Project Manager - Marketing Analytics (16602)

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings products, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories.

Role Summary
The Project Manager plays a key role in providing strong analytic support to the Marketing Pricing business partners, involving in strategic pricing initiatives, providing key results for Pricing Committee meetings along with ad-hoc analysis and pricing reporting. This is an interesting role which offers exposure into cardmember's Pricing management within Discover and overall knowledge about Pricing within the credit card industry.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate the ability to learn quickly, work independently and handle multiple projects. Additionally, the candidate must be able to explain the analytical results to Sr. Management in a clear, concise and effective manner.

Responsibilities

• Position has full cycle accountability for designing, gathering data, executing statistical and marketing analysis projects, as well as interpreting results, formulating recommendations and presenting to management.
• In additional to project responsibilities, position acts as subject matter expert by providing advice to senior management, clients and business partners on the effective use of analytical methodologies, particularly those related to pricing, profitability, time series data, business planning & forecasting, and econometric modeling.
• Establish and maintain a thorough understanding of the statistical and business impact of key variables on pricing and payment behavior. Proactively identify trends or developments that may impact business plans or performance or which may represent opportunities.

• Masters Degree in Statistics, Quantitative Finance, Economics or related quantitative focus are a must.
• Strong Statistics experience
• Strong hands-on and efficient programming skills using SQL and SAS is a must; along with any other similar statistical packages in UNIX and/or PC environments.
• At least 3 years of statistical analysis experience within analytics area. Experience using CIMS database, Account APR and COB tables and familiarity/working with Teradata is a plus.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, pro-active and express leadership in problem solving techniques.
• Should have a keen interest in working with data, ability to interpret the data results in a meaningful way.
• Excel based pivot tables is a must along with other Microsoft office products.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to present key results to business partners and senior management.
• Industry based Pricing analytic knowledge and familiarity with recent CARD Act changes is a huge plus.
• Thorough understanding and ability to apply marketing and technology principles.