How To Become a Director Of Analytics: Step-by-Step Guide
Learn about the steps important to pursuing a career as a director of analytics, including education, skills, salary and more.
A Director of Analytics is a senior-level position that is responsible for overseeing the data and analytics strategy for an organization. The Director of Analytics is responsible for leading a team of analysts and data scientists to provide insights that will help the organization make better decisions. If you are interested in becoming a Director of Analytics, it is important to understand the job responsibilities and the skills that are required for this position. In this article, we will discuss the job responsibilities of a Director of Analytics and the skills that are required for this position.
What Does a Director Of Analytics Do?
The Director of Analytics is responsible for the management and analysis of data to support business decision-making. They work with all departments within an organization to ensure that data analytics are being used effectively and efficiently. The Director of Analytics also develops and implements policies and procedures related to data analytics.
The duties of the Director of Analytics include:
- Overseeing the development and implementation of data analytics strategies
- Managing a team of data analysts
- Conducting data analysis to support business decision-making
- Identifying trends and patterns in data
- Developing and implementing policies and procedures related to data analytics
- Ensuring that data analytics are being used effectively and efficiently
- Training and mentoring staff on data analytics
- Presenting findings to upper management
Director Of Analytics Salary and Job Outlook
The average salary for a Director of Analytics is $169,950. This figure can vary based on the level of experience, education, industry and geographical location of the analyst.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job prospects for Directors of Analytics to increase at a much faster than average rate over the next decade. This is due to many factors such as the growing use of data analysis in marketing. Companies often need the expertise of a Director of Analytics to gather, interpret and leverage that data into effective marketing strategies.
How to Become a Director Of Analytics
Here are several steps you should take to become a director of analytics.
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics or a related field
A director of analytics typically needs a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics or another related field. Computer science and math are the most common degrees for this position. These programs teach you how to use data analysis software and statistical concepts such as probability and modeling.
If your school doesn’t offer these courses, consider taking classes in these subjects at a community college before transferring into a four-year program. You can also earn an associate’s degree in these fields and then transfer those credits into a bachelor’s program.
2. Gain experience with data analysis and statistical software
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for this position, many employers prefer candidates with experience in data analysis. Consider interning or volunteering at a company where you can work with large amounts of data to help you develop your skills and knowledge.
You should also gain experience using statistical software such as SAS, SPSS, R, Tableau and Microstrategy. These programs are commonly used by directors of analytics to analyze data and create visual representations of it.
3. Develop strong problem-solving skills
Directors of analytics must be able to identify problems and develop solutions. They may work with teams of analysts who provide them with data, which they then use to find trends or patterns that can help their organization improve its performance. Directors of analytics must have strong communication skills so they can collaborate with other departments and clearly explain the results of their analysis.
4. Understand the complexities of data
Data is often messy and can contain errors, which means that you need to be able to identify these issues and understand how they might affect the analysis. For example, if your data set has a large number of missing values, this could skew the results of your analysis. You should also know how to handle variables with skewed distributions or other unusual characteristics.
You will also likely work with incomplete data sets, where some information is missing from certain fields. It’s important to know how to treat this type of data so that it doesn’t impact your analysis.
5. Stay up to date on changes in technology
Technology is constantly changing, so it’s important for directors of analytics to stay up to date on the latest developments. For example, big data and artificial intelligence are two areas that are growing in popularity. These technologies can help companies make better decisions by providing them with more information than they normally would have.
It’s also important for directors of analytics to know how to use these new tools. They should be able to teach their teams how to use these technologies as well.
6. Consider getting a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in analytics
A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in analytics can help you advance your career as a director of analytics. An MBA program teaches you how to apply analytical techniques and concepts to real-world situations, which is an important skill for directors of analytics who need to make informed decisions based on data.
An MBA also provides you with additional knowledge about business practices that can be helpful when working with other departments within a company.
7. Join professional organizations such as the American Statistical Association
The American Statistical Association (ASA) is a professional organization that provides training and networking opportunities for statisticians, data scientists and analysts. You can join the ASA as an associate member when you earn your bachelor’s degree and then upgrade to a fellow membership after three years of experience in analytics or a related field.
The ASA also offers student memberships to individuals who are currently earning a degree in statistics or a related field. Student members receive access to online resources and discounts on conferences and other events.
