At Academy Sports + Outdoors our vision is to be the best sports + outdoors retailer in the country — but what truly sets us apart is our people. We’re a passionate, purpose-driven team that’s as committed to each other as we are to our customers.
We’ve spent over 80 years building a culture that puts people first. We believe in creating opportunities for growth, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting every Team Member’s journey. What fuels us? Our belief in the power of fun.
Here, you won’t just help customers gear up for their next adventure — you’ll launch one of your own. Whether you're starting out or leveling up, Academy is a place where fun can’t lose!
Education:Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Business Management, or a relevant field required
10+ years of experience in data analytics, data engineering, data products, or related areas, including at least 4 years leading cross-functional teams
Previous experience building, managing, and evolving enterprise data products throughout the full product lifecycle
Strong knowledge of modern data platforms and tools, including dbt, Looker, BigQuery, and cloud-based data environments
Proven ability to translate complex data challenges into practical business solutions and measurable results
Experience supporting AI and machine learning initiatives through scalable, high-quality data foundations
Strong understanding of data governance, data quality standards, metadata management, and data contracts
Experience leading Agile delivery processes, prioritization, and roadmap planning
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership
Retail industry experience preferred
Strong leadership skills with the ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing teams
Deep understanding of enterprise data products, data modeling, and modern cloud-based data ecosystems
Strong business acumen with the ability to connect data initiatives to operational and business outcomes
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment
Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional partnership skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level presentations and discussions
Experience driving roadmap planning, product prioritization, and Agile delivery practices
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with attention to detail and data quality
Ability to influence decision-making across technical and non-technical teams
Working knowledge of AI/ML data enablement, governance practices, and scalable data architecture principles
Lead the strategy, development, and lifecycle management of enterprise data products that support analytics, reporting, AI initiatives, and operational decision-making.
Partner with business leaders, Analytics, and Technology teams to translate business needs into scalable data products, dashboards, metrics, and data models.
Establish standards for data quality, governance, documentation, lineage, and service level expectations across the enterprise data ecosystem.
Build and manage the enterprise data product roadmap, including prioritization, Agile delivery, and ongoing enhancements.
Partner closely with Data Platform Engineering to support ingestion standards, validation processes, and pipeline reliability.
Communicate proactively with stakeholders regarding priorities, delivery timelines, product health, and upcoming changes.
Drive adoption and consistent use of enterprise data products across business teams by promoting usability, transparency, and trust in data.
Monitor and improve the overall health, reliability, and performance of enterprise data products and related processes.
Partner with cross-functional leaders to align data priorities with enterprise goals and evolving business needs.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Support AI and machine learning initiatives through reliable, scalable, and business-ready data foundations.
Follow company policies and perform other duties as assigned.
Learn, follow and enforce company policies and safety procedures.
Adhere to company work hours, policies, procedures and rules governing professional staff behavior.
Responsibilities may change; team member may be asked to perform other duties as assigned.
Regular in-office attendance required
Flexible work schedule to support business needs
Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties
Adhere to company work hours, policies, procedures, and rules governing professional staff behavior
Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate with regard to employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Business Management, or relevant field
- 10+ years of experience in data analytics, data engineering, data products, or related areas
- At least 4 years leading cross-functional teams
- Experience building, managing, and evolving enterprise data products across full product lifecycle
- Strong knowledge of dbt, Looker, and BigQuery
- Experience with cloud-based data environments
- Experience supporting AI and machine learning initiatives through scalable data foundations
- Strong understanding of data governance, data quality standards, metadata management, and data contracts
- Experience leading Agile delivery processes, prioritization, and roadmap planning
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including presenting to senior leadership
- Retail industry experience
Academy Sports + Outdoors Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Academy Sports + Outdoors and has not been reviewed or approved by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
-
Retirement Support — A dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match up to 6% and an employee stock purchase plan are consistently presented as core strengths. These features stand out within big-box retail and are frequently highlighted as valuable parts of total compensation.
-
Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — A 20% merchandise discount, pay-on-demand access to wages, and tuition reimbursement provide tangible everyday value. Onsite gym access in Katy corporate/DC locations and vendor discount networks further enhance lifestyle perks.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off, paid holidays, and defined maternity and parental leave are part of the standard package. Materials also indicate PTO availability for some part-time store roles in certain situations.
Academy Sports + Outdoors Insights
What We Do
At Academy Sports + Outdoors, we believe in the power of fun. And we believe in helping our customers have more of it. With a wide assortment of sporting and outdoors gear, Academy offers the best brands under one roof — curated to make the most of every budget. Day in and day out, our 20,000+ Team Members bring a sense of adventure, energy, and passion to work. Understanding our people and the things that matter to them has been at the core of Academy culture for over 80 years. We take pride in creating a workplace that values hard work, commitment, growth, and of course, FUN. Academy — headquartered in Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston — is one of the nation’s largest sporting goods and outdoor stores. We offer a broad assortment of quality hunting, fishing, and camping equipment and gear, as well as sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel, and much more. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to a wide network of stores across many states, with $6.8 billion in annual revenue.
