Director, Data Usability and Ethics

Key Skills

Python Programming, AWS, Scala Programming, Machine learning techniques, SaaS

Job Description

The Data team is responsible for driving the adoption of data driven decision making across Xero - for both our internal users and our global customers of small business owners, bookkeepers and accountants.

We are the center of expertise for data strategy, data architecture, data modelling, machine learning, ethical data usage and artificial intelligence service design. We lead the effort to raise the data and AI literacy levels across Xero and to embed our commitments to responsible data use into culture and practices across our fast-growing organisation.

Key questions for this opportunity

• Can you lead the thinking on complex questions of data use where customer trust is our biggest asset, and they rely on us for increasingly insightful products in an open ecosystem?
• Are you passionate about using data to make meaningful change in the lives of millions of small businesses and their communities?
• Have you built teams and led programs to create pragmatic, scalable governance structures?

What you'll do

• Ownership of the Xero data usability strategy and roadmap - including positions around data ethics, customer consent and privacy - and the supporting data governance and data management structures to implement these policies
• Establishing the data and AI ethics capability across Xero, working in a cross-functional way with our applied scientists and engineers to implement our values and emerging regulatory obligations into scalable structures that support Xero’s growth trajectory
• Driving greater consistency of process, practice and execution across all the ways we use data in our products and partnerships through building the right mix of frameworks, education and standards
• Partnering with Legal, Regulatory and Risk teams to ensure our policy environment remains aligned to the expectations of customers, partners and regulators as the landscape continues to evolve (e.g. data ownership and portability) 
• Partnering with Architecture and Engineering teams to translate policy and standards into tangible advice, including contributing to the development of metadata solutions to scale discoverability and compliance 
• Building and developing a high-performing team focused on implementing methods for consistent, robust and responsible data re-use in analytical applications at scale

About you

• You have a deep understanding of the regulatory frameworks and societal expectations around data use and machine-driven decisions, and you know how to translate these into implementation guidance at scale 
• You bring strong personal credibility and leadership skills; you’ll be able to comfortably guide senior people through difficult tradeoff discussions and creatively build consensus
• You can influence change in dynamic, complex environments with multiple competing priorities
• You have exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a track record in articulating complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences
• You bring consulting skills around shaping the problem space, critical thinking and analysis and articulating recommendations

What you'll bring with you

• A track record leading data usage strategy development and implementation roadmaps including coverage of data ethics, governance and data management considerations
• Experience in building and driving successful governance and remediation programs where teams have multiple, competing priorities
• Experience in risk assessments around data products, including providing guidance on ways to mitigate risk and operate within appropriate guardrails
• Probably have prior consulting or SaaS experience
• Experience facilitating discussions between technical and non-technical audiences at all levels
• Skills in building high performing teams
• Familiarity with relevant regulatory and certification frameworks such as GDPR, CCPA, ISO 27001/SOC2, and Open data/open banking regimes