About the Job
NEOM offers a unique opportunity to build a Statistics Office from the ground up in a fully digitalized context. The selected Manager of Data Science will play a pivotal role in shaping the data science strategy, leading a team of skilled data scientists, and leveraging cutting-edge digital infrastructure to drive the production of official statistics to new heights. This is a transformative role that enables the selected candidate to innovate and set new standards for real-time statistical insights beyond traditional legacy environments.
Key Accountabilities & Activities
- Identify and evaluate critical data sources to support strategic analytics initiatives.
- Guide the automated collection and preprocessing of both structured and unstructured data, ensuring data quality and readiness for advanced analysis.
- Implement advanced statistical methods, machine learning, and deep learning algorithms to analyze large datasets and extract actionable insights.
- Enhance data collection processes to support the development of sophisticated analytic models and systems.
- Develop and deploy predictive models using machine and deep learning techniques for accurate forecasting and data-driven decision-making.
- Use ensemble modeling techniques to enhance predictive accuracy and model robustness.
- Present findings and insights using various data visualization techniques to facilitate understanding and decision-making.
- Assess data quality across all sources, document issues, and recommend corrective actions.
- Propose innovative, data-driven solutions to address business challenges and optimize organizational performance.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to integrate data-driven insights effectively.
Background, Skills & Qualifications
- Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in data science, with a strong background in developing and deploying advanced machine and deep learning models and algorithms.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as R and Python for building predictive models and conducting data analysis.
- Strong problem-solving skills demonstrated by the ability to analyze complex datasets, identify patterns, and develop innovative solutions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate technical findings to non-technical stakeholders.
- Relevant qualifications such as an MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Statistics, or related field.
Communication - Main Stakeholders
- Internal: Managers/Senior Managers within the NEOM Authority, NEOM Company, Directors from relevant departments, and cross-functional team members.
- External: General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA), various Ministries and Institutions in Saudi Arabia, Project Management Consultants, stakeholders of official statistics, academic and educational institutes, and international statistics experts.
