Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Chennai, India

KANTAR ) is the world's leading marketing data and analytics company. We understand how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view more than anybody else. With over 25,000 people, we combine the best of human understanding with sophisticated technologies to help the world's leading organizations, succeed and grow.

We are searching for a dynamic Data Science leader to join our team and evolve, build, and lead our portfolio of AI, Machine learning and sophisticated data science solutions. This position offers an outstanding opportunity to lead and develop some of the most exciting and challenging AI-led projects for Kantar and its clients, and make an impact in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

As a leader you will be responsible for collaborating with the Chief AI Scientist and the Executive Committee to build an outstanding portfolio of AI-led solutions within KANTAR, employing the latest developments in AI/ML. You will engage in several R&D efforts to demonstrate and develop new capabilities, algorithms, and technologies across the entire breadth of data science, including but not limited to Generative AI. Subsequently, you will work closely with Engineering, Product, Operations, and Commercial teams to scale and commercialize the products and solutions you develop.

In this role, you are accountable for the process of translating potential AI, ML and other data science ideas into concrete, scalable products. You will work hands-on and lead a very hardworking, cross-functional, and geographical team with multifaceted strengths of data scientists. As part of the global data science and innovation team, you will serve as a representative and ambassador for data science, AI, and ML-led solutions with all collaborators.

Qualification, Experience, and skills

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience from world-class technical institutes in relevant field
• Demonstrated ability in Data science including traditional supervised and unsupervised machine learning methods, with some exposure to / experience in Generative AI in the last few years.
• Strong background in mathematics, probability, analytic problem solving and multivariate statistics
• Confirmed experience of having led, or responsible for AI / ML product / solution development.
• Demonstrable experience in building and deploying applications on cloud platforms like Azure/AWS/Google Cloud using server-less architecture. Proficiency in tools such as Azure machine learning service, Amazon Sagemaker, Google Cloud AI
• Proficiency with Python is critical
• Ambitious, dedicated, curious, and entrepreneurial

Desired skills that would be a distinct advantage

• Experience in Agile working methodologies for product development
• Has already worked in a Research and Development set-up or in a Product Development role
• Excellent (English) communication skills to address both technical audience and business stakeholders
• Comfortable working in global set-ups with diverse cross-geography teams and cultures
• Technology savvy – closely follows the latest developments in Data Science and technology
• Willing to try out new things and quickly prototype solutions.
• Has an 'ideate-fast, test-fast, fail-fast, learn-fast' attitude
• Meticulous and deep attention to detail
• Being able to straddle 'big picture strategy' and 'tactical details' with ease

Location: Chennai, India preferred.

Kantar is an equal opportunities provider

About Kantar Analytics Practice

The Global Data Science and Innovation (DSI) unit of KANTAR, nested within its Analytics Practice ), is a fast-growing team of niche, elite data scientists responsible for all AI and data science led innovation within KANTAR.

The unit is responsible for influencing the organization's AI strategy, and leading all AI-related initiatives within KANTAR ), including bringing in the latest developments in the field of Machine Learning, Generative AI, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, NLP, Optimization, etc. to solve complex business problems in marketing analytics and consulting and build products that empower our colleagues around the world. The unit has a strong internal and external reputation with global stakeholders and clients, of handling sophisticated cutting-edge analytics, using state-of-the-art techniques and deep mathematical / statistical

Why join Kantar?

We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies, nobody knows people better than Kantar.

And because we know people, we like to make sure our people are looked after as well. Equality of opportunity for our people is our highest priority and we encourage our people to work in a way that supports their health and wellbeing. While we encourage our colleagues to spend part of their working week in the office, we understand no one size fits all, and we're flexible in our approach to ensure people feel included and accepted. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture and value the diversity of our people, clients, suppliers and communities, which is why we welcome applications from all background and sections of society. Even if you feel like you're not a perfect fit, we'd love to receive your application and talk to you about this job or others at Kantar.

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Kantar Rewards Statement

At Kantar we have an integrated way of rewarding our people based around a simple, clear and consistent set of principles. Our approach helps to ensure we are market competitive and also to support a pay for performance culture, where your reward and career progression opportunities are linked to what you deliver. 

We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. Apply for a career that's out of the ordinary and join us. 

We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted and are allowed to flourish in a space where their mental health and well being is taken into consideration. 

We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking and better commercial outcomes. 

Kantar is the world's leading data, insights and consulting company. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies, Kantar's 30,000 people help the world's leading organisations succeed and grow.