Principal Data Scientist (Medicare Sales Strategy)

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time. We are seeking a Principal Data Scientist to serve as the highest-level individual contributor driving data science vision and enterprise-wide analytical strategy for our Medicare sales organization. You will operate at the intersection of data science, business strategy, and organizational leadership — setting multi-year technical direction, shaping how the enterprise uses data to compete in Medicare markets, and influencing decisions at the executive level. Responsibilities • Define the multi-year data science vision and roadmap for Medicare sales analytics across the enterprise • Serve as the internal authority and subject matter expert on Medicare sales data science — consulted on the highest-complexity, highest-impact problems • Drive organization-wide adoption of advanced modeling capabilities: propensity modeling, causal inference, market simulation, and ML-driven sales optimization • Identify white space opportunities where data science can create competitive advantage in Medicare distribution, enrollment, and retention • Establish enterprise standards for model governance, data quality, ethical AI use, and regulatory compliance across all sales analytics teams • Lead cross-functional initiatives spanning Sales, Marketing, Actuarial, Finance, and Technology • Evaluate and introduce emerging tools, methodologies, and external data sources to advance organizational capability • Mentor and elevate Lead and Senior Data Scientists; serve as a technical career sponsor across the broader data community • Represent the organization externally — industry conferences, CMS working groups, vendor partnerships, and thought leadership Required Qualifications 7+ years in data science or advanced analytics, with 5+ years at a lead, staff, or principal level including: • 3+ years of deep domain expertise in Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Part D — across sales, distribution, or market strategy • Demonstrated ability to define and deliver enterprise-scale analytical programs with measurable business impact • Recognized internal and/or external thought leader in health insurance analytics or Medicare data science • Expert-level proficiency across the full data science stack: SQL, Python/R, ML frameworks, MLOps, and cloud platforms • Exceptional executive communication skills — able to shape strategy conversations and drive alignment at the SVP/C-suite level Preferred Qualifications • 12+ years of experience in advanced analytics or appied Data science • 5+ years of deep domain expertise in Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Part D — across sales, distribution, or market strategy • Master's or PhD in Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or related quantitative field strongly preferred • Experience architecting enterprise data platforms or analytical ecosystems at a Medicare health plan, FMO, or large distributor • Deep familiarity with CMS regulatory landscape: MCMG, risk adjustment, Star Ratings, and audit frameworks • Background in causal inference, experimental design (A/B testing at scale), or econometric modeling applied to sales • Track record of building and scaling data science practices — hiring, tooling, governance, and culture • Experience with federated data models, data mesh architectures, or enterprise data strategy Education Bachelors degree or equivalent Pay