Data Scientist, Strategic Initiatives and Research Intelligence

Description

The Office of VP Research is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Data Scientist.

As requirements for data reporting and delivering of outcomes are increasing for major research initiatives, both from internal and external stakeholders, the Office of the Vice President Research (VPRO) requires a Data Scientist, Strategic Initiatives and Research Intelligence (SIRI), to support the Research & Innovation Plan. This is a full-time position within the VPRO and reports to the Manager, SIRI.

The overarching goal of the Data Scientist will be to lead the collection, cleaning, and exploration of data from various sources and apply statistical modeling and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to extract meaningful insights and develop predictive models. Additionally, the Data Scientist will create visualizations, manage data architecture, and ensure data governance, while also leading project requests from UCalgary leadership, mentoring analysts, and staying updated with the latest trends in the field. The Data Scientist will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, in addition to providing actionable insights and recommendations to UCalgary leadership including the President, Vice President (Research), and Associate Vice Presidents (Research) to support strategic decision-making and growth initiatives. 

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Lead the development of software applications to automate the gathering of data from various sources including databases, APIs, flat files, and external datasets.
• Establish applications to preprocess and clean raw data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency, including handling missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies.
• Independently develop and implement machine learning models for predictive analytics tasks such as forecasting, classification, and recommendation systems.
• Develop processes to modernizing existing data handling practices, through programmed solutions.
• Lead the development of tools for critical decision making and provide support and training.
• Discover actionable insights and patterns from large datasets using advanced data mining techniques.
• Design and optimize data architectures, including data warehouses, data lakes, and ETL pipelines, for efficient data storage and retrieval.
• Independently establish processes to integrate data from disparate sources and systems to create unified datasets for analysis and reporting to various UCalgary stakeholders.
• Analyze unstructured text data using natural language processing (NLP) techniques for sentiment analysis, topic modeling, and entity recognition.
• Provide actionable insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making and business growth initiatives.
• Collect and analyzes institutional research data, as well as external research data pertaining to such areas as external research funding, faculty, postdoctoral scholars, students, publications and citations, and knowledge translation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to understand UCalgary business requirements and deliver data-driven solutions.
• Lead data analytics projects from inception to completion, including scoping, planning, execution, and delivery.
• Mentor data analysts, share best practices, and contribute to the technical development and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Stay updated with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in data analytics, machine learning, and related domains through self-learning, training, and conferences.
• Identify key research performance indicators, including comparative metrics among the U15 institutions and university ranking organizations.
• Independently create visually appealing and insightful charts, graphs, and dashboards to communicate findings and insights to stakeholders including University leadership, faculty, and staff.
• Independently explore datasets using statistical techniques and visualization tools to identify patterns, trends, and outliers.
• Utilize tools like Tableau, Power BI, or custom-built solutions to develop dashboards that provide real-time insights and allow users to interact with the data through filters and drill-downs.
• Develop advanced visualizations to present complex data insights in an understandable and impactful way.
• Craft a narrative around the data using visualizations to make the insights more compelling and understandable.
• Implement real-time data visualizations for live monitoring and analysis.
• Optimize visualizations for performance, ensuring they load quickly and are responsive, especially with large datasets.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with University contacts and external stakeholders; communicate within and outside the university in a professional and proficient manner.
• Participate as a member in the Research Metrics Community of Practice.
• Prepares and presents reports as required.
• Works independently on specific research activities and assignments.
• Identify and respond to priorities of the VPRO; ensure the strategic initiatives objectives are met within set deadlines.
• Represent the University at conferences when applicable.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Post-secondary education, preferably an advanced university degree related to data science or business analytics, with 5 years related experience in statistics, research methods and data visualization.
• Advanced experience with tools and programing languages such as SQL, Python, R, Power BI, and Excel for data manipulation and visualization.
• Knowledge of Python libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, Sklearn, NLTK  for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and visualization.
• Strong proficiency with writing code and developing tools for web scraping tasks is critical.
• Proficient in using statistical methods and analytical tools to understand trends, patterns, and relationships within the data.
• Proven ability in developing software code to streamline and enhance operational practices.
• Ability to analyze, design, and implement solutions to improve data accuracy, accessibility, and utility.
• Skills in developing software code for data cleaning, organizing, and maintaining data accuracy and reliability.
• Proficient in designing charts, graphs, and dashboards that effectively communicate data insights to non-technical audiences.
• Capability to approach complex problems systematically and develop innovative software-based solutions based on data.
• Capacity to collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure tools meet organizational needs and objectives.
• Ability to provide ongoing support and maintenance for developed tools, ensuring they remain up-to-date and effective.
• Knowledge in natural language processing is required.
• Knowledge in artificial intelligence is an required.
• Knowledge of statistical methods, scientific computing, scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract or extrapolate knowledge and insights from potentially noisy, structured, or unstructured data.
• Ability to present data findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively to various stakeholders, including non-technical audiences.
• Ability to independently manage time and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships and facilitate collaboration between diverse groups.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and to demonstrate a high level of tact, diplomacy, and discretion.
• Advanced Knowledge of University environment and university data systems is critical.

Application Deadline:  October 9, 2024

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 3.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.