The Senior Data Scientist plays a key role in helping Catalyst Brands use data to improve store performance, labor effectiveness, and operational decision-making across 5 brands and 1,400+ stores. This role develops and applies advanced analytics and AI/ML methods to identify business drivers, develop practical predictive and decision-support models, and translate results into clear recommendations for business partners.
This role partners closely with Store Operations, Merchandising, and Finance to translate business problems into analytical approaches, deliver actionable insights, and help establish sound measurement and testing practices for operational changes and model-driven recommendations. Scope and ownership are expected to grow over time.
Responsibilities:Store Operational Performance & Analytics
• Develops and applies analytics models that diagnose store performance drivers, including traffic, conversion, UPT, AUR, labor utilization, shrink, and improved margin profitability
• Identifies underperforming stores, quantifies root causes, and recommends targeted interventions (labor scheduling, product placement, assortment, training, process redesign).
• Designs and applies rigorous test-and-learn standards and approaches to evaluate operational and merchandising initiatives, translating results into clear recommendations and scalable actions.
Advanced Analytics for Store Optimization and Insights
• Creates models to detect operational patterns, segments store behaviors, and predicts sales outcomes based on leading indicators.
• Develops predictive and decision-support models for scheduling, staffing coverage, fulfillment flows, and allocation decisions that affect store performance and profitability.
• Transforms operational data—POS, labor, tasking, shrink events, foot traffic into intelligence that supports rapid experimentation and decision-making.
Continuously refines models and reporting to adapt to evolving store strategies, customer behaviors, and brand needs.
Influence, Leadership & Communication
• Presents insights and performance diagnostics to store leadership, distilling complex analytics into clear narratives that guide operational strategy.
• Partners with Store Operations, Finance, Merchandising, and Field Leadership to align analytics outputs with business priorities.
• Guides cross-functional initiatives that drive measurable improvements in sales, labor productivity, customer satisfaction, and overall store profitability.
Qualifications:• 6-10+ years of advanced analytics/data science experience, ideally within retail or operationally intensive environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related fields; Master’s degree is a plus
• Demonstrated success delivering analytics solutions using analytics and AI solutions that drive measurable operational or financial outcomes.
• Critical thinking and strategic problem-solving, capable of diagnosing complex store challenges using data.
• Financial and operational acumen, able to interpret P&Ls and operational KPIs.
• Influential communication, able to guide decision-making without direct authority.
• Experience applying forecasting, optimization, classification, segmentation, or related methods to operational or commercial business problems.
• Strong Python and SQL skills, with experience building reproducible analytical workflows.
• Ability to communicate analytical findings clearly through visualizations, written summaries, and business-facing presentations.
• Experience designing or supporting sound measurement, pilot, and validation approaches for analytics-driven decisions.
What You Get:
Enjoy a rewarding career at Catalyst, where we offer a competitive benefits package, a vibrant work environment, and the opportunity to make a difference at one of America's most iconic brands.
• Generous Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance starting on day one, term life insurance, paid vacation/holidays, 401(k) Savings Plan with company match, and an associate discount on JCPenney merchandise.
• Opportunities for Growth and Development: We are committed to helping our employees grow their careers and develop their skills. We offer a variety of training and development programs, as well as opportunities for advancement.
• Collaborative and supportive Culture: We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage teamwork and collaboration, and we are always looking for ways to support our employees' success.
About Catalyst:
Catalyst Brands reflects the bringing together the rich heritages of our brands with modern excitement and a new vision for success. Six iconic brands came together under a unified powerhouse portfolio to celebrate the essence of American style. We will leverage our rich history, resources and best-in-class industry talent to further build the success of our brands. At Catalyst we are united in one shared purpose: We exist to ignite America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all.
For more opportunities to join our team please visit our careers page.
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Pay Range: USD $97,200.00 - USD $162,000.00 /Yr.We share a passion for serving customers, supporting our communities and making JCPenney the best retailer for all families. As a Company founded on the Golden Rule, our success is rooted in the belief that we treat everyone the way we would want to be treated. Working at JCPenney means joining a dedicated team of associates who are encouraged to be uniquely themselves in a collaborative and inclusive environment. After all, JCPenney is more than a destination for style and value, it’s a place where careers prosper, accomplishments are celebrated and diversity flourishes. It’s a place that’s meant for you.
JCPenney emerged more than 100 years ago as a small mercantile store serving families on the American frontier in the Old West. Today, we’re still pioneering new frontiers by challenging the old rules of retail and creating a shopping experience that merges the intimacy of a traditional store with the digital conveniences of personal technology.
Today, JCPenney is one of the nation’s largest apparel and home retailers with over 860 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico, and a powerful e-commerce site, jcp.com. The retail landscape is more competitive than ever, creating new opportunities to differentiate and streamline our business. With 98,000 hard-working associates around the globe, we have the talent and determination to succeed and be the best retailer for American families.