Lead Data Scientist (#570)

The Lead Data Scientist will drive innovative approaches to understanding, interacting, and optimizing customer engagement by leveraging advanced analytics to derive actionable business insights. The successful candidate will work closely with business stakeholders, primarily in Japanese, to understand their requirements and the broader business context. This role entails leading data analytics initiatives from conception through implementation to delivery. This role also leads and develops Data Science talent.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple data science projects and make sure they deliver clear business value. 
• Work with business leaders to choose priorities, define success measures, and agree on scope and timelines. 
• Lead end-to-end delivery: problem definition, solution design, model development, testing, and release. 
• Manage a team of data scientists and vendor resources and help them grow through coaching, feedback, and clear goals, coaching, feedback, and performance support. 
• Guide Senior Data Scientists as people managers (how they coach, review work, and run projects). 
• Set simple and practical ways of working for the group (planning, documentation, reviews, and delivery quality). 
• Keep code quality high across the team through strong Python practices and consistent code reviews. 
• Work closely with the data platform and IT teams to manage dependencies, remove blockers, and deliver on Azure (or similar cloud). 
• Communicate progress, risks, and results clearly to stakeholders and leadership. 
• Use AI responsibly and follow company policies and compliance requirements. 
• Present analytical findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, tailoring communication to executives, business users, and engineering teams. 
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams (e.g., Product, Marketing, Sales, Customer Success, Data Platform/Engineering, IT, Compliance) and stakeholders across departments to align priorities, manage dependencies, and remove blockers. 
• Ensure strong data governance: data quality checks, documentation, lineage, and consistent metric definitions.

Requirements (Experience, Skills, Education)

• Business-level Japanese and business communication English. 
• 8+ years of experience in data science / advanced analytics with delivered business results. 
• Strong experience leading data science projects end-to-end (from idea to delivery). 
• Strong Python programming skills and strong code review skills. 
• GenAI / LLM experience. 
• Azure or similar cloud experience (building and/or deploying solutions). 
• People management experience, including leading teams through delivery. 
• Experience guiding and supporting other leaders (for example, Senior Data Scientists who manage people). 
• Willing to learn, take on new challenges, and adapt to change. 
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills. 

Preferable 

• Financial services experience (insurance experience is a strong plus). 
• MLOps experience (CI/CD, deployment, monitoring, model lifecycle). 
• Power BI experience. 
• PySpark experience.