Application Guide

How to Apply for Staff Decision Scientist

at Workiva

🏢 About Workiva

Workiva is a leader in integrated ESG reporting, helping organizations transparently communicate their climate impact and compliance. The company's remote-first culture and commitment to innovation make it an attractive place for data scientists who want to drive meaningful change in sustainability and business operations.

About This Role

As a Staff Decision Scientist, you'll partner with senior leaders across Sales, Customer Success, Marketing, and Finance to solve ambiguous business problems, uncover causal drivers, and deliver actionable recommendations. This role is pivotal in shaping Workiva's growth by combining advanced analytics with executive communication.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a sync with the Director of Decision Science to prioritize key business questions from Sales or Marketing. You'll spend the morning diving into Snowflake data, applying causal models to uncover drivers of customer churn, then afternoon crafting a concise presentation for the VP of Customer Success with clear recommendations. Throughout the day, you'll collaborate with data engineers to automate insights and respond to ad-hoc requests from senior leaders.

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🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For

  • Experienced in causal inference and hypothesis-driven analysis, with a track record of uncovering 'why' behind business trends.
  • Proficient in Snowflake Cortex, AI tools, and advanced statistical methods to automate insights at scale.
  • Strong communicator who can translate complex findings into executive-ready narratives and 'so what' recommendations.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and proactive in framing strategic questions for senior leadership.

📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva

1

Highlight specific examples of causal analysis you've led, including the business impact and how you communicated findings to executives.

2

Showcase your experience with Snowflake Cortex or similar AI-assisted analytics platforms in your resume and cover letter.

3

Tailor your application to demonstrate understanding of Workiva's ESG focus—mention how your insights can drive both business growth and sustainability goals.

4

Prepare a portfolio or case study that illustrates your ability to go from 'what happened' to 'why it happened' and 'what to do next.'

5

Emphasize your ability to work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, and Finance teams, not just technical stakeholders.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for using data to drive strategic decisions in a mission-driven company like Workiva.', "Specific examples of how you've influenced senior leaders with data-driven recommendations.", "Your experience with modern analytics tools (Snowflake, AI) and how you've scaled insights.", 'Your ability to handle ambiguity and frame critical business questions proactively.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Understand Workiva's ESG reporting platform and how it integrates with financial data.
  • → Review recent news or case studies about Workiva's growth and customer success stories.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the Enterprise Data & Analytics team structure and the Director of Decision Science role.
  • → Explore Workiva's commitment to remote work culture and how they foster collaboration across time zones.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through a time you uncovered a causal driver that changed a business strategy.
2 How would you approach analyzing the impact of a new sales incentive on revenue?
3 Describe your experience with Snowflake Cortex or similar AI tools for analytics.
4 How do you prioritize which business problems to tackle when multiple stakeholders have competing needs?
5 Tell me about a time you had to explain a complex analytical finding to a non-technical executive.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating business acumen and strategic thinking.
  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't reference Workiva's ESG mission or specific role requirements.
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of causal analysis or executive communication in your past work.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Workiva!

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