Head of Data Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Head of Data roles in the U.S. typically qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as a specialty occupation requiring a directly related bachelor's degree or higher. Employers filing an LCA must certify prevailing wage compliance before you can start. Many large tech, finance, and healthcare firms sponsor this role regularly.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Global Head of Data Science, Analytics & AI for Mars Snacking is a pivotal senior leadership role, that will be joining at a time of transformation for the Segment, following the recent acquisition of Kellanova. We are seeking a visionary leader to shape and execute our segment's Analytics & AI strategy. Reporting to the SVP Chief Data & Analytics Officer, and a member of the CDAO leadership team, you will be instrumental in powering our strategic priorities delivering leading digital products and capabilities, developing the governance & frameworks for how we lead in this space, and building a best-in-class team. Mars Snacking is at the start of a hugely exciting journey, integrating two incredibly successful organizations with exciting and category leading brands. This position requires a leader who can innovate, excite, and help shape our future; ensuring data, analytics, and AI are core enablers of our growth across a newly expanded portfolio. As a key member of the CDAO leadership team, you will be responsible for co-creating a vision and strategy that will help steer the organisation through complexity and change, keeping a sharp focus on value creation and a winning culture.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or PhD in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or a related discipline preferred.
- 12+ years of experience in the data and analytics space with at least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity managing large, technical teams.
- Proven experience in Product Management, specifically within the AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning domains.
- Strong stakeholder relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with senior leaders across a large enterprise.
- Deep technical knowledge in Machine Learning, Data Science, and Computational Science.
- Demonstrated experience in AI strategy development and successful implementation.
- Experience managing vendor and partner relationships to drive innovation and execution.
- A strong understanding of User Experience (UX) principles in the context of AI and analytics products.
- Solid experience in business case development and feasibility assessment for technical projects.
- Ideally experience in a CPG or Retail environment.
- Experience working across leading technology platforms including GCP Gemini, Databricks, Azure, etc.
Responsibilities
- AI Strategy & Vision: Lead the development and application of the strategic vision for data science, analytics, and AI for the Snacking segment, partnering with functional, regional, and divisional leaders to deliver innovative and scalable solutions.
- Team Leadership: Build, engage, and develop a high-performing global team of Data Science, Analytics & AI associates, establishing clear ways of working and accountabilities.
- Stakeholder Management / Business Partnership: Be the strategic partner of choice for the segment regions, functions & divisions by deeply understanding the business needs, identifying opportunities for scale and providing innovative solutions and recommendations.
- Deliver Business Value: Support the regions, functions and divisions on the delivery of our integration priorities with purpose and pace.
- Operational Excellence: Ensure operational excellence and accelerate quality growth through the creation of advanced analytics and AI capabilities, such as SRM (Strategic Revenue Management) and Perfect Store, Perfect Service agentic tools.
- Capability & Governance: Establish a clear vision, strategy, and framework to ensure a consistent, scalable, and high-quality approach to Analytics & AI, ensuring value realization and adherence to governance and ethical practices.
- Elevate AI Literacy: Act as an accelerator and champion for AI maturity growth across the segment, elevating capabilities and sponsoring valuable experimentation and scale.
- Technology & Architecture: Contribute to the architectural direction for analytics technology solutions and partner with internal IT and external partners to maximize the value derived from our technology platforms.
- Innovation & Research: Lead the research and evaluation of emerging skills, models, and market trends, bringing forward recommendations and solutions to achieve our long-term vision.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM MARS?
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
- Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
- An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
INTRODUCTION
The Global Head of Data Science, Analytics & AI for Mars Snacking is a pivotal senior leadership role, that will be joining at a time of transformation for the Segment, following the recent acquisition of Kellanova. We are seeking a visionary leader to shape and execute our segment's Analytics & AI strategy. Reporting to the SVP Chief Data & Analytics Officer, and a member of the CDAO leadership team, you will be instrumental in powering our strategic priorities delivering leading digital products and capabilities, developing the governance & frameworks for how we lead in this space, and building a best-in-class team. Mars Snacking is at the start of a hugely exciting journey, integrating two incredibly successful organizations with exciting and category leading brands. This position requires a leader who can innovate, excite, and help shape our future; ensuring data, analytics, and AI are core enablers of our growth across a newly expanded portfolio. As a key member of the CDAO leadership team, you will be responsible for co-creating a vision and strategy that will help steer the organisation through complexity and change, keeping a sharp focus on value creation and a winning culture.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or PhD in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or a related discipline preferred.
- 12+ years of experience in the data and analytics space with at least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity managing large, technical teams.
- Proven experience in Product Management, specifically within the AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning domains.
- Strong stakeholder relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with senior leaders across a large enterprise.
- Deep technical knowledge in Machine Learning, Data Science, and Computational Science.
- Demonstrated experience in AI strategy development and successful implementation.
- Experience managing vendor and partner relationships to drive innovation and execution.
- A strong understanding of User Experience (UX) principles in the context of AI and analytics products.
- Solid experience in business case development and feasibility assessment for technical projects.
- Ideally experience in a CPG or Retail environment.
- Experience working across leading technology platforms including GCP Gemini, Databricks, Azure, etc.
Responsibilities
- AI Strategy & Vision: Lead the development and application of the strategic vision for data science, analytics, and AI for the Snacking segment, partnering with functional, regional, and divisional leaders to deliver innovative and scalable solutions.
- Team Leadership: Build, engage, and develop a high-performing global team of Data Science, Analytics & AI associates, establishing clear ways of working and accountabilities.
- Stakeholder Management / Business Partnership: Be the strategic partner of choice for the segment regions, functions & divisions by deeply understanding the business needs, identifying opportunities for scale and providing innovative solutions and recommendations.
- Deliver Business Value: Support the regions, functions and divisions on the delivery of our integration priorities with purpose and pace.
- Operational Excellence: Ensure operational excellence and accelerate quality growth through the creation of advanced analytics and AI capabilities, such as SRM (Strategic Revenue Management) and Perfect Store, Perfect Service agentic tools.
- Capability & Governance: Establish a clear vision, strategy, and framework to ensure a consistent, scalable, and high-quality approach to Analytics & AI, ensuring value realization and adherence to governance and ethical practices.
- Elevate AI Literacy: Act as an accelerator and champion for AI maturity growth across the segment, elevating capabilities and sponsoring valuable experimentation and scale.
- Technology & Architecture: Contribute to the architectural direction for analytics technology solutions and partner with internal IT and external partners to maximize the value derived from our technology platforms.
- Innovation & Research: Lead the research and evaluation of emerging skills, models, and market trends, bringing forward recommendations and solutions to achieve our long-term vision.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM MARS?
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
- Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
- An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Head of Data Jobs
Frame your credentials around specialty occupation
Head of Data roles must meet USCIS's specialty occupation standard. Document that your position requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, or a directly related field, not just general business, to withstand any Request for Evidence.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for data leadership roles in your target metro. Your employer's LCA must certify at least that wage level, so know the floor before you negotiate.
Target companies with active LCA filing history
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for data roles in your target city. This filters out companies that say they sponsor but rarely follow through on senior data hires.
Anticipate the EB-2 or EB-3 green card conversation early
Head of Data roles align well with EB-2 advanced degree petitions. Raise PERM labor certification timelines with your employer before accepting an offer, priority date backlogs for some nationalities make early filing strategically important.
Prepare your portfolio for specialty occupation evidence
USCIS scrutinizes 'Head of' and director-level titles more closely than individual contributor roles. Compile published work, conference presentations, or technical documentation that demonstrates your specialized expertise goes beyond general management.
Clarify H-1B transfer terms before you resign
If you're already in H-1B status with another employer, you can start with a new employer once the new petition is filed, your previous employer's approval doesn't need to expire first. Confirm the new employer will file before you give notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Head of Data role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, in most cases. Head of Data is treated as a specialty occupation because it typically requires a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, data science, statistics, or a directly related field. USCIS will scrutinize whether the role genuinely requires that specific degree, so your employer's job description needs to reflect technical depth, not just people management.
Which visa types can sponsor a Head of Data?
H-1B is the most common path and covers most nationalities. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which has a separate cap and no lottery. Chilean and Singaporean nationals may qualify under H-1B1 visa. All three require the employer to file a Labor Condition Application certifying prevailing wage. For longer-term stays, EB-2 green card sponsorship via PERM is a natural progression for this role.
What degree do I need for a Head of Data visa petition?
You'll need at least a bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the role, typically computer science, statistics, mathematics, information systems, or data engineering. A general business or unrelated degree creates RFE risk even if you have years of relevant experience. An advanced degree in a related field strengthens both the H-1B petition and any future EB-2 filing significantly.
How do I find companies that actually sponsor Head of Data roles?
Browse Head of Data positions on Migrate Mate, which lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for data leadership roles. This saves time by showing you companies that have already committed to the sponsorship process for roles at this level, rather than those that only claim to sponsor in job postings.
What makes a Head of Data petition higher risk for USCIS scrutiny?
Leadership titles like 'Head of' or 'Director of' draw more RFEs because USCIS examines whether the role truly requires a specific specialized degree versus general management skills. If the job description includes broad business duties without technical specificity, the specialty occupation argument weakens. Your employer should document that the position demands deep technical expertise in data architecture, modeling, or engineering, not just oversight of a team.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Head of Data jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.