Senior Data Scientist

**Synthesis x Senior Data Scientist (Futures)
**At Synthesis we push the boundaries of what’s possible **with Open Data. It’s a fast-paced, rapidly-changing environment vibrant with collaboration and creativity, at the intersection of data science, cultural analysis & brand consultancy (we call this HCDS: Human Centred Data Science).

**We are looking for people who are culturally curious and passionate about data storytelling. **Our team is nimble, diverse, and adaptable. We work iteratively to develop and improve what we do together rather than settling for more of the same. Together we represent a variety of experiences - from computer science, digital anthropology, engineering, advertising, linguistics, to gaming and law.

**Senior Data Scientists **at Synthesis develop models and analytical frameworks designed for the sharpest insights and marketing professionals in the world.

**Your core focus**:

- **Co-leading a business unit**:Working closely with the leadership team and the Director of Futures, this will give you direct exposure to the fundamentals of building a business, financial planning, establishing partnerships and hiring.
- **Becoming an expert in forecasting and simulation using HCDS principles and open data**:The long-term ambition for Synthesis Futures is to help businesses thrive by forecasting, simulating and predicting the likelihood of consumer centric scenarios. You will be part of supporting business leaders to step back, imagine and prepare for the future.
- **Modelling and Simulation**:Identify and become expert in using different modelling techniques for a variety of problem statements and build proof of concepts to test their efficacy for our use cases.
- **Tracking and Reforecasting**:Being accountable for our forecasts by not just making predictions but also tracking them over time and tweaking the model/ forecasting to improve our models and continuously learn over time.
- **Disciplined and critical of process**:Avoid confirmation bias by being disciplined in documentation of process and attempting to be exhaustive in factors with potential to impact our modelling.
- **Simulation gamification and ‘war rooms’ as output. **Develop innovative interfaces to deliver our Futures models and scenario predictions in an engaging format,where users can simulate decisions and predict impact.
- **Golden Indicators**:Work with the Director of Futures to identify and test for the lead indicators and data points most appropriate for specific questions and their likelihood to shape different future outcomes of categories
- **Confidence levels**:Build the Synthesis framework for future modelling to determine the likelihood of different future outcomes, i.e. highly plausible, to implausible, to impossible.

**You’ll need**:

- A background in mathematics and statistics with a great exposure to different mathematical models and concepts such as **Monte Carlo simulation, Markov models, Data Driven Non-Hebbian Learning.**:

- Ability to process and layer different data sets to build a complete picture of people, categories and themes in the next 5-10 years
- Hands-on experience with one or more of the following programming languages: Java, Python or R.
- Experience in building data visualisations using off the shelf software or packages with R, Python, Gephi, Tableau etc. Familiarity with quick prototyping techniques for data viz work is an advantage.
- Confidence working with large, complex, unstructured datasets, with a focus on both numerical and textual data. Natural language processing skills, including topic modelling and semantic parsing, especially for Asian languages and short texts, will be an advantage.
- Ability to communicate your analysis in simple, non-technical terms and relish the prospect of working alongside a team of strategy consultants to move from analysis to implication for business.
- Openness and enjoyment of iteratively developing your ideas, drawing on the value of the diverse experience and perspectives of those around you. You recognise the value of having an array of approaches at your disposal rather than focusing solely on one methodology or model.

**Advantageous, but not required**:

- Prior experience in futures thinking, designing and deliver on trends and foresight projects
- Experienced working with Google Scholar and Google Patents as well as census, search, social, advertising & ecommerce data
- Knowledge of quantitative, statistical and qualitative research techniques and analysis

**About Working Here**

We are a diverse team, we value creativity, ‘plussing’ mindset and collaboration. To help create this we offer flexible working and a supportive environment. This includes the following benefits:

- Twice yearly, uncapped, profit share bonus scheme—so everyone is collectively rewarded for business success.
- 20 days paid vacation per annum + public holidays + whole company paid ‘reading week’ between Christmas and New Year.
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