📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Impact Data Science - Center for Inclusive Growth
🔹 Company: Mastercard
🔹 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: IT Services and IT Consulting
🔹 Date Posted: May 27, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving strategies and partnerships to advance impact data science
- Managing a diverse portfolio of philanthropic grants
- Designing and managing data-based research projects
- Contributing to an inclusive innovation strategy
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in data science, grant management, and strategic planning to drive impact and innovation in the social impact sector.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drive a strategy, use cases, solutions and partnerships that advance the field of impact data science
✅ Manage a diverse portfolio of grants while delivering strong outcomes and outputs
✅ Institutionalize data driven decision-making across the Center and its partner and grantee network
✅ Design and manage data-based research projects from start to finish
✅ Contribute to and execute a new inclusive innovation strategy
✅ Build and maintain strong relationships internally and externally to scale impact data science
✅ Actively participate in technical communities and conversations to monitor emerging data science trends
✅ Produce data visualizations and data tools that clearly demonstrate how data insights can help solve challenges related to inclusive growth
✅ Build internal coalitions and harness Mastercard’s human capital and technology for social impact
✅ Advise on and support the Center’s evolving cybersecurity work across its portfolio.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of independence, strategic thinking, and the ability to work cross-functionally in a matrixed organization.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related discipline). Advanced degree preferred.
Experience: 10+ years of experience in data science, with a strong track record of providing innovative advanced analytical solutions that have lasting impact in multiple dimensions (strategic, operational, and financial). Experience managing philanthropic grants in the tech for good sector is required.
Required Skills:
- Advanced Analytics
- Data Science
- Philanthropic Grants Management
- Project Management
- Data Visualization
- Cybersecurity
- Machine Learning
- Data Mining
- Interpersonal Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Public Speaking
- Data Protection and AI Regulatory Principles
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with machine learning methods and data mining, utilizing advanced analytical techniques, algorithms, and methodologies (Python, R, SAS, etc.)
- Cross-sectoral experience and exposure to public and social sector sectors
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in data science, grant management, and strategic planning will be best suited for this role. Experience in the tech for good sector is highly desirable.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000 USD per year (Estimated, based on industry standards for a Director-level role in data science with 10+ years of experience in Toronto)
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- 401(k) or pension plan with company match
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee assistance program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications. Benefits may vary based on the candidate's location and employment status.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Mastercard operates in the IT Services and IT Consulting industry, focusing on global digital payments, technology, and processing.
Company Size: Mastercard has 10,001+ employees, providing a large and diverse work environment with ample opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Founded: Mastercard was founded in 1966 and has since grown into a global leader in its industry.
Company Description:
- Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide.
- The company supports a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible.
- Mastercard's technology and innovation, partnerships, and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses, and governments realize their greatest potential.
Company Specialties:
- Global digital payments
- Technology and innovation
- Innovative mobile payment solutions
- Processing
Company Website: http://www.mastercard.com
ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's extensive global presence and expertise in digital payments provide a strong foundation for the Center for Inclusive Growth's mission to ensure that the benefits of an expanding economy accrue to all segments of society.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the Director level, reporting directly to the Vice President, Inclusive Innovation & Analytics. The Director will oversee a team of data scientists and grant managers, providing strategic direction and day-to-day leadership.
Reporting Structure: The Director will report to the Vice President, Inclusive Innovation & Analytics, and will oversee a team of data scientists and grant managers.
Work Arrangement: This role is on-site, with the primary office location in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Occasional remote work may be possible, but the role requires regular on-site presence.
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to a Vice President or Senior Director role within the Center for Inclusive Growth or Mastercard's broader organization
- Expansion of the Director's portfolio and team as the Center for Inclusive Growth continues to grow and evolve
- Opportunities to collaborate with and learn from experts across Mastercard's global network
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for growth and impact, as the Director will play a critical role in shaping the Center for Inclusive Growth's strategy and driving its mission forward.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Mastercard's Toronto office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and creativity.
Office Location(s): 121 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 3M5, Canada
Geographic Context:
- Toronto is a multicultural city with a diverse economy, offering a rich tapestry of cultural experiences and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- The city is home to a thriving tech industry, with a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Toronto's central location in Eastern Standard Time (EST) allows for effective collaboration with Mastercard's global network.
Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, the role may require occasional evening and weekend work to meet project deadlines or attend events.
ASSUMPTION: Toronto's vibrant and diverse culture, along with its thriving tech industry, provides an ideal backdrop for driving impact and innovation in the social impact sector.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager or a member of the talent acquisition team
- In-depth behavioral and technical interviews with members of the data science and grant management teams
- Final interview with the Vice President, Inclusive Innovation & Analytics, and potentially other senior leaders within the Center for Inclusive Growth
Key Assessment Areas:
- Data science and analytics skills
- Grant management experience and expertise
- Strategic planning and execution
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Alignment with Mastercard's mission and values
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant data science projects and grant management experiences in your resume and cover letter
- Demonstrate your understanding of Mastercard's mission and the Center for Inclusive Growth's work in your application materials
- Prepare for behavioral and technical interview questions by reflecting on your past experiences and researching Mastercard's organization and culture
- Follow up with the hiring manager or talent acquisition team after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications
ATS Keywords: Impact Data Science, Philanthropic Grants, Strategic Planning, Data Visualization, Machine Learning, Data Mining, Inclusive Growth, Social Impact, Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard
ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best possible fit for the role and the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Python, R, or SAS for data analysis and modeling
- SQL for database management and querying
- Tableau or Power BI for data visualization
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The Director will be expected to have proficiency in relevant data science tools and technologies, as well as experience with project management software to effectively manage their team and portfolio.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Doing the Right Thing
- Staying True to Ourselves
- Including Everyone
- Partnering at the Speed of Life
- Performance is Our Way of Life
Work Style:
- Collaborative and inclusive team environment
- Focus on innovation and continuous learning
- Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving
- Strong commitment to Mastercard's mission and values
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Mastercard's values in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you drove impact through data-driven decision-making?
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with Mastercard's values and a collaborative, innovative, and data-driven work style will be best suited for this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Balancing the demands of managing a diverse portfolio of grants while driving strategic initiatives in impact data science
- Navigating the complexities of the social impact sector and building partnerships with diverse stakeholders
- Keeping up with the latest trends and developments in data science and impact measurement
- Working effectively in a matrixed organization with multiple internal and external partners
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome through strong leadership, strategic planning, and effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on driving impact through data science in the social impact sector. Similar roles may include Director of Data Science, Director of Impact Measurement, or other senior data science roles within non-profit organizations or social enterprises.
- However, this role is distinct in its focus on inclusive growth and its position within a global financial services company.
- Career progression in this role may lead to senior leadership positions within the Center for Inclusive Growth or broader opportunities within Mastercard's global organization.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to drive impact and innovation in the social impact sector, with the support of a global financial services leader.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a predictive model to identify communities most at risk of economic exclusion and designing targeted interventions to address these challenges
- Conducting a comprehensive analysis of global payment trends to inform the development of new financial inclusion initiatives
- Creating an interactive data visualization dashboard to communicate the impact of Mastercard's inclusive growth programs to stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of data science and impact assessment work that the Director may be expected to lead, from strategic analysis and modeling to communication and stakeholder engagement.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the Center for Inclusive Growth's strategic priorities for the next 1-2 years, and how this role fits into that vision?
- How does the Center for Inclusive Growth collaborate with other teams and departments within Mastercard to drive impact and innovation?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
- How does Mastercard support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in the Center for Inclusive Growth?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the Center for Inclusive Growth today, and how can this role help address them?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and your commitment to driving impact and success.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant data science and grant management experiences, as well as your alignment with Mastercard's mission and values
- Prepare for the interview by researching Mastercard's organization and culture, and reflecting on your past experiences and accomplishments
- Follow up with the hiring manager or talent acquisition team after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications
- If selected for the role, be prepared to provide references and complete a background check
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
