data governance, privacy, and security practices to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
+ Facilitate the sharing of ML insights with broader company teams, providing transparency and fostering a data-driven culture.
+ **5.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting**
+ Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of AI/ ML initiatives and models.
+ Oversee the collection and analysis of model performance data, providing regular updates to leadership and stakeholders.
+ Ensure that deployed models are continuously monitored, maintained, and updated to meet evolving business needs.
+ Lead post-mortem analyses of model failures and actively drive improvements based on lessons learned.
+ Utilize data to iterate and refine models to increase their accuracy and efficiency.
+ **Qualifications & Experiences:**
+ Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Machine Learning, or a related field from a reputed institution.

Master’s degree or PhD preferred.
+ 10+ years of experience in the field of machine learning and AI, with at least 8 years in a leadership or managerial role.
+ Previous experience leading and scaling ML engineering teams and delivering large-scale ML projects in a fast-paced environment.
+ Experience working in the Media & Entertainment industry or related sectors, with knowledge of data-driven content recommendations, personalization, and automation.
+ Expertise in designing, building, and deploying production-grade machine learning systems at scale.
+ Experience in leading cross-functional teams to deliver end-to-end machine learning solutions, from conceptualization to deployment and optimization.
+ Strong expertise in machine learning algorithms, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and statistical modeling techniques.
+ In-depth knowledge of data structures, software engineering principles, and system design.
+ Experience with distributed computing and cloud technologies (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
+ Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala, and familiarity with ML frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Keras.

**How We Get Things Done…**

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done.

You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day.

We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

**Championing Inclusion at WBD**

Warner Bros.

Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences.

Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page (https://careers.wbd.com/global/en/accessibility) for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required.

Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance.

Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros.

Discovery’s total compensation package for employees.

Pay Range: $203,770.00 - $378,430.00 salary per year.

Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards.

In addition, Warner Bros.

Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

Required Skill Profession

Other General