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Senior Director - People Data Science Insights

Freshworks Inc.

Job Overview

Location

San Mateo

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• Architect the next-generation People Data Science & Insights function at Freshworks, transforming raw workforce data into the strategic fuel that powers every major talent, culture, and business decision across 4,000+ employees in 13 countries.
• Own the end-to-end vision—from data ingestion and governance to predictive modeling and executive storytelling—establishing Freshworks as the undisputed benchmark for data-driven HR in the SaaS industry.
• Translate complex attrition, engagement, productivity, and DEI signals into board-level narratives that directly influence headcount planning, compensation philosophy, leadership development, and M&A diligence.
• Design and productionize AI/ML models (e.g., gradient-boosted attrition risk, NLP-based engagement drivers, causal-inference productivity experiments) that achieve ≥90 % precision and materially reduce regrettable turnover and cost-to-serve.
• Build and scale a global, cloud-native analytics stack (Snowflake, dbt, Python/R, Airflow, Workday Prism, Tableau/Power BI) that ingests 50+ HR, Finance, and business systems, delivering sub-second query performance and self-service exploration.
• Establish rigorous data-governance guardrails aligned to GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2, and ISO 27001—implementing role-based access, differential privacy, and automated anomaly detection to safeguard 100 % of employee data.
• Create a unified taxonomy of 200+ workforce metrics (hires, exits, internal mobility, performance ratings, compa-ratio, span-of-control) that becomes the single source of truth for Finance, HR, and Executive Staff.
• Partner shoulder-to-shoulder with the CHRO, CFO, and CEO to embed predictive workforce scenarios into quarterly OKRs, annual operating plans, and board presentations—turning analytics into a $10M+ annual value lever.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a distributed team of 10–15 data scientists, analysts, and people scientists; institute agile rituals, career ladders, and a culture of experimentation that yields 2× faster model iteration and 3× higher employee engagement.
• Evangelize data literacy across HRBPs, COEs, and line managers through immersive workshops, certification paths, and “Insight Sprints” that convert dashboards into measurable actions within 30 days.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and IT to integrate real-time workforce signals into Freshworks’ customer-facing AI products—unlocking new revenue streams and reinforcing our “customer-for-life” mission.
• Champion ethical AI practices, ensuring fairness, transparency, and explainability in every algorithmic decision that affects hiring, promotion, pay, and retention.
• Continuously scan the external ecosystem (academia, vendors, open-source) to pilot emerging techniques—graph neural networks, synthetic data generation, reinforcement learning for talent allocation—keeping Freshworks three steps ahead of the market.
• Translate quarterly findings into peer-reviewed whitepapers, conference keynotes, and open-source contributions that elevate the Freshworks employer brand and attract world-class talent.

🎯 Requirements

• 12+ years leading data science, people analytics, or workforce intelligence functions in high-growth, global technology companies; proven track record of delivering predictive models with measurable ROI.
• Expert-level command of SQL, Python (pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch), R, and cloud data platforms (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift); hands-on experience with MLOps and CI/CD pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex analytics to C-suite and board audiences, translating statistical outputs into strategic recommendations that drive headcount, budget, and culture decisions.
• Deep knowledge of HR systems (Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, ADP, Greenhouse) and the underlying data models for employee lifecycle, compensation, performance, and learning.
• Graduate degree (MS/PhD preferred) in Data Science, Statistics, Economics, IO Psychology, or related quantitative discipline; published research or patents in workforce analytics a strong plus.

🏖️ Benefits

• Competitive base salary + annual performance bonus + equity (RSUs) in a high-momentum SaaS company valued at $4B+ with 30 % YoY ARR growth.
• Flexible hybrid work model—3 days in our San Mateo HQ with fully funded travel for global team off-sites in Chennai, London, and Sydney.
• $5,000 annual learning stipend, paid attendance at top-tier conferences (Strata, People Analytics & Future of Work, KDD), and dedicated time for open-source contributions.
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and mental-wellness coverage for you and your family, plus 16-week gender-neutral parental leave and annual recharge sabbaticals after four years.

Skills & Technologies

Senior

Onsite

Remote

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Freshworks Inc.

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About Freshworks Inc.

Freshworks Inc. provides cloud-based customer engagement and employee experience software. Its suite includes products for customer support, sales automation, marketing, IT service management, and HR service delivery. The company serves small and medium-sized businesses as well as enterprises across industries. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, Freshworks offers integrated SaaS applications designed to improve customer satisfaction and employee productivity.

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