Deep technical expertise across the modern data stack (data warehousing, ELT/ETL, BI tools) Advanced SQL mastery Proficiency in Python or R for data science applications Strategic thinking and roadmap development for data initiatives Executive communication and data storytelling Team building, mentorship, and performance management Cross-functional stakeholder management and influence without authority 10+ years of progressive experience in data-related fields 5+ years in people management roles Proven success building and scaling a data function Hands-on experience with modern data platforms (Snowflake, BigQuery, or Redshift) Experience with transformation tools (dbt) Experience with orchestration (Airflow or Dagster) Experience with BI tools (Omni, Tableau, Looker, Metabase, or Power BI) Track record of implementing data governance, quality frameworks, and security protocols Experience applying machine learning, predictive modeling, or NLP (bonus)