Senior Data Scientist – Store Performance & Operations

Delivers practical analytical solutions to improve store performance, labor effectiveness, and operations decision-making across the 5 brands and 1,400 stores at Catalyst Brands. Uses disciplined analytical judgement with advanced analytics and modeling to build causal and predictive models that drive sound business decisions. Leverages AI-enabled tools to enhance speed, quality, and breadth of analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develops and applies analytics models that diagnose store performance drivers, including traffic, conversion, UPT, AUR, labor utilization, shrink, and improved margin profitability.
• Identifies underperforming stores, quantifies root causes, and recommends targeted interventions (labor scheduling, product placement, assortment, training, process redesign).
• Designs and applies rigorous test-and-learn standards to evaluate operational and merchandising initiatives, translating results into clear recommendations and scalable actions.
• Creates models to detect operational patterns, identify key causal factors, and predict outcomes based on leading indicators.
• Develops predictive and decision-support models for scheduling, staffing coverage, fulfillment flows, and allocation decisions that affect store performance and profitability.
• Transforms operational data (POS, labor, tasking, shrink events, foot traffic) into intelligence that supports rapid experimentation and decision-making.
• Continuously refines models and reporting to adapt to evolving store strategies, customer behaviors, and brand needs.
• Presents insights and performance diagnostics to store leadership, distilling complex analytics into clear narratives that guide operational strategy.
• Partners with Store Operations, Finance, Merchandising, and Field Leadership to align analytics outputs with business priorities.
• Guides cross-functional initiatives that drive measurable improvements in sales, labor productivity, customer satisfaction, and overall store profitability.

Qualifications

• 6-10+ years of advanced analytics/data science experience, retail preferred or other operationally intensive environments with consumer exposure.
• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related fields; Master’s degree is a plus.
• Demonstrated success delivering analytics solutions, including forecasting, optimization, and segmentation, using ML models and AI tools that drive measurable operational or financial outcomes.
• Strong analytical judgment in noisy data environments, with the ability to identify and validate relevant data, distinguish causal from predictive questions, make valid comparisons, surface bias and assumptions, and translate model outputs into sound business conclusions.
• Financial and operational acumen, able to interpret P&Ls and operational KPIs.
• Influential written and verbal communication skills, able to guide decision-making without direct authority.
• Ability to model and promote a culture of intellectual honesty, constructive skepticism, shared ownership, continuous improvement, and practical rigor to drive improved business decisions.
• Proficient in Python and SQL, able to build and validate reproducible workflows, including AI-assisted code.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance starting on day one.
• Term life insurance.
• Paid vacation and holidays.
• 401(k) Savings Plan with company match.
• Associate discount on JCPenney merchandise.
• Opportunities for growth and development through training programs and career advancement.
• Collaborative and supportive work culture.

Pay

USD $97,200.00 - USD $162,000.00 per year.

About Catalyst

Catalyst Brands reflects the unification of six iconic brands under a modern vision for success, celebrating the essence of American style. The company leverages its rich history, resources, and industry talent to build the success of its brands. Catalyst exists to ignite America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all.