At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and improve taxonomies for a global e-commerce platform, enhancing consumer experiences.
- Company: Join a leading tech company transforming grocery and retail delivery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and strategic initiatives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on local economies and shape the future of e-commerce.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in taxonomy development and a Master's degree in a relevant field.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
About the Team
Our New Verticals Strategy & Operations team is re-inventing the way consumers think about grocery, convenience, alcohol and retail delivery through both our first-party and third-party operations businesses. The Global Catalog team plays a critical role in shaping DoorDash’s e-commerce strategy, leading some of the company’s most strategic programs to drive catalog excellence. Their work is highly visible and impactful—spanning the entire New Verticals catalog across DoorDash, Deliveroo, and Wolt—and influences tens of millions of items on the platform.
About the Role
We are looking to hire an experienced Taxonomist to join the Global New Verticals Catalog team across DoorDash, Wolt, and Deliveroo. This role will focus on developing and improving the processes and models that power DoorDash’s three-sided marketplace—Merchants, Dashers, and Customers—as well as its emerging fourth side, Advertisers, with the goal of empowering and growing local economies. Achieving this requires a deep understanding of local businesses, the products and services they offer, and the consumers who interact with them. A strong grasp of the global ecosystem is essential to building and mapping complex taxonomies and entity relationships within local economies. This includes the design, implementation, and governance of large-scale taxonomies to accelerate product development and deliver high-quality consumer experiences.
As a Taxonomist on the Global Catalog team, this role will be responsible for Product Categories and Brands taxonomies, as well as the broader attribute platform. The position will work closely with Strategy & Operations, Machine Learning, Engineering, Product, and Data Science partners.
You’re excited about this opportunity because you will…
- Build and maintain the metadata schema, attribute systems, and entity relationships within a global ontology platform.
- Design and maintain taxonomies across consumer domains including grocery, alcoholic beverages, apparel and more, ensuring alignment with attribute models.
- Develop and apply best practices for taxonomy and ontology modeling, including hierarchy design, attribute standardization, and relationship definition.
- Identify and address gaps in catalog quality, completeness, and discoverability across international markets.
- Partner cross-functionally with Product, Operations, Analytics, and regional teams to design and operationalize taxonomy and ontology solutions globally.
- Evolve and scale taxonomy and ontology systems for New Verticals, aligning and unifying structures across DoorDash, Wolt and Deliveroo markets.
- Contribute to strategic initiatives that strengthen merchant catalogs and improve the customer shopping experience across international markets.
We’re excited about you because…
- You solve problems from first principles. You’re excited to think innovatively, and you resist “this is how it’s always been done” thinking.
- You are an operator. You don’t hesitate to get in the weeds and operate at the lowest level of detail, but you’re also able to think long-term. You will experience our operation first hand, to inform your strategy.
- You’re analytical. You can work with data across multiple sources, ask the right questions of a dataset, and communicate findings clearly, using whatever tools get you there fastest (e.g., SQL, BI tools or AI-assisted analysis).
- You have 5+ years of experience in developing complex taxonomies, ontologies, or structured classification systems in real-world applications.
- You have experience with taxonomy or ontology management tools (Graphite, PoolParty, Graphologi, etc.) and have designed taxonomies to support navigation, search, discovery, and analytics at scale.
- You have completed a Masters Degree in either Library and Information Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, or a related field.
Nice to Haves
- Experience with AI tools such as Claude Code and Cursor to accelerate problem-solving, analysis, or workflow execution.
- Proficiency in SQL.
- Familiarity with graph-based or triple-store systems (e.g., RDF, SPARQL) is a plus.
Data Governance Specialist employer: Deliveroo
At DoorDash, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture. Our Global New Verticals Catalog team is at the forefront of innovation in e-commerce, offering employees the chance to make a significant impact on local economies while collaborating with diverse teams across the globe. With ample opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to employee well-being, working with us means being part of a forward-thinking company that values creativity and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Governance Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your skills align with their goals, especially in taxonomies and data governance.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your past work in taxonomy development or ontology management to the table. Real-world applications speak volumes.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Data Governance Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Taxonomy:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for taxonomies and ontologies shine through! We want to see how your experience aligns with our mission to improve local economies and enhance consumer experiences.
Be Specific About Your Experience:Don’t just list your past roles; dive into the details! Share specific examples of how you've developed complex taxonomies or worked with ontology management tools. This helps us understand your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for this role. Highlight relevant projects and skills that match the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their background with what we’re looking for!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity on our Global Catalog team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Deliveroo
✨Know Your Taxonomies
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of taxonomies and ontologies before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience in developing complex classification systems and how they can be applied to the role at DoorDash. Highlight specific examples where you've improved catalog quality or discoverability.
✨Show Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Think of instances where you've worked with data from multiple sources and how you’ve used tools like SQL or BI tools to derive insights. Being able to clearly communicate your findings will show that you can think critically and solve problems effectively.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the grocery, convenience, and retail delivery sectors. Understanding the nuances of local businesses and consumer behaviour will help you articulate how you can contribute to the Global Catalog team. Research DoorDash, Wolt, and Deliveroo to understand their market positioning and challenges.
✨Be Ready to Collaborate
This role requires cross-functional collaboration, so be prepared to discuss your experience working with diverse teams. Share examples of how you've partnered with product, operations, or analytics teams to implement taxonomy solutions. Emphasising your teamwork skills will show that you're a good fit for the collaborative culture.
