Vice President, Data Science

Company Description

CoLab is a fully integrated, cross-discipline team that provides best-in-class services in a fluid and modular way. With our clients at the center, we create brand movement at the speed of people’s lives by connecting real-time data with world-class creative, content, and media in service of growth and Return on investment. CoLab is a “power of one” solution, encompassing data, media, and production. By drawing from across the vast Publicis Groupe network, we are uniquely positioned to deliver innovation and specialized skills to our clients, as well as enriching opportunities and inclusive benefits to our employees. We pride ourselves on combining the atmosphere of a startup company with the stability and experience of a global leader.

 

Job Description

The VP, Data Science will lead the conception, development, deployment, and commercialization of AI‑powered products and services across Publicis Collective. A passionate technologist and proven change agent, you will guide a team of AI engineers and data scientists, gather requirements directly from clients and agency colleagues, and translate them into scalable, revenue‑driving solutions. You will also champion enterprise‑wide adoption of these and other AI platforms as well as deliver training programs that upskill hundreds of media professionals and unlock new value for our clients.

Responsibilities

Product Vision & Innovation

• Shape and own a forward‑looking roadmap of generative‑AI tools that enhance media planning, activation, measurement, and creative workflows.
• Convert user pain points into detailed product requirements, wireframes, and technical epics.
• Rapidly prototype proof‑of‑concepts, leveraging LLMs, RAG architectures, and agentic workflows; cultivate a culture of continual experimentation.

Technical Excellence & Hands‑On Development

• Maintain deep, hands‑on expertise in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure); contribute code reviews and exemplar modules.
• Define engineering standards for prompt engineering, vector databases, MLOps, and GenAI safety/ethics.
• Evaluate emerging frameworks (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Hugging Face, LangChain) and recommend build‑vs‑buy decisions.

Deployment & Change Management

• Own end‑to‑end deployment of AI products, from secure architecture and DevOps pipelines to user onboarding and SLA definition.
• Partner with Groupe technology, security, and legal teams to ensure compliance with data‑privacy, copyright, and responsible‑AI guidelines.
• Roll out enterprise AI platforms across the agency network; establish governance and best‑practice playbooks.

Training, Evangelism & Commercialization

• Design and deliver immersive training programs and certifications that empower employees to use AI responsibly and productively.
• Serve as executive sponsor in client pitches and QBRs, articulating the business impact of generative‑AI solutions and securing incremental revenue.
• Publish thought‑leadership, white papers, and conference presentations to position Publicis Groupe at the forefront of AI innovation.

Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of AI developers, data scientists, and solution architects.
• Foster collaboration across Publicis Groupe.
• Track KPIs (adoption, efficiency lift, incremental revenue) and continuously optimize strategy based on data‑driven insights.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in digital media, advertising technology, or related disciplines, with 4+ years leading AI/ML product or engineering teams
• Demonstrated success building and shipping generative‑AI or LLM‑powered applications in production environments
• Hands‑on proficiency with Python and at least one modern front‑end or scripting language; strong familiarity with OpenAI APIs, vector search (Pinecone), and orchestration frameworks
• Proven experience deploying enterprise AI platforms (e.g., ChatGPT Enterprise, Copilot 365) and driving large‑scale adoption through training
• Strong strategic acumen and storytelling ability; skilled at translating technical concepts into business outcomes for C‑suite and non‑technical audiences
• Industry certifications in AI/ML, cloud, or data privacy a plus
• Excellent relationship building, diplomacy, and decision making skills with the ability to think creatively
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Additional Information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

 

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

 

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [email protected].

 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. #LI-KS3

 

Compensation Range: USD $168,150.00 - USD $269,217.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. This role may also be eligible for bonus or incentive compensation. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 8/24/2026.