Lead Data Analyst/Scientist

We are seeking to welcome a Lead Data Analyst/Scientist to join our Data Analytics team. Data Analytics is an exciting new function constituted by pulling together existing professionals from inside the firm and, now, by recruiting. Our mission is to turn proprietary data into industry-leading insights about leadership, both to equip our client-facing teams and to fuel industry-leading intellectual capital and articles. We play a crucial role in the firm’s positioning as the industry’s most elite leadership advisors who combine discerning human insights with rigorous, data-forward intelligence. We are a small team of like-minded, mutually supportive, intellectually curious colleagues who work well together and via supportive relationships with other professionals in symbiotic areas like Technology, Marketing, and the frontline.

This is an ideal role for someone who has a fascination with data analytics, leadership, and business performance and who combines those interests with experience as a data scientist and an ability to extract, then translate, findings into impactful, digestible insights for businesspeople. We explore questions such as what characteristics make some leaders more successful than others?  What role do contextual factors play?  How is a company’s performance impacted by culture, employee engagement, and top-team effectiveness?  How can data illuminate leadership challenges and solutions? 

 In this essential role, your primary focus will be to:

• Extract valuable insights from our cloud-based data platform.
• Lead cutting-edge research at the intersection of leadership attributes, organizational culture, employee engagement, and company performance. Identify opportunities to create proprietary analyses to support our client work and industry-leading intellectual capital. Contribute to the growth and management of our Client Insights Database (CID).

As a player-coach, you will mentor a small but growing team of junior data analysts by sharing your expertise and fostering a collaborative learning environment. Under your guidance, the team will manage ad hoc requests and recurring analyses that equip our frontline teams with unique insights and elevate their discussions with clients.

As a data scientist, you will provide proactive feedback to the firm’s data engineering team and product owners on the continued development of our proprietary cloud data platform. In that capacity, you will serve as a subject matter expert for the variety of data sources that exist across our firm. You will leverage this expertise to navigate various data repositories, proactively identifying the best sources across the company for reliable information. Where needed, you will make recommendations for the acquisition of external data assets, and/or will support the integration of any additional datasets into our cloud data platform.

Additionally, you will apply deep expertise in statistics and data analytics/modeling to:

• Deliver insights through a variety of mediums, whether it be database extracts, custom data files or dashboards. (Tableau is strongly preferred but not required.)
• Lead robust research and generate insights, in collaboration with our Consultants and other internal stakeholders. For example, you will partner with our Marketing team and industry experts to generate deliverables of high visibility, such as press articles, Harvard Business Review pieces, and high-stakes presentations at gatherings of executives.
• Act as an advisor to key stakeholders across the firm on the best data-driven approaches to insight generation. These stakeholders include our Marketing, Finance, industry experts, and Operations teams.
• Partner with existing “pockets” of colleagues versed in machine learning and AI-enabled solutions and assist in generating future-proof data analytics solutions.

Location

Like the rest of the firm, the DA team works globally, with professionals located in Amsterdam, on the East coast of the US, and in Chicago, Illinois. Our strong preference is for a colleague to join our Amsterdam office. However, for the right talent, we can be flexible within the broad outlines of these time zones.

Key relationships

• Reports to:  Thibault Deloffre, Head of Data Analytics
• Other key relationships:
  • Global Head of Data Analytics.
  • Data Analytics Team members/colleagues (three direct members, including open positions)
  • Data Engineering Team, Technology department
  • Industry/Function Practice Directors
  • Other internal stakeholders (Marketing, Operations, etc.)
  • External data providers

Key responsibilities

• Data Extraction and Query Management
  • Write, maintain, and optimize complex SQL queries to extract data from the Client Insights Database (CID) platform, ensuring timely and accurate reports and responses to inquiries.
  • Develop data extraction templates that cater to ongoing research and analysis needs across the firm.

• Collaborative Research Support
  • Provide extensive statistical knowledge to support insight generation.
  • Work closely with researchers to understand their data requirements, delivering tailored data extracts that facilitate insightful analysis and reporting.
  • Actively engage in discussions to help researchers and stakeholders formulate inquiries and develop data-driven approaches to client questions.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Research/Insights Development
  • Partner with business colleagues to understand their analytical needs, proactively recommending how to leverage data insights to improve client engagements and business development.
  • Analyze data findings and generate actionable insights and research, articulating the implications clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Mentorship and Development
  • Mentor junior analysts, providing guidance on best practices for query writing, data analysis techniques, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Help foster an environment of continuous learning and professional development within the analytics team.

• Quality Assurance and Improvement Initiatives
  • Continuously assess data quality and governance standards to uphold the integrity of outputs generated from the CID platform.
  • Collaborate with the data engineering team that sits in the Technology department to identify opportunities for improving data governance practices.

Ideal Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in statistics, mathematics, data/computer science, or a related field. An advanced degree (master’s or PhD) is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in data analysis or data science, preferably within a consulting or data-driven environment.
• Proven experience in writing, maintaining, and optimizing complex SQL queries for data extraction and manipulation is a must. Additional experience in Python, machine learning, or predictive analytics is a plus, and facility with Tableau is strongly preferred.
• Strong background in collaborative research support and stakeholder engagement, with an emphasis on translating data insights into actionable business observations.
• Demonstrated experience working with various data sources and familiarity with data governance practices.
• Previous experience mentoring junior analysts or team members is a plus.

Technical Skills

• SQL Proficiency: Advanced skills in SQL for complex queries and data manipulation.
• Cloud Platforms: Familiarity with cloud data platforms (AWS preferred).
• Data Analysis:
  • Advanced statistics proficiency including Bayesian statistics, regressions, sampling methods, probability distributions, correlations, parametric/non-parametric tests, experimental design, and other statistical concepts.
  • Knowledge of data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) and best practices for presenting data insights.
  • Proficiency in advanced Excel techniques, including Power Query.
  • Python skills for data analysis (including some familiarity with Pandas, NumPy...).
  • Understanding of NLP, machine learning frameworks, vectorization, embedding models is a plus.
  • Experience addressing underlying data availability/architecture/data model issues will be seen as a bonus.
• Data Quality Assurance: Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies to ensure data integrity and governance.

Critical Capabilities:

• Exceptional ability to communicate complex data insights and analyses to non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong consultative mindset, capable of advising on data usage in strategic decision-making.
• Entrepreneurial attitude and a proven track record of driving projects from conception to execution.
• Outstanding attention to detail, with the ability to synthesize larger data trends into executive summaries.
• Self-motivated and capable of managing multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal skills and a commitment and ability to teach/mentor/advise at all levels of data analysis proficiency, promoting a culture of continuous learning and growth.