Senior Data Scientist

Company Description

Uncommon Schools  is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 52 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

Job Description

Our Senior Data Scientist will serve as a functional expert on our Data & IT, Analytics, and Research team, supporting the Senior Director by conducting analyses related to areas of strategic importance for the organization and serving as a key thought partner for the research agenda for the organization. They will create production models and generate predictions as well as craft related tools to provide informative and timely data to key stakeholders.

They will leading data science and predictive analytics initiatives while developing organizational capabilities to leverage Machine Learning (ML), Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI. The individual will serve as a domain expert within our Data & IT Analytics and Research team, to conduct modeling, generate predictive insights, and develop innovative tools using ML and Generative AI technologies. This position will play a pivotal role in shaping Uncommon's research agenda by employing groundbreaking techniques to drive strategic decision-making.

Analytics & Research:

• Lead data science projects for the organization – focused on strategic, high-impact modeling and predictions that provide timely and actionable insights to stakeholders.
• Identify and share standard processes in data analysis, modeling, and visualization
• Conduct analyses requested by leadership and proactively recommend analyses to leadership and Home Office teams.
• Design and implement predictive models to forecast outcomes and recommend data-driven strategies.
• Perform regular and frequent evaluation of model performance recommending and driving improvements.
• Present the results of analysis by using easily understandable visuals and clear reports
• Collaborate with leadership to identify key metrics that align with organizational objectives and key results.

Machine Learning, Generative AI, and Large Language Models:

• Serve as a thought partner in research projects, exploring applications of LLMs, Generative AI, and ML to uncover insights within structured and unstructured data sets.
• Design and lead projects applying LLMs to conduct natural language processing (NLP), sentiment analysis, and text generation tasks.
• Create internal tools that automate text analysis, document summarization, and content generation for strategic decision support.
• Innovate in the area of Generative AI to create tools that provide creative solutions to Uncommon’s textual data sets.
• Develop scalable ETL processes optimized for processing text data and integrating LLMs into analytics workflows.
• Partner with Engineering teams to shape requirements for technology architecture that is future focused and uses innovative tools.

Training/Coaching:

• Serve as a Data Science advocate and mentor – providing interested Analysts with projects to support their professional development
• Actively participate as a leader in Uncommon’s Data Mentorship program.
• Design and deliver training programs focused on ML concepts and tools for internal teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
• Partner with Senior Director and other D&IT Leaders to identify and recommend relevant technical training and/or upskilling

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s or PhD in quantitative field preferred)

Experience Requirements:

• 5-7 years of professional experience
• 4+ years designing and building data flows 
• 3+ years training others on coding languages and data science concepts
• Preferred: Experience working with student and/or staff datasets

Schedule/Travel:

• 3 days a week, in person in our central office located in the Financial District
• Occasional travel to our other regions( Boston, Troy & Rochester) 1 a month

Additional Information

Our people are what make us uncommon. It’s important to us that our compensation practices align with our values and enhance our ability to attract and retain talent.  Our compensation philosophy is focused on equity and fairness, retaining our talented staff and valuing their expertise, and transparency and clarity.

Compensation for this position:  Candidates who meet all job description requirements will likely receive an offer of $111,000. The starting compensation for this role is between $104,800 to $123,300.  The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.  To receive an offer at the top of the range, candidates will need significant experience beyond the job description requirements.  Because we value staff tenure in a role, we do not currently cap salary ranges for current staff members. 

Other Benefits:

• 19 days of paid time off in addition to three weeks of paid winter and summer org-wide holidays
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts, pet care insurance
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org.