Head of Data Science - Trust and Safety
TikTok
3 hours ago
Full-time
On-site
San Jose, California, United States
$254,800 - $504,000 USD yearly
Director
Responsibilities
The Trust & Safety Data Science team's mission is to provide strategic and analytical support that enables TikTok to be the most trusted platform for our users and creators. The team partners with various functions across the organization - including Policy, Risk Prevention & Response, and Transparency Reporting, among others - to drive operational excellence through data. Its charter is to establish shared success metrics, develop trusted insights, and enable strategic decision-making across the organization.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and define the global Data Science strategy for the Trust & Safety organization, ensuring alignment with business priorities and long-term company objectives.
- Build, develop, and lead high-performing teams of Data Scientists across multiple regions.
- Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Policy, Operations and executive leadership to translate business challenges into scalable data-driven solutions.
- Define and evolve the organization's measurement framework, including north-star metrics, experimentation strategy, and operational KPIs.
- Drive the development of advanced analytics, machine learning, forecasting, and optimization models that improve Trust & Safety decision-making and operational effectiveness.
- Establish a strong data foundation by improving data quality, governance, observability, and measurement consistency across the organization.
- Deliver executive-level insights through clear storytelling, influencing strategic investments and business priorities.
- Champion an AI-first approach by identifying opportunities to leverage automation, GenAI, and predictive analytics across Trust & Safety workflows.
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning while attracting and developing world-class talent.
- Represent the Data Science organization as a trusted strategic partner across global cross-functional leadership teams.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualification(s):
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or another quantitative discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
- 5+ years of experience leading and developing global Data Science or Analytics organizations within a technology company.
- Demonstrated experience defining and executing organization-wide data strategies that influence product and business decisions.
- Strong expertise in statistical analysis, experimentation, machine learning, and large-scale data analytics.
- Experience working with large-scale distributed data platforms and modern analytical technologies (e.g., SQL, Python, Spark, Hadoop, cloud data platforms).
- Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts and analytical insights to executive leadership and influence strategic decisions.
Preferred Qualification(s):
- Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or a related quantitative discipline.
- Experience leading Data Science organizations supporting Trust & Safety, Integrity, Risk, Fraud, Security, or other large-scale online platform ecosystems.
- Experience building AI-powered decision systems, including predictive analytics, GenAI, or LLM-enabled products.
- Strong understanding of experimentation frameworks, causal inference, and large-scale measurement systems.
- Experience driving organizational transformation through data governance, observability, and operational excellence initiatives.
- Demonstrated success leading globally distributed teams across multiple regions and time zones.
- Track record of influencing executives and driving company-wide strategic initiatives through data.
- Experience partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Policy organizations to deliver measurable business outcomes.
- Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain world-class technical leadership talent.
- Passion for building safe, trustworthy, and responsible technology platforms.
Trust & Safety
Content that this role interacts with includes images, video, and text related to every-day life, but it can also include (but is not limited to) bullying; hate speech; child safety; depictions of harm to self and others, and harm to animals. Hence, it is possible that this role will be exposed to harmful content on a daily basis.
TikTok recognises that keeping our platform safe for the TikTok communities is no ordinary job which can be both rewarding and psychologically demanding and emotionally taxing for some. This is why we are sharing the potential hazards, risks and implications in this unique line of work from the start, so our candidates are well informed before joining.
We are committed to the wellbeing of all our employees and promise to provide comprehensive and evidence-based programs, to promote and support physical and mental wellbeing throughout each employee's journey with us. We believe that wellbeing is a relationship and that everyone has a part to play, so we work in collaboration and consultation with our employees and across our functions in order to ensure a truly person-centred, innovative and integrated approach.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.
We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $254800 - $504000 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.
The Trust & Safety Data Science team's mission is to provide strategic and analytical support that enables TikTok to be the most trusted platform for our users and creators. The team partners with various functions across the organization - including Policy, Risk Prevention & Response, and Transparency Reporting, among others - to drive operational excellence through data. Its charter is to establish shared success metrics, develop trusted insights, and enable strategic decision-making across the organization.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and define the global Data Science strategy for the Trust & Safety organization, ensuring alignment with business priorities and long-term company objectives.
- Build, develop, and lead high-performing teams of Data Scientists across multiple regions.
- Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Policy, Operations and executive leadership to translate business challenges into scalable data-driven solutions.
- Define and evolve the organization's measurement framework, including north-star metrics, experimentation strategy, and operational KPIs.
- Drive the development of advanced analytics, machine learning, forecasting, and optimization models that improve Trust & Safety decision-making and operational effectiveness.
- Establish a strong data foundation by improving data quality, governance, observability, and measurement consistency across the organization.
- Deliver executive-level insights through clear storytelling, influencing strategic investments and business priorities.
- Champion an AI-first approach by identifying opportunities to leverage automation, GenAI, and predictive analytics across Trust & Safety workflows.
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning while attracting and developing world-class talent.
- Represent the Data Science organization as a trusted strategic partner across global cross-functional leadership teams.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualification(s):
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or another quantitative discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
- 5+ years of experience leading and developing global Data Science or Analytics organizations within a technology company.
- Demonstrated experience defining and executing organization-wide data strategies that influence product and business decisions.
- Strong expertise in statistical analysis, experimentation, machine learning, and large-scale data analytics.
- Experience working with large-scale distributed data platforms and modern analytical technologies (e.g., SQL, Python, Spark, Hadoop, cloud data platforms).
- Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts and analytical insights to executive leadership and influence strategic decisions.
Preferred Qualification(s):
- Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or a related quantitative discipline.
- Experience leading Data Science organizations supporting Trust & Safety, Integrity, Risk, Fraud, Security, or other large-scale online platform ecosystems.
- Experience building AI-powered decision systems, including predictive analytics, GenAI, or LLM-enabled products.
- Strong understanding of experimentation frameworks, causal inference, and large-scale measurement systems.
- Experience driving organizational transformation through data governance, observability, and operational excellence initiatives.
- Demonstrated success leading globally distributed teams across multiple regions and time zones.
- Track record of influencing executives and driving company-wide strategic initiatives through data.
- Experience partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Policy organizations to deliver measurable business outcomes.
- Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain world-class technical leadership talent.
- Passion for building safe, trustworthy, and responsible technology platforms.
Trust & Safety
Content that this role interacts with includes images, video, and text related to every-day life, but it can also include (but is not limited to) bullying; hate speech; child safety; depictions of harm to self and others, and harm to animals. Hence, it is possible that this role will be exposed to harmful content on a daily basis.
TikTok recognises that keeping our platform safe for the TikTok communities is no ordinary job which can be both rewarding and psychologically demanding and emotionally taxing for some. This is why we are sharing the potential hazards, risks and implications in this unique line of work from the start, so our candidates are well informed before joining.
We are committed to the wellbeing of all our employees and promise to provide comprehensive and evidence-based programs, to promote and support physical and mental wellbeing throughout each employee's journey with us. We believe that wellbeing is a relationship and that everyone has a part to play, so we work in collaboration and consultation with our employees and across our functions in order to ensure a truly person-centred, innovative and integrated approach.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.
We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $254800 - $504000 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.