Data Science Lead

For Unilever to remain competitive in the future, the business needs to continue on the path to become data intelligent. The Data & Analytics team will persevere to make Unilever Data Intelligent, powering key decisions with data, insights, advanced analytics and AI. Our ambition is to enable democratization of data, information and insights as ​a completely agile organization ​that builds fantastic careers for our people ​and is accountable for delivering great work ​that maximizes impact and delivers growth.

This Data & Analytics function endeavours to create clear accountability for all aspects of Data Strategy, Data Management, Information Management, Analytics, and Insights. We are accountable for impact of solutions, maintaining market relevance and minimising unnecessary overlaps in analytics products, ensuring simplicity and that our solutions better meet the needs of our users. We partner with the Digital and Data Legal Counsel to ensure that our Data Defence (Privacy, Governance, Quality, etc) is well structured and sufficiently robust to use data and AI correctly throughout the enterprise. We democratize information across the business, while supporting the culture shift required for data driven decision making.

Our vision is to make Unilever data intelligent, partnering with the business to power key decisions with data, advanced analytics and AI to accelerate growth. Our 5 strategies to achieve this are:

Accelerate & simplify access to relevant data, information and insights Build in-house, leading-edge data, information, insights & analytics capability Lead the data & insightsculture and careers to empower employees across Unilever Rapidly embed analytics products, solutions and services to drive growth Advance Information Automation at Scale

As part of Unilever’s global Data and Analytics strategy, a global AI Innovation Lab is being set up in Toronto, with focus on accelerating Unilever’s advanced analytics agenda by creating a strong, sustainable and scalable AI Engine to unlock growth opportunities and ensure access to world class talent.

Who You Are and What You'll Do

• The AI Lab Data Science Lead (Associate Director) is an exciting role within the Lab - researching, designing and building the core machine learning algorithms at the heart of our AI Innovation products.
• Apply comprehensive data science and AI knowledge to propose optimal solutions to key challenges
• Create detailed proposals and project plans, flagging any limitations of proposed solution
• Research newly emerging machine learning and AI technologies, identifying potential applications to consumer goods
• Design and prototype experimental solutions, particularly machine learning models
• Deliver through squads that blend internal resources with academic researchers and niche AI vendors
• Represent Data Science in cross-functional governance of projects, engaging with leadership stakeholders in AI Lab, external partners and Unilever business groups.
• Lead a team of Data Scientists and Senior Data Scientists, providing technical guidance and career mentorship
• Support the growth of the AI Lab by contributing to activities such as tool and partner selection, best practice definition, recruitment, and creation of training materials
• Build the reputation of the AI Lab within Unilever and externally, through activities such as presenting up to exec level, community engagement (e.g. Yammer), publications, blogs, speaking at conferences and participating in industry steering groups.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Minimum of B.S. in a relevant technical field (e.g. Computer Science, AI, Statistics, Engineering); preferably a postgraduate (Masters or Doctorate) degree with 10 years experience building AI and data science solutions to solve business problems, or 7-8 years for those with a PhD)
• Experience managing the work of team members.
• Experience working with academic collaborators or 3rd party resource vendors is a bonus
• Experience presenting insights and influencing decisions of senior non-technical stakeholders
• Experience in Consumer Goods industry is a bonus
• AI / Data Science techniques such as Machine Learning,
• Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Large Language Models,
• Graph Databases, Advanced OptimizationExpert
• ML applications including Forecasting, NLP & Computer Vision
• Coding – preferably in Python
• Development in cloud based Data science platform e.g. MS Azure Databricks, Apache SparkFully Operational
• Key interfaces

Internal

AI Lab leadership and colleagues leading other sub-teams such as business engagement, data engineering and tech platform. End users of AI innovations in Unilever’s operational teams

External

Partner data scientists in academia or niche AI vendors Universities Industry bodies

Unilever Canada is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national or ethnic origin, marital status, family status, disability, genetic characteristics, and a conviction for which a pardon has been granted.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.comopens in a new window. Please note: These lines are reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and are not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.