Director of Applied AI/ML Science - Ads

About Faire Faire is a technology wholesale platform built on the belief that the future is local. Independent retailers around the globe collectively represent a multi-hundred-billion-dollar wholesale market that has historically been fragmented and offline. At Faire, we're using the power of tech, data, and machine learning to connect this thriving community of entrepreneurs across the globe. Picture your favorite boutique in town — we help them discover the best products from around the world to sell in their stores. With the right tools and insights, we believe that we can level the playing field so businesses can grow and local communities can thrive. We’re looking for smart, resourceful and passionate people to join us as we power the shop local movement. If you believe in community, come join ours. About this Role Ads is one of the fastest-growing and most strategically important parts of Faire's business, and the Ads Data team — now three years old — is entering a period of hypergrowth. As Director of Data for Ads, you will own the end-to-end data vision and strategy for the Ads business — from the applied science and ML powering our marketplace to the data foundation underneath it. You'll lead and grow a team spanning Applied Scientists and Analytics/Data Engineers, set the technical vision and roadmap for the group, and partner closely with cross-functional leaders in Product, Engineering, Design, and Strategy & Analytics (S&A) to define how the Ads org operates — its planning cadence, prioritization framework, and execution rigor. This is a rare opportunity to shape, from an early stage, the technical and organizational backbone of one of Faire's most important growth engines. What You'll Do Define the holistic data vision and strategy for Ads, spanning retrieval/ranking ML (search ads relevance, query understanding, personalization), bidding/marketplace/auction systems (auction design, bid optimization, pacing, budget allocation, advertiser ROI), and data engineering/ETL (pipelines, data foundations, and analytics that power decision-making across the org). People-manage and grow the full group of Applied Scientists and Analytics Engineers on the Ads Data team — hiring, mentoring, setting career development paths, and building a strong technical culture as the team scales through hypergrowth. Own the team's long-term technical roadmap, ensuring it's tightly aligned to company and Ads org strategy, and translate that roadmap into clear priorities, staffing plans, and execution. Partner with cross-functional leaders to design and run the team's operating model — planning cadence, prioritization frameworks, roadmap reviews, and cross-team rituals — so Ads Data operates as a high-leverage, well-run function as it grows. Drive significant business impact through hands-on contribution to high-priority ML/algorithmic problems when needed, while building the team's ability to deliver this work independently and at scale. Serve as a key member of the broader Data leadership team, contributing to how the data org is built and run — both technically (architecture, tooling, standards) and organizationally (processes, career frameworks, hiring bar). Represent Ads Data in company-level strategic conversations, ensuring data and ML considerations are embedded early in product and business planning. Qualifications 8+ years of experience in data science, applied ML, or ML engineering roles, ideally with exposure to ads, search, recommendation systems, marketplaces, or auctions. 4+ years of experience managing technical teams of 5+ people, including senior ICs. Direct experience with ads marketplaces, auction systems, or search/recommendation systems. Demonstrated ability to set technical vision and strategy for a team or org, and to translate that strategy into roadmaps, priorities, and measurable outcomes. Comfort operating across a broad technical surface area — from ML modeling (bidding, auction, ranking, relevance) to data engineering and analytics infrastructure — with enough depth to earn credibility with ICs across all of these areas. Strong track record partnering with cross-functional partners to define team operating models and drive cross-functional execution. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to flex between technical depth and business-level narrative depending on the audience. Comfort with ambiguity and rapid change — this team is young and growing fast, and the role requires building process and structure while the ground is still shifting. Great to Haves Academic background in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Math, Operations Research, or a related field; PhD a plus. Prior experience building or scaling a data/applied science org from an early stage. Salary Range San Francisco: the pay range for this role is $276,000 to $379,500 per year. This role will also be eligible for equity and benefits. Actual base pay will be determined based on permissible factors such as transferable skills, work experience, market demands, and primary work location. The base pay range provided is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Hybrid Faire employees currently go into the office 3 days per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and a third flex day of their choosing (Monday, Wednesday, or Friday). Additionally, hybrid in-office roles will have the flexibility to work remotely up to 4 weeks per year. Specific Workplace and Information Technology positions may require onsite attendance 5 days per week as will be indicated in the job posting. Why you’ll love working at Faire Move fast: You'll own meaningful problems that serve customers around the globe with the agency to move fast and see your results clearly. Equipped to scale: We invest in what matters, including the latest enterprise AI tools, to help you work smarter and get more out of every day. Best in class: Our team is full of sharp, kind, and generous colleagues who care about their craft and about helping you grow in yours. Real rewards. Competitive pay, equity, and comprehensive benefits designed to support your life inside and outside of work. Belonging: We're intentional about building an environment where every Faire employee has equal access to opportunities, growth, and success. Faire was founded in 2017 by a team of early product and engineering leads from Square. We’re backed by some of the top investors in retail and tech including: Y Combinator, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Forerunner Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, and DST Global. We have headquarters in San Francisco and Kitchener-Waterloo, and a global employee presence across offices in Toronto, London, and New York. To learn more about Faire and our customers, you can read more on our blog . Faire provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Faire is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process and applicants with a disability may request to be accommodated throughout the recruitment process. We will work with all applicants to accommodate their individual accessibility needs. To request reasonable accommodation, please fill out our Accommodation Request Form ( https://bit.ly/faire-form) Privacy For information about the type of personal data Faire collects from applicants, as well as your choices regarding the data collected about you, please visit Faire’s Privacy Notice (https://www.faire.com/privacy)