[Hiring] Data Science Director @The Cigna Group

Role Description

As the Data Science Director for Precision Trend R&D, you will be the technical and strategic driver behind this transformation. You will architect and implement next-generation analytics that augment actuarial rigor, improve reserve accuracy, accelerate speed-to-insight for FP&A, and surface emerging cost pressures earlier than ever before. Your work will directly influence enterprise-level decisions and strengthen financial predictability for our clients, regulators, and business partners.

As healthcare dynamics shift rapidly—including clinical innovation, utilization pattern changes, AI-driven billing behavior, and evolving provider economics, traditional actuarial methods are increasingly challenged in their ability to deliver precision, speed, and predictability. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine how the enterprise predicts and manages medical risk cost, claim reserves, trend projections, and financial forecasts.

This role sits at the intersection of deep technical mastery, enterprise leadership, and multi-domain influence. The work you lead will be visible to senior and business leadership and will materially shape how the organization measures, interprets, and manages financial risk.

Responsibilities

• Leadership in Data Science:
  • Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced statistical and machine learning models to support reserving, trend analytics, and FP&A projections.
• Innovation & Experimentation:
  • Introduce novel modeling techniques and approaches to enable trend anomaly detection, leading indicator models, and predictive frameworks for claim lifecycle and utilization patterns.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Maintain deep technical fluency in Data Science and Analytics technologies and best practices.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with Actuarial, Finance, Clinical, and Data & Analytics teams to co-create solutions that integrate seamlessly into actuarial workflows.
• Communication:
  • Communicate findings and strategic insights effectively to technical audience and senior leadership across multiple domains, empowered by data visualization tools and technologies.
• Governance:
  • Ensure models meet ASOP rigor and model lifecycle governance standards, including documentation, validation, back-testing, monitoring, and audit readiness.
• Leadership:
  • Manage and mentor the Data Science Senior Advisor, fostering a culture of curiosity, innovation, and disciplined delivery.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' of progressive experience in Data Science with a focus on Healthcare highly desirable.
• Expert proficiency in Python, R, SQL, Git, cloud-based ML development, and experience with big data platforms (Databricks, Spark).
• Proven experience in applying statistical methods, machine learning, and NLP models to complex datasets.
• Expertise in techniques such as regression, decision trees, boosting algorithms, neural networks, clustering, and anomaly detection.
• Familiarity with healthcare payer data and actuarial applications.
• Experience with dashboarding and visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present to senior and business leadership.
• Strong leadership and experience with mentoring and developing data science talent.
• Advanced degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent experience is highly desirable.

Requirements

• If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

Benefits

• Anticipated annual salary of 178,500 - 297,500 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.
• Eligibility to participate in an annual bonus plan and long-term incentive plan.
• Comprehensive range of benefits, including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs.
• 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement.
• A minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year and paid holidays.