VP, Data Engineering

Job Description 

The VP of Data Engineering will be responsible for leading the data-focused Technology, Engineering and Platform teams, whose output directly empowers business insights and decisions at A&F.

Reporting into the SVP Data &Analytics, the role will partner with a multitude of senior stakeholders to understand A&F’s technology across teams and products. This will involve determining a path forward to delivering technology that will facilitate the role data plays within our overall business strategy, with a clear focus on shepherding the quality, reliability, and accessibility of data to all partners and powering a range of services.

This leader will be accountable for building, growing, and mentoring a world-class team of data and platform engineers.

What Will You Be Doing? 

• Lead execution of data projects to support A&F’s goals and strategic initiatives.
• Build organizational technical capabilities to enable the ingestion, integration, modeling, and transformation of internal and external datasets at scale.
• Modernize Data Engineering infrastructure so that A&F can scale effectively with the rapid growth of the business globally and across franchise/third party partnerships.
• Drive the technical data strategy for the company in close alignment and partnership with the SVP of Data Analytics
• Collaborate closely with cross functional leaders within the core business, Digital & Technology, Architecture, Data and Decision Science, Security & Compliance, and operations to ensure that they can use the data as a strategic competitive advantage.
• Ensure the Data Engineering organization has the resources, capacity and skills to meet the company’s ambitious goals and meet the overarching business priorities.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CTO leadership team in developing strategy.
• Manage costs associated with running Data infrastructure and operations.
• Ensure that the core data assets are secure and meet all regulatory requirements.
• Strengthen external partnerships as a source of talent and technical capabilities, including related to big data platform solutions.
• Build advocacy in the organization around the importance of data, data engineering best practices and data forward/thoughtful technology implementations.
• Drive performance management by communicating job expectations, monitoring performance, providing feedback and facilitating employee development.
• Maintain transparent communication by appropriately communicating organization information to team through department meetings and regular interpersonal communications.
• Lead and motivate teams to create a workplace culture consistent with the A&F leadership standards.

What Do You Need To Bring? 

• Strong experience with data technologies such as Azure, PowerBI, Snowflake, Tableau, and Databricks, among others.
• Knowledge of and hands-on ability with modern data technologies. Ability to make technology and architecture decisions and to guide the organization on best-in-class approaches.
• Track record of transforming and modernizing cloud-based technology in a data intensive space.
• Demonstrated strength in leading data strategy broadly, which includes experience with data governance, quality and security.
• 15+ years’ experience in a pivotal data leadership role which involved leading a comprehensive data strategy; experience building and managing large (80+) data engineering organizations.
• Deep experience perfecting the right processes and workflows needed to scale data and engineering organizations, while expanding into new markets and products
• Track record of recruiting and developing outstanding talent in a distributed global environment; strong management expertise and proven experience developing senior talent
• An ability to develop productive relationships access the entire organization in order drive tangible business value, with a keen focus on high impact analytics.
• Demonstrated experience in building infrastructure, platforms and data science tools/products to solve complex business problems. This includes enabling machine learning, quantitative methods, predictive modelling and other analytics technology frameworks and techniques.
• Experience in data heavy environments required; experience in consumer or retail technologies strongly preferred.
• Experience delivering value in a multi-company or agile environment is a plus as well as leading urgent/on call support teams.

Our Company 

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) is a global retailer of five iconic, omnichannel lifestyle brands catering to the kid through millennial customer: Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie kids, Hollister, Gilly Hicks and Social Tourist. At A&F Co., we’re here for our associates, customers and communities on the journey to being and becoming who they are – and because no journey is the same, we strive to create an inclusive culture, where everyone is free to share ideas.  

Our Values 

We lead with purpose and always put our people first, which is evidenced by our Great Place to Work™ Certification, as well as being a 2021 recipient of Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Retail, and named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign for 16 consecutive years. We’re proud to offer equitable compensation and benefits, including flexibility and competitive Paid Time Off, as well as education and engagement events, including various Associate Resource Groups, volunteer opportunities and additional time off to give back to our global communities.  

What You’ll Get

As an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) associate, you’ll be eligible to participate in a variety of benefit programs designed to fit you and your lifestyle. A&F is committed to providing simple, competitive, and comprehensive benefits that align with our Company’s culture and values, but most importantly – with you! We also provide competitive incentives to reward the commitment our associates have for moving our global business forward:  

• Incentive bonus program
• 401(K) savings plan with company match
• Annual companywide review process
• Flexible spending accounts
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Associate assistance program
• Paid parental and adoption leave
• Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot
• Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
• Paid Caregiver Leave
• Mobile Stipend
• Paid time off & one paid volunteer day per year, allowing you to give back to your community
• Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are “work from anywhere” days for most roles & six work from anywhere weeks per year)
• Seven associate wellness half days per year
• Onsite fitness center
• Merchandise discount on all of our brands
• Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within
• Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups
• Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU!

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Notice (For Colorado, New York, California and Washington): The recruiting pay range for this position is $260,000 – $300,000. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, your years of experience, your work location, comparison to other employees in similar or related roles, or market demands. The range may be modified in the future.