Decision Scientist

Disney Decision Science and Integration (DDSI) is an analytical Center of Excellence that provides internal consulting services for clients across The Walt Disney Company including Disney Experiences, Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Corporate Finance.

In DDSI, we sit at the intersection of business strategy, advanced analytics, and technology integration to help our partners explore opportunities for analytics, shape business decisions, and drive value. As an analytical Center of Excellence, we are responsible for developing and delivering data science courses to business professionals across the enterprise, including individual contributors and executives. As a Decision Scientist – Course Developer/Instructor, you will play a pivotal role in designing and teaching these courses. In addition, you will have opportunities to develop innovative decision science solutions that support critical projects for internal clients. This role will work under the direction of the Senior Manager, Decision Science.

What You Will Do:

Responsibilities as a Decision Scientist Course Developer/Instructor

Develop and deliver applied data science courses covering topics such as probability and uncertainty, mathematical optimization, coding for automation and data analytics, machine learning, and data visualization.

Support learning across the enterprise through “office hour”-style consultations that help business professionals apply methods and ideas from our courses in their day-to-day work.

Responsibilities as a Decision Scientist:

• Drive value through analytics – Research, develop, and implement decision science frameworks as a consultant to business units across The Walt Disney Company.
• Pursue innovation – Conduct research on analytical techniques and translate that research into practical solutions for users and clients.
• Tell the story – Present science results to business partners and clients.
• Support a global and enterprise-wide mission – Identify and apply best practices in the field of advanced analytics for multiple lines of business.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3 year of related work experience.
• Ability to teach concepts on technical subject matter to non-experts in a clear and memorable way.
• Ability to craft technical slides, animations, and scripts to be used in teaching live or remote audiences.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Proficient at writing code in at least one programming language like R, Python, Julia, or other programming language.

Competence in at least one quantitative field, as indicated by the completion of advanced coursework and original research.

Fields include, but are not limited to:

• Statistics (two or more topics):
• Bayesian statistics
• Generalized linear models
• Design of Experiments
• Mixture models
• Nonparametric regression
• Structural equation models
• Time series (state space models, ARIMA, etc.)
• Optimization (at least one topic):
• Decision analysis or multiple criteria decision making
• Mixed-integer optimization
• Nonlinear optimization
• Stochastic optimization
• Discrete-event simulation and stochastic models
• Econometrics/Economics (two or more topics):
• Difference in differences
• Instrumental variables
• Panel data
• Regression discontinuity design
• Simultaneous equations models
• Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium modeling
• Game Theory
• Machine learning (two or more topics):
• Boosting
• CART
• Clustering
• Graphical models
• Neural networks
• Random forests
• Reinforcement learning
• Support vector machines

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience using advanced analytics to shape high‑impact strategic or enterprise‑level decisions, ideally in complex or fast‑moving business environments.
• Expertise in decision theory, system dynamics, industrial organization, or other approaches for understanding and influencing decisions in complex systems.
• Ability to translate sophisticated analytical methods into clear, actionable insights for leaders and non‑technical partners.
• Experience developing data science training for business professionals.

Required Education:

• Master’s degree in advanced Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience

Preferred Education:

• Ph.D. degree in Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Econometrics, Economics, Machine Learning, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience

PAY TRANSPARENCY

Job Posting Statement The hiring range for this position in Lake Buena Vista, FL is $111,900 to $150,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

This position is with Disney Worldwide Services, Inc., which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Company (Corporate).

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Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

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