Business Data Science Manager

This role asks for hands-on data science chops (Python, ML, real statistical modeling) AND genuine commercial fluency (trade ROI, margin analysis, retailer P&Ls). That combination is genuinely rare, and we're not going to pretend otherwise. If you don't hit every single bullet below, apply anyway. We'd rather talk to someone brilliant with an unconventional path than pass on the right person because their resume doesn't tick every box.

Here's the honest version: you'd be the second dedicated data scientist in our commercial org. The data infrastructure is a work in progress — Microsoft Fabric, D365, and a taxonomy that's still being built. Plan for 6–12 months of plumbing before the elegant modeling takes center stage. If that sounds exciting — building something real from scratch, with real ownership — keep reading. If you need a mature stack on day one, this probably isn't your spot.

What you get in return: genuine autonomy, exposure to the CEO and CFO, models that actually ship, and a director who will geek out on code with you. Oh, and a team with a lot of personality. Forewarned is forearmed.

This is a remote role with an opportunity to work from anywhere in the US. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. and should not require visa sponsorship now or in the future.

• Advanced analytics & model building — ~50%
• Data infrastructure & strategy — ~20%
• Business partnership & storytelling — ~20%
• Omni-channel & e-commerce insights — ~10%

• A pragmatist, not a show-off. You pick the simplest model that answers the question. You can explain why that was the right call, including what you'd do if the data set was half as clean.
• Real coding ability. Python and SQL. We want the math geek, not the dashboard builder.
• An ethical spine. You tell leadership what the data says — not what they want to hear. Politely, ideally, but you don't roll over.
• Low ego, high collaboration. WD-40 has a strong crew culture. You thrive when you don't always get the credit.
• Curiosity and self-sufficiency. You pick up a new stack in under 90 days and can describe exactly how you did it — not just "I'm a fast learner."
• Resilience under ambiguity. You get a vague question from a VP and come back with the right answer — not just the one that was literally asked.
• Commercial fluency is a plus. CPG, finance, or sales analytics background where you understand margin, trade spend, and how retailers actually think gives you a bit of a head start.

We're not a fast, build-a-big-team environment. What we offer: real ownership of a greenfield function, full remote flexibility, a 70-year-old brand with genuine stability, and a coach who will challenge you technically and trust you to run. If you've been through tech layoffs and want to build something meaningful without the whiplash — that's who we're looking for. Please consider employment with WD-40 Company only if you feel as strongly about our values as we do: We live, breathe, and play by our values every day.

Research consistently shows that underrepresented candidates — including women — are less likely to apply when they don't hit 100% of a JD. This role describes a genuinely rare combination of skills. If you're deeply strong in some of these areas and honestly curious about the rest, you're closer to our person than you think. We'd love to hear from you.

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