Data Scientist

Position Summary

The Data Scientist role supports the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness by creating descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive models employing machine learning techniques. The role involves statistical analysis to aid higher management decision-making and delivering data-driven advice to improve academic quality, student achievement, and operational effectiveness across colleges and administrative offices.

Responsibilities

• Gathering, cleaning, and preparing data sets for further analysis.
• Building and refining machine learning models for predictive and prescriptive analytics.
• Performing statistical analyses to resolve business challenges and support strategic decisions.
• Examining data to discover trends, patterns, and actionable insights; designing effective visualizations and dashboards to present results.
• Translating analytical findings into practical recommendations for multiple stakeholders.
• Preparing comprehensive reports and delivering presentations to management.
• Communicating results clearly to both technical teams and non-technical audiences.
• Proactively driving improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance of various AU units through detailed data examination.
• Providing assistance to team members as directed by the Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.

Qualifications & Experience

• A Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, or a related discipline is required; a Master's degree is preferred.
• At least four years of professional experience as a data scientist or in a similar analytical role.
• Demonstrated programming expertise in Python or R.
• Experience with data analysis and machine learning libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and Google Colab.
• Skilled in the use of data visualization platforms like Matplotlib, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, or similar software.
• Knowledge of big data frameworks, including Hadoop and Spark.
• Project management capabilities.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong analytical aptitude.
• Effective critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills for sharing insights.
• Advanced programming proficiency.
• Experienced in professional report writing.

Working Conditions

• The role is predominantly office-based with typical indoor work settings.
• Requires minimal physical exertion and low exposure to physical hazards.
• May occasionally require working beyond regular hours, including weekends, holidays, or emergencies, necessitating on-call availability.

Supervision

• This position reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
• No supervisory responsibilities are associated with this role.