Head of Data Science: skills & capabilities the market requires
Based on 190 real Head of Data Science job postings, here is what companies actually require for this role today: the capabilities that define it, the hard skills named most often, the scope expected, typical experience and pay. The market leans hardest on Technical Depth (70%) and Strategic Leadership (69%).
Open the interactive Skill Check to filter by country, industry and company size.
Core capabilities for a Head of Data Science
- Technical Depth — required in 70% of postings
- Strategic Leadership — required in 69% of postings
- Data & Analytics — required in 62% of postings
- Cross-functional Leadership — required in 51% of postings
- Executive Communication — required in 49% of postings
- People Leadership — required in 48% of postings
- Stakeholder Management — required in 34% of postings
Most-required hard skills
- Machine Learning
- Data Science
- Python
- Sql
- Statistical Modeling
- Statistical Analysis
- Advanced Analytics
Leadership & soft skills
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Strategic Thinking
- Leadership
- Communication
Scope, experience & pay
Head of Data Science roles expect deal / M&A experience in 0% of postings, IPO or capital markets in 1%, and transformation in 14%. Typical stated experience: 10 years. Pay signal from postings (base): $211K–$272K.
Want to know where you stand against this? Join TOPHEADS for your personal Skill Check.