Senior Director, Science, Innovation, & Development

About the role

Senior Director, Science, Innovation, & Development

AccuWeather is seeking a Senior Director, Science, Innovation, & Development to define and lead scientific strategy across the organization. This executive role owns the innovation roadmap, guiding multidisciplinary teams to create the future of weather forecasting and intelligent data products. The positionholder will establish ambitious research initiatives and translate advanced concepts into scalable solutions that serve health, energy, sports, and transportation sectors. Success in this role will directly shape intellectual property creation and influence enterprise direction at the highest level.

This position operates in a remote environment with a primary base in State College, Pennsylvania. The role reports to the Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy and requires frequent collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team and Information Technology leadership. The scope of responsibility carries significant weight, demanding a leader capable of navigating complex scientific and business challenges while maintaining strategic alignment across the company.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Director will set the vision for next generation weather forecasting technology and own the development of innovative data offerings. This includes defining, building, and leading teams dedicated to research and innovation. The role requires driving corporate advancement in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and emerging fields such as quantum computing.

A core function is the creation of new data products designed to integrate seamlessly across AccuWeather's media and business services portfolio. The Senior Director will evaluate and prioritize ideas from across the company, developing an ongoing pipeline of high-impact initiatives. This involves defining early proof of concepts in partnership with the Product Office to assess technical and commercial viability.

The position holder will clearly define project budgets, resource allocation, and timelines for innovation programs. They will lead and develop teams of five to ten researchers and engineers, fostering a culture of scientific excellence. The role necessitates building strategic collaborations with academic research partners and industry leaders. The Senior Director will also assess opportunities for acquisitions or partnerships that accelerate strategic goals. Communifying complex scientific and business concepts to diverse stakeholders is a critical daily duty.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold an advanced degree in a scientific or technical field. A minimum of ten years of experience in a comparable leadership position is mandatory. The ideal applicant will possess deep expertise in artificial intelligence, with a focus on deep learning and neural networks.

Professional skills must include excellent written and verbal communication. The candidate must thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing strict deadlines and shifting priorities. The ability to read and interpret complex technical and business documents is essential. Effective presentation skills are required for addressing large groups of employees, clients, partners, and community organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

A demonstrated knowledge of meteorological data and methodologies is highly desirable. Experience with quantum computing concepts is a significant advantage. Familiarity with the AccuWeather platform and enterprise-scale data systems is strongly preferred.

Tools and Capabilities

Proficiency with AccuWeather proprietary platforms, artificial intelligence frameworks, and data analysis tools is expected. Experience with Microsoft Office suite is required. Understanding of neural networks and machine learning operations is critical for success in this role.

Compensation and Details

The base salary for this position is $186,500.00. This role is classified as Remote with a designated work location in State College, Pennsylvania. AccuWeather is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

About AccuWeather

AccuWeather, recognized and documented as the most accurate and most used source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, has saved over 12,000 lives and prevented injury to over 100,000 people. The company has saved businesses tens of billions of dollars through enhanced planning and decision-making accuracy.

Billions of people rely on AccuWeather's proven Superior Accuracy™ across digital platforms. AccuWeather.com ranks as the #1 weather destination and is among the top 100 most-visited websites globally. The award-winning AccuWeather app delivers real-time forecasts to millions of smartphone users. Forecasts are also broadcast on digital signage, in 700 newspapers, and heard on over 400 radio stations. The AccuWeather Network and AccuWeather NOW® reach over 125 million viewers across cable and streaming platforms, including DirecTV, Spectrum, Verizon, Philo, Xfinity, and Amazon Freevee.

AccuWeather For Business serves more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of other global enterprises. Dr. Joel Myers, Founder and Executive Chairman, established AccuWeather in 1962 and is considered the father of modern meteorology.

What you'll do

• Meet the bar Practical notes