[Hiring] Data Acquisition Director @Everstream Analytics

Position overview

The Data Acquisition Director will lead our commercial relationships and contracting with external data vendors, take on responsibility for optimizing the ROI of our data expenses, and ensure that we operate with consideration of compliance and security throughout our data sourcing process. This will include assessing data quality and market competitiveness of the data elements, and developing data sourcing strategies to close gaps and create innovation that further differentiates Everstream’s unique data value in the market.

The Data Acquisition Director will be responsible for establishing key relationships with data vendor partners and will serve as the primary point of contact for all data vendors (sources) and as a liaison for data vendor communications.  By establishing a deep knowledge of our data products and services, the Data Acquisition Director will ensure ongoing quality data sources that will support and maintain our data products. The Data Acquisition Director will also identify, evaluate, negotiate, and secure contracts with prospective new data vendor partners for product improvements or expansion.

The Data Acquisition Director will lead achievement of the following outcomes:

1. Build & Maintain Strong Working Relationships with Key Vendors: Own the external relationship management of key vendors/partners and ensure that Everstream is well positioned with these companies for long-term success and continuity of source data. Become the “face” of key vendor relationships externally and strategically navigate commercial negotiations and contracting to secure favorable terms that meet the requirements of our business. Research, investigate, identify, and form relationships with new vendors based on strategic data and product needs.
2. Budget Planning and ROI Measurement: Development a framework for systematically tracking the ROI of all data spend across vendor sources, attributing dollars spent towards product usage, value created, and an assessment to measure monetization of incoming source data. Implement this framework and create an ongoing review cycle of data spend optimization, partnering with Finance to drive visibility and make recommendations on cost-efficiencies as well as profit and growth driving opportunities. Use this information to fuel the budget planning process.
3. Compliance & Governance: Ensure that our current and future vendor relationships are compliant with applicable data governance standards and meet the evolving compliance requirements that are necessary to adhere to appropriately mitigate risk to the business and our customers. Partner closely with our operations team and the data scientists that build products from our source data, ensuring that we are meeting our compliance requirements end-to-end throughout the vendor / partner lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and evaluate opportunities to onboard new data sources to support strategic product and business initiatives. Use creativity, research and industry knowledge to develop new data partnerships.
• Create, implement, contract and manage the data acquisition process and understand the impact on downstream data usage.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with current and potential data vendor partners.
• Develop and maintain processes to measure quality of data vendors and their contributions to data products as well as any privacy compliance measures that may apply. Use this information to help manage data vendor relationships.
• Compile and manage documentation for third-party data products.
• Creation and management of annual data budget that supports effective data products and data quality. Partner with Finance for ongoing data budget reporting and management.
• Maintain thorough understanding of data vendor contracts and their assets (sourcing method, file layouts, quantities, delivery schedules, permitted use etc.). Proactively manage contract renewals and evaluate which partnerships that bring maximum value to the business.
• Lead internal diligence to audit and resolve duplicative data sources as determined by data quality measures.
• Maintain open communication and collaboration with internal teams. Work closely with Data Science and Product Leaders who are focused developing new insights and new data needs

Skills and qualifications

• 10+ years experience in a Data Acquisition, Data Management or Data Strategy focused role
• 7+ years of directly related experience
• 3+ years in a business leadership role
• BS Degree; preferable in Analytics, Data Science or CS 
• Experienced data professional with extensive knowledge of third-party compiled data products, practices, and services.
• Proven experience with end-to-end partner identification, business term negotiation, contract development, implementation, and ongoing management.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills and experience evaluating and presenting data.
• Analytical approach with the ability to interpret information and trends and make data driven decisions.
• Working knowledge of ETL and QA processes and experience working with Data Engineering and Data Science teams.
• Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with internal customers and data vendors.
• Experience in customer service, research, and sales.
• Possess an ownership mentality, treat company resources, and team members with respect and care.