Director, Data Science

Director, Data Science

Lincoln Financial is a Fortune 500 company and one of the nation's leading group benefits carriers. Our Advanced Analytics team sits at the heart of how the Group Protection business turns data into a competitive advantage. We partner deeply across functions — particularly Claims, Finance, and IT — on the strategic, multi-month and multi-year initiatives that move the business, spanning our disability and absence product suites and increasingly group life and supplemental health. As Director, Data Science, you will lead a small, experienced team of data scientists and analytics professionals whose work bridges the most technical disciplines and the realities of running the business. This is not a back-office IT function: our team understands how a claim is actually managed, and we build solutions — from advanced AI to deep data and analytics engineering — that are technically rigorous and grounded in real operational and financial value. Our motto says it best: turning data into insights… and insights into value. This is a builder's leadership role. You will develop and amplify the talent on the team, raise the bar on how we deliver, and put in place the practices and governance framework that lets us scale our impact. If you are excited to shape a high-potential team with a strong track record and a clear runway for growth, we want to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

• Lead, coach, and grow the team — Manage a small team of data scientists across different levels and career stages, developing them technically and professionally and unlocking the full potential of an already strong group.
• Champion the work to every audience — Serve as the bridge between deeply technical disciplines and business stakeholders, translating complex analytical work into clear narratives and confident decisions for non-technical partners across Claims, Finance, and beyond.
• Drive strategic analytics initiatives — Own delivery of high-priority, multi-month and multi-year programs across Group Protection, with a primary focus on Claims and selective expansion into Underwriting, Finance, and Distribution as opportunities arise.
• Build the practices and governance framework — Translate enterprise standards into a repeatable framework for documentation, validation, and governance — removing a key bottleneck so the team can create value consistently and at scale.
• Mature the MLOps practice — Establish and evolve a robust MLOps framework spanning model development, deployment, monitoring, and iteration, so the team ships reliable solutions faster.
• Build for reuse and scale — Develop reusable data assets, code and feature libraries, pipelines, and methodological frameworks that compound the team's velocity — turning one-off solutions into durable building blocks that accelerate future work and unlock higher ROI.
• Infuse data science across our work — Work hands-on alongside the team to inject targeted data science techniques — including data engineering, pipelines, and solution architecture that moves data between front-end user solutions and back-end data tables — into analytics and AI initiatives, in close partnership with other technical and business groups.
• Innovate continuously — Explore emerging modeling techniques, generative AI, new data sources, and tooling, bringing best practices that continually evolve how the team works.

What we're looking for

Requirements

• 8+ years of progressive experience in analytics, spanning areas such as data science, data engineering, analytics engineering, and data storytelling.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing analytical talent.
• Strong proficiency in SQL and Python.
• Hands-on command of the end-to-end modeling lifecycle, from requirements gathering through deployment, monitoring, and validation.
• Experience establishing or operating MLOps practices, model governance, and data science standards.
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills — able to translate complex technical work for non-technical audiences, manage competing priorities, and keep stakeholders aligned.
• A genuine passion for developing people, building durable frameworks, and connecting technical work to measurable business and risk-management value.

Preferred

• Insurance industry experience — in actuarial science, business intelligence and reporting, data science, or a closely related analytical discipline.
• Master's, Ph.D. or other credentials in Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, Actuarial Science, Economics, or a similar analytical field — or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity with group benefits products (disability, absence, group life, or supplemental health) and the operational realities of insurance functions.
• Experience with Dataiku.
• Exposure to generative AI solutions and their practical deployment in a business setting.
• Experience working at the intersection of data science, actuarial science, and business intelligence teams.

Application Deadline

Applications for this position will be accepted through August 26th, 2026 subject to earlier closure due to applicant volume.

What's it like to work here?

At Lincoln Financial, we love what we do. We make meaningful contributions each and every day to empower our customers to take charge of their lives. Working alongside dedicated and talented colleagues, we build fulfilling careers and stronger communities through a company that values our unique perspectives, insights and contributions and invests in programs that empower each of us to take charge of our own future.

What's in it for you:

• Clearly defined career tracks and job levels, along with associated behaviors for each of Lincoln's core values and leadership attributes
• Leadership development and virtual training opportunities
• PTO/parental leave
• Competitive 401K and employee benefits
• Free financial counseling, health coaching and employee assistance program
• Tuition assistance program
• Work arrangements that work for you
• Effective productivity/technology tools and training

About The Company

Lincoln Financial (NYSE: LNC) helps people to confidently plan for their version of a successful future. We focus on identifying a clear path to financial security, with products including annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services. With our 120-year track record of expertise and integrity, millions of customers trust our solutions and service to help put their goals in reach.

Lincoln Financial is the marketing name for Lincoln Financial Corporation and its affiliates including The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN, and Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, Syracuse, NY. Lincoln Financial affiliates, their distributors, and their respective employees, representatives and/or insurance agents do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice.

Lincoln is committed to creating an inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.