Director Data Products

Who We Are

At Academy Sports + Outdoors our vision is to be the best sports + outdoors retailer in the country — but what truly sets us apart is our people. We’re a passionate, purpose-driven team that’s as committed to each other as we are to our customers.

We’ve spent over 80 years building a culture that puts people first. We believe in creating opportunities for growth, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting every Team Member’s journey. What fuels us? Our belief in the power of fun.

Here, you won’t just help customers gear up for their next adventure — you’ll launch one of your own. Whether you're starting out or leveling up, Academy is a place where fun can’t lose!  

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Business Management, or a relevant field required

Work Experiences:

• 10+ years of experience in data analytics, data engineering, data products, or related areas, including at least 4 years leading cross-functional teams

• Previous experience building, managing, and evolving enterprise data products throughout the full product lifecycle

• Strong knowledge of modern data platforms and tools, including dbt, Looker, BigQuery, and cloud-based data environments

• Proven ability to translate complex data challenges into practical business solutions and measurable results

• Experience supporting AI and machine learning initiatives through scalable, high-quality data foundations

• Strong understanding of data governance, data quality standards, metadata management, and data contracts

• Experience leading Agile delivery processes, prioritization, and roadmap planning

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership

• Retail industry experience preferred

Skills:

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing teams

• Deep understanding of enterprise data products, data modeling, and modern cloud-based data ecosystems

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect data initiatives to operational and business outcomes

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment

• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional partnership skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level presentations and discussions

• Experience driving roadmap planning, product prioritization, and Agile delivery practices

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with attention to detail and data quality

• Ability to influence decision-making across technical and non-technical teams

• Working knowledge of AI/ML data enablement, governance practices, and scalable data architecture principles

Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategy, development, and lifecycle management of enterprise data products that support analytics, reporting, AI initiatives, and operational decision-making.

• Partner with business leaders, Analytics, and Technology teams to translate business needs into scalable data products, dashboards, metrics, and data models.

• Establish standards for data quality, governance, documentation, lineage, and service level expectations across the enterprise data ecosystem.

• Build and manage the enterprise data product roadmap, including prioritization, Agile delivery, and ongoing enhancements.

• Partner closely with Data Platform Engineering to support ingestion standards, validation processes, and pipeline reliability.

• Communicate proactively with stakeholders regarding priorities, delivery timelines, product health, and upcoming changes.

• Drive adoption and consistent use of enterprise data products across business teams by promoting usability, transparency, and trust in data.

• Monitor and improve the overall health, reliability, and performance of enterprise data products and related processes.

• Partner with cross-functional leaders to align data priorities with enterprise goals and evolving business needs.

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Support AI and machine learning initiatives through reliable, scalable, and business-ready data foundations.

• Follow company policies and perform other duties as assigned.

• Learn, follow and enforce company policies and safety procedures.

• Adhere to company work hours, policies, procedures and rules governing professional staff behavior.

• Responsibilities may change; team member may be asked to perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements & Attendance:

• Regular in-office attendance required

• Flexible work schedule to support business needs

• Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties

• Adhere to company work hours, policies, procedures, and rules governing professional staff behavior

Equal Employment Opportunity

Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate with regard to employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.​