Data Science & AI Senior Manager

Data Science & AI Senior Manager

At Suntory Global Spirits, we craft spirits of the highest quality and deliver brilliant experiences to people around the world. Suntory Global Spirits has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company... where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets - our premium spirits and our people - we're driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Suntory Global Spirits is a place where you can come Unleash your Spirit by making an impact each and every day.

What makes this a great opportunity? This role sits at the intersection of Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, business strategy, and execution. As the Senior Manager of Data Science & AI, you will lead high-impact analytics and AI initiatives that directly influence commercial performance. You will partner closely with stakeholders across Commercial, Strategy, and Supply Chain to design, build, and scale data-driven solutions, ranging from experimentation and statistical modeling to machine learning and AI applications. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines strong statistical and technical depth with excellent project management and communication skills. You will own initiatives end-to-end, translating business problems into analytical solutions and ensuring they are successfully delivered, adopted, and scaled.

Role Responsibilities

• Applied Data Science, AI & Business Impact
• Lead development of advanced analytics and AI solutions, including recommendation systems, sales and demand models, and computer vision use cases.
• Translate business problems into structured analytical approaches and deliver measurable impact in partnership with business stakeholders.
• Experimentation & Statistical Excellence
• Design and lead A/B testing and experimentation programs.
• Ensure statistical rigor and establish best practices for test design, measurement, and interpretation.
• Project Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Own projects end-to-end from scoping through delivery and adoption.
• Partner closely with stakeholders, manage multiple priorities, and deliver clear, executive-level presentations.
• Technical Leadership & Data Science Practices
• Contribute hands-on to analysis and model development.
• Establish standards for code quality, reproducibility, and collaboration.
• Define a data science–focused SDLC and partner with engineering to deploy scalable solutions.
• AI Enablement & Innovation
• Apply modern AI techniques, including generative AI, where they drive clear value.
• Help build sustainable AI and data science capabilities.

Qualifications

• Education
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a quantitative field such as Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, or Computer Science.
• Experience
• 7–10+ years in Data Science, AI, or advanced analytics with a track record of delivering end-to-end projects with measurable impact.
• Experience working closely with business stakeholders is required.
• Technical Proficiency
• Strong Python and SQL skills with hands-on experience in Databricks and PySpark.
• Experience building and deploying production models is required.
• Familiarity with computer vision, APIs, and diverse data sources is preferred.
• Experience with version control and modern development practices is expected.
• Leadership & Communication
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and the ability to translate analytics into business insights.
• Strong PowerPoint and presentation skills required.
• Strategic & Commercial Acumen
• Ability to translate data science and AI into business value, with a track record of driving growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
• Innovation Mindset
• Experience applying emerging AI and data science methods to deliver practical business impact.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Industry Knowledge
• Experience in CPG, beverage, or a similar industry is preferred.
• Salary Range
• The salary range for this role, based in Chicago, Illinois is $135–145k, along with an annual bonus, 401K match, profit sharing, and medical and wellness benefits. The salary range is commensurate with the candidate's location, experience, and skillset. The range will vary if outside of this location. While relocation, immigration, and/or tax compliance support are not guaranteed, we may offer assistance to successful candidates depending on factors such as role requirements in accordance with company guidelines.
• Diversity & Inclusion
• At Suntory Global Spirits, people are our number one priority, and we believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are valued and respected. Suntory Global Spirits is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law. All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant's skills and experience.