How to hire a head of data and analytics: 183 companies are hiring now

Counted from the 260 open postings for this work on Nov 15, 2026, read from employers’ own careers pages and recounted on every update.

Close to head of data and analytics work, and often confused with it. Pick by the work you need done, then the guide for that role:

1. Set the pay range first. Today’s 140 head of data and analytics postings that state a yearly US-dollar range offer $168K to $250K for the middle half. Three quarters of them offer more than the lower figure. 59% of the postings state pay; in several US states and EU countries the law requires it. See head of data and analytics pay in detail.
2. Write the description. Start from the head of data and analytics job description template, then check it with the job description checker: the pay, the place of work and the must-haves should be clear before the second paragraph.
3. Decide where the person can work. 24% of today’s head of data and analytics postings are remote and 17% hybrid. If yours is remote, name the countries or time zones; “remote” alone brings applications you cannot accept.
4. Post it where people look. Post the job free on this site, add it to your own careers page and send it to people you know who do this work.
5. Screen for the skills that matter. Today’s postings name SQL, Snowflake, dbt most often: check them in the work, not only in the resume. Score every candidate on the same points with the interview scorecard; the head of data and analytics interview questions show what good candidates prepare for.
6. Decide quickly. Half of today’s open head of data and analytics postings have been up more than 55 days: a candidate who waits for your answer may be talking to other employers meanwhile. Tell every candidate when you will decide, and keep to it.

• Use a real, anonymised task from your own work: the kind of problem the person will meet in the first month.
• Keep it to two or three hours, say so, and pay for anything longer.
• Ask for three things: the result, how they got there, and one recommendation or next step.
• Score every answer on the same points: correctness, clarity, judgement and the use of SQL, Snowflake, dbt.
• Talk it through in the next interview: how they explain their choices tells as much as the result.
• Not sure yet? A short paid trial project or a contract-to-hire term lets both sides check the fit.

How much does it cost to hire a head of data and analytics?

The pay is the largest part: today’s head of data and analytics postings that state a yearly US-dollar range advertise a median of $203K. Add advertising, agency fees if you use one and the hours your team spends interviewing; the cost per hire calculator on this site adds them up. Posting on this site is free.

How long does it take to hire a head of data and analytics?

Half of today’s open head of data and analytics postings have been up more than 55 days. A posting can close before the person starts, so plan for a few weeks more.

Where can I find data and analytics leaders?

183 companies are hiring data and analytics leaders on this site today. Post your job here free, on your own careers page and in communities where data and analytics leaders meet; the table on this page lists the countries named most in today’s postings.

Should I hire a freelance head of data and analytics or a full-time one?

1% of today’s head of data and analytics postings are contract roles. Freelance suits a defined project with an end date; full-time suits ongoing work and anything that needs knowledge of your business. A paid trial project or a contract-to-hire term lets both sides check the fit first.

How much does a freelance head of data and analytics cost per hour?

Few postings for this work state an hourly rate. The median yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours is about $98 an hour; contractors usually charge more, since they pay their own taxes, holidays and insurance.

What skills should I test in a head of data and analytics?

The ones today’s postings name most: SQL (40%), Snowflake (26%), dbt (18%), Tableau (13%), Agile (10%). Test them on a small task from your own work rather than with trivia questions.