VP, American Eagle Outfitters Analytics Leader

Role Summary/Purpose:

This VP, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) Analytics role is hands on manager role responsible for leading end-to-end analytics delivery for the AEO Credit Card Program.  This role provides unique experience to partner with senior leaders at Synchrony and AEO across multiple brands, showcase leadership in executing analytics strategies aligned to programs long-term vision and financial goals. This individual is responsible to design strategic analytics initiatives, develop roadmaps with milestones, develop analytical frameworks and manage seamless project execution to drive profitable growth. The individual will also analyze partner data and develop acquisition and marketing strategies to effectively integrate credit into AEO’s multi-tender loyalty program.  Additional responsibilities of the role include building strong relationships with client and cross-functional stakeholders, influencing with data driven storytelling and active collaboration across Synchrony analytics teams to implement scalable analytical solutions and best practices. The role will also require overseeing the analytics leader for another client card program, as well as coaching junior members on the team and managing day-to-day analytics delivery.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop decision optimization agenda and lead analytics delivery, supporting AEO’s Credit Card Program. This includes development of analytics strategies aligned to program goals, designing roadmaps with milestones, developing effective analytics methods and seamless execution of multiple projects to drive profitable growth.  
• Partner with growth teams to establish learning agendas, develop omni-channel marketing strategies and design advanced analytics methods (Machine Learning etc.) and frameworks to optimize impacts. Collaborate with cross functional teams and develop strategies to grow new accounts, sales, and profitability of the program.
• Build trust with client as an analytics advocate, establish strong relationships. Establish operating rhythm with client analytics team to execute combined analytics roadmaps and Act as a client consultant who brings solutions solving problems beyond the credit program.
• Collaborate on partner data and develop acquisition and marketing strategies to effectively integrate credit into AEO’s multi-tender loyalty program.
• Show leadership in using variety of data sources including proprietary Synchrony data, client data and 3rd party data to recommend business actions that improve customer experience and drive incremental program economics.
• Be a leader in influencing business actions with data driven story telling. Advocate data driven decision making that optimizes program profitability and client revenue growth.
• Collaborate with analytics CoE’s to share Synchrony analytics capabilities stories with cross functional stakeholders, clients, and influence activation.
• Develop expertise on cross functional KPI’s and their drivers, conduct portfolio diagnostics. Establish portfolio performance insights review rhythm with cross functional stakeholders, collaborate and design actions to grow the program and drive efficiencies.
• Establish effective project management operating rhythms with cross functional stakeholders, clients, and team members.
• Groom junior analysts on the team. Lead and prioritize workload of offshore analysts to ensure high-quality execution and delivery of analytics, measurement, and reporting projects.
• Drive productivity and actionability of foundational reporting & measurement analytics using tools like structured/curated datasets, on-demand reporting portal, actionable reports and scalable campaign measurement tools.
• Act as a trusted advisor to solve complex business problems and provide actionable recommendations based upon data driven insights.
• Deliver hand-on analytics projects and perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned
• Oversee the analytics leader for another client card program, and provide thought leadership and guidance
• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree, or in lieu of degree a high school diploma 8+ years of work experience establishing and managing marketing analytics in the financial services, credit card and/or payments industry.
• A minimum of 8+ years of work experience to include:
  • 5+ years hands on experience using statistical analysis tools and data warehouse tools to include such tools as SAS, SQL, and/or R, Python
  • 3+ years' experience within the financial services, credit card payments, or retail /Consumer Packaged Goods industry
  • 3+ years leading large-scale analytics projects
  • 3+ years of client facing experience
• Ability and flexibility to travel for business as required

Desired Characteristics:

• 2+ years of management experience including direct management of a team providing leadership and guidance
• Ability to effectively delegate projects, project negotiation skills and skills to coach junior members on the team.
• Ability to partner with managers, senior leaders, and cross functional stakeholders both internal and with external clients to establish team analytics goals and execution roadmaps.
• Experience building strong relationships with client and cross-functional stakeholders, influencing with data driven storytelling and active collaboration across analytics teams to implement scalable analytical solutions
• Proven hands-on experience utilizing analytical tools such as SAS, SQL, or open-source tools such as R and Python.
• Bachelor's degree a in STEM field such as Mathematics, Statistics, Analytics, or any Quantitative field.
• Advanced degree in a quantitative field or MBA with Systems and Marketing specialization strongly preferred.
• Proven hands-on experience utilizing analytical tools such as SAS, SQL, or open-source tools such as R and Python.
• Ability to partner with managers, senior leaders, and cross functional stakeholders to establish team analytics goals and execution roadmaps.
• Strong understanding of KPI’s and ability to tell effective stories connecting KPI trends to business drivers. Experience in building impactful strategies to onboard, activate, engage & retain customers and ability to develop/use machine learning algorithms.
• Advanced tableau dashboarding skills and experience in using tools AI capabilities is strongly preferred. Advanced skills using Excel and PowerPoint strongly preferred.
• Strong marketing, creative and analytical skills. Experience with Retail or Credit Card products is preferred.
• Ability to influence senior corporate decision makers. Executive presence and data driven story telling skills.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Intellectually curious with the ability to innovate and identify creative solutions to meet business goals.
• Ability to effectively delegate projects, project negotiation skills and skills to coach junior members on the team.
• Proven ability to work independently yet as key member and contributor to a broader team.

Grade/Level: 12

The salary range for this position is 135,000.00 - 230,000.00 USD Annual and is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.

Actual compensation offered within the posted salary range will be based upon work experience, skill level or knowledge.

Salaries are adjusted according to market in CA, NY Metro and Seattle.

Our Way of Working:

We’re proud to offer you flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. You will be required to commute to your nearest Hub (either virtual or physical) for in-person engagement activities such as regular business or team meetings, training and culture events. 

*Field Sales and some Commercial team roles may have varied location requirements based upon partner obligations or preferences.

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be 18 years or older
• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of the onboarding process
• You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
• New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service with the company before they are eligible to post on other roles.  Once this new hire time in position requirement is met, the associate will have a minimum 6 months’ time in position before they can post for future non-exempt roles.  Employees, level 8 or greater, must have at least 18 months’ time in position before they can post.  All internal employees must consistently meet performance expectations and have approval from your manager to post (or the approval of your manager and HR if you don’t meet the time in position or performance expectations).

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required.  We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. 

Our Commitment:

When you join us, you’ll be part of an inclusive culture where your individual skills, experience, and voice are not only heard – but valued. Together, we’re building a future where we can all belong, connect, and turn ideals into action. More than 50% of our workforce is engaged in our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), where community and passion intersect to offer a safe space to learn and grow.

This starts when you choose to apply for a role at Synchrony. We ensure all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. We’re proud to have an award-winning culture for all. 

Reasonable Accommodation Notice:

• Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.
• If you need special accommodations, please call our Career Support Line so that we can discuss your specific situation. We can be reached at 1-866-301-5627.   Representatives are available from 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday, Central Standard Time

Job Family Group: