Principal Data Analyst

Description

Principal Data Analyst

Overview

Join the Consumer Lending Data & Analytics team as a Principal Data Analyst, where you will play a critical leadership role in driving analytics execution and decisioning strategy across Credit Card, Home Equity (HELOC), and Personal Lending products.

This is a highly visible, high-impact role for a strong analytical leader who combines technical expertise with the ability to lead day-to-day execution across a team of analysts. You will serve as a key partner to business, risk, and technology stakeholders while helping scale analytics capabilities across Consumer Lending.

The ideal candidate is a highly independent problem solver who thrives in ambiguity, provides leadership to both onshore and offshore analysts, and can translate complex business needs into actionable analytical solutions.

What You'll Do

Consumer Lending Decisioning Analytics

Lead analytics supporting Consumer Lending decisioning strategies across Credit Card, Home Equity (HELOC), and Personal Lending products

Translate business questions and strategic objectives into structured analytical approaches and actionable recommendations

Perform hands-on analysis, testing, validation, and performance monitoring to support decisioning effectiveness

Deliver high-quality analytical outputs with minimal oversight while proactively managing risks, dependencies, and competing priorities

POD Leadership & Team Oversight

Serve as the day-to-day analytics lead for assigned Consumer Lending initiatives

Coordinate and oversee execution across analysts supporting the POD

Provide formal leadership and guidance to junior and offshore analysts, including workload prioritization, quality review, coaching, and development

Drive accountability for deliverables while ensuring consistency, quality, and timely execution

Stakeholder Partnership

Act as a key liaison across business, risk, technology, analytics, and external partners

Communicate analytical findings and recommendations effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences

Build trusted relationships with stakeholders and provide strategic insights that influence business decisions

Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities for automation, process enhancement, scalability, and operational efficiency

Support model monitoring, validation, governance, and performance management activities

Promote best practices in analytics execution, data quality, and decisioning support

What We're Looking For

Experience Preferred

5+ years of experience in analytics, business intelligence, decisioning analytics, data science, or related disciplines

Experience supporting lending, credit, consumer banking, or financial services organizations

Experience leading analysts, reviewing analytical work products, or coordinating execution across teams

Demonstrated success operating independently in fast-paced environments with limited direction

Education

Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, or another quantitative field

Core Skills & Expectations

Technical & Analytical Excellence

Advanced SQL proficiency

Strong Python skills

Ability to independently investigate, validate, and resolve complex business questions

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Ensures data quality and proactively identifies data integrity concerns

Leadership & Ownership

Independently drives work from concept through implementation

Leads day-to-day analytics execution with minimal supervision

Provides direction, coaching, and oversight to junior analysts

Capable of balancing strategic priorities with hands-on execution

Ambiguity Navigation & Business Judgment

Thrives in environments where direction may not always be fully defined

Understands business context and can identify next steps proactively

Demonstrates strong judgment and an ability to "connect the dots" across multiple information sources

Anticipates challenges before they occur and proactively develops solutions

Business Partnership

Builds strong stakeholder relationships across multiple departments

Effectively translates technical findings into business decisions

Influences stakeholders through insight-driven recommendations

Communication

Communicates effectively with both technical and senior business audiences

Provides concise updates on priorities, progress, risks, and recommendations

Capable of presenting complex analytical concepts in a simple, actionable manner

Learning Agility

Quickly learns new tools, systems, products, and business processes

Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and continuous improvement mindset

Adapts to new challenges and evolving priorities

Success in This Role Looks Like

Independently lead day-to-day analytics execution across their POD

Deliver high-quality Consumer Lending decisioning analytics with minimal supervision

Successfully oversee and develop offshore and junior analytical resources

Become a trusted partner to key business stakeholders

Drive meaningful improvements in Consumer Lending decisioning, analytics, and operational effectiveness

Demonstrate readiness for expanded leadership responsibilities within the Consumer Lending Analytics organization

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to advancing Citizens' Consumer Lending analytics and decisioning capabilities during a period of continued growth and transformation.

You will have the opportunity to:

Influence strategy across Credit Card, Home Equity, and Personal Lending businesses

Partner with senior leaders across the organization

Help shape the future direction of Consumer Lending analytics

Gain exposure to highly visible strategic initiatives, including Project Harvest

Grow into broader leadership responsibilities over time

Hours & Work Schedule

Hours per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

Locations: Columbus, OH; Johnston, RI; Westwood, MA.

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is $132,000 - $150,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the budget, work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits

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Some job boards have started using jobseeker-reported data to estimate salary ranges for roles. If you apply and qualify for this role, a recruiter will discuss accurate pay guidance.

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.

Benefits

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more.

Awards We've Received

Glassdoor Best Place to Work in Consulting, Finance & Insurance

Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index 100 Award

Newsweek America's Most Charitable Company

The Banker's

US Bank of the Year

Dave Thomas Foundation’s Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace

Disability:IN Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion