Senior Staff Data Scientist @ Google • Mountain / Trail Runner

John Tribbia

Leading AI evaluation and model quality measurement at Google
&
Tackling mountains of data like I do on the run

0 Years Experience
0 Years as Team Lead
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Open to Leadership Opportunities

Seeking leadership roles where I can leverage my experience leading high-performing teams and driving strategic data initiatives. Particularly interested in positions that combine technical leadership with AI/ML innovation, team development, and cross-functional influence at scale.

Technical Expertise

Deep technical capabilities across the modern data science stack

ML & AI

LLM Development & Evaluation Model Quality Metrics Text Summarization Sentiment Analysis Automated Classification

Data Analysis

SQL Python R ETL Pipelines Data Visualization

Analytics & Statistics

Statistical Modeling Forecasting Multi-Touch Attribution Predictive Analytics A/B Testing Causal Inference

Leadership

Technical Strategy Team Building Cross-functional Collaboration Stakeholder Management Mentorship Quality Standards

Leadership Approach

Building high-performing teams and scalable data solutions

Technical Leadership
Progressive leadership from IC to Senior Staff at Google, leading diverse teams across Data Science, Analytics Engineering, and BI. Setting quality standards and developing talent through direct mentorship and organizational influence.
Strategic Vision
Driving end-to-end data science roadmaps that connect offline model evaluation to online product engagement. Establishing measurement frameworks that inform strategic decision-making at scale.
Cross-Functional Impact
Fostering partnerships across engineering, product, research, and operations teams. Translating complex technical concepts into actionable business insights for diverse stakeholders.

Experience

14+ years driving data-informed decision making at scale

Google | Workspace AI
Senior Staff Data Scientist
(Tech Lead IC)
Boulder, Colorado
Sep 2025 – Present
  • Leading definition and execution of response quality measurement and improvement strategy for models across Google Workspace AI Platform
  • Developed framework to quantify model quality impact on user retention
  • Effectively linked offline evaluations with online product engagement
Google | Ads Operations
Senior Manager, Data Science
Boulder, Colorado
Dec 2020 – Sep 2025
👥 Team Size: 3-8 (Data Scientists)
  • Progressive leadership journey: Forecasting Manager → Data Science Manager → Senior Data Science Manager
  • Drove advanced analytics and data science initiatives across Google Ads customer support, strategy, and operations
  • Fostered strong partnerships with engineering, strategy, product, and operations teams
  • Led vision and roadmap for end-to-end data science solutions
Infor
Head of Marketing & Ops Analytics
Boulder, Colorado (Remote)
2019 – 2020
👥 Team Size: 8 (Manager of Managers, Cross-functional)
  • Led cross-functional teams to develop and implement multi-touch attribution pipeline and decision tool
  • Directly enabled data-driven ROI analysis for marketing and sales initiatives
Oracle
Sr. Data Scientist
Broomfield, Colorado
2017 – 2019
  • Optimized audience targeting and ad campaign performance
  • Conducted causal impact analysis to measure ad uplift
  • Developed persona-based audience planner contributing to +30% incremental audience revenue
InsideSales.com
Sr. Marketing Data Scientist
Salt Lake City, Utah
2016 – 2017
  • Developed and implemented multi-touch attribution database and decision tool
  • Achieved 60% increase in lead-appointment conversion rate through optimization of high-ROI marketing channels
Backcountry
Manager, Marketing Analytics
Park City, Utah
2014 – 2016
👥 Team Size: 3 (Analysts, Data Scientists, BI)
  • Led cross-functional team of analysts, data scientists, and BI to drive strategic marketing decisions
  • Developed analytical hierarchy process (AHP) bid optimization solutions
  • Enabled teams to shift pricing and acquisition strategies from transactional to long-term value
Backcountry
Marketing Business Analyst
Park City, Utah
2013 – 2014
  • Managed marketing budgets and KPIs across multiple channels
  • Built demand forecasting models for revenue optimization
  • Conducted performance analyses across sites, channels, and sales formats
RRC Associates
Senior Data Analyst
Boulder, Colorado
2012 – 2013
  • Designed multi-modal surveys for high-profile ski resort clients
  • Applied advanced statistical modeling to deliver actionable insights

Education

Rigorous quantitative foundation in statistics, mathematics, and social science

PhD in Sociology
University of Colorado at Boulder
2012

Dissertation: "What's so local about global climate change?"

Certificate in Demography

Focus: Social Statistics • Demography • Climate & Population Studies

Research: Collaborated with Nobel Peace Prize-winning scientists at NCAR (2006-2011). Published 15 peer-reviewed articles with 800+ citations on population and climate change dynamics.
BS in Mathematics
University of Puget Sound
2004

Focus: Statistics • Geometry • Environmental Studies (minor)

Foundation in quantitative reasoning and analytical problem-solving that bridges data science and systems thinking.

Beyond the Data

Building community, mentoring future leaders, and pursuing excellence

2024 Google-Boulder Site Citizenship Award
Recognized for exceptional contributions to the Boulder community and Google's local presence through partnership development and community engagement
Business Leader in Residence
Leading Google-Boulder's partnership with CU-Boulder Leeds School of Business, mentoring MBA students and investing in the next generation of business leaders
Former Sponsored Athlete
La Sportiva • Pearl Izumi • Salomon - Multiple podium finishes on the global mountain/trail running stage
Running Shoe Tester
Boulder Gear Lab • 200+ lifetime gear reviews • Road Trail Run contributor • 100K+ miles tested in the Colorado Rockies
Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts of America, 1999 - Early foundation in leadership and service
NOLS Graduate
National Outdoor Leadership School, 2005 - Wilderness leadership and risk management training

Select Publications

Graduate school research at the intersection of climate science, demography, and social statistics

More than information: what coastal managers need to plan for climate change
Environmental Science & Policy • 2008 • Co-Author with SC Moser
Vulnerability to inundation and climate change impacts in California: coastal managers' attitudes and perceptions
Marine Technology Society Journal • 2006 • Co-Author with SC Moser
Testing theories to explore the drivers of cities' atmospheric emissions
AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment • 2009 • Co-Author with PR Lankao, D Nychka
Development and greenhouse gas emissions deviate from the 'modernization' theory and 'convergence' hypothesis
Climate Research • 2008 • Co-Author with PR Lankao, D Nychka
Stuck in the slow lane of behavior change? A not-so-superhuman perspective on getting out of our cars
In S. C. Moser & L. Dilling (Eds.), Creating a climate for change: Communicating climate change and facilitating social change (pp. 237–250). Cambridge University Press.