Head Data Scientist

The J.R. Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.

Summary

The Head Data Scientist is essential to enabling the Artificial Intelligence (AI) vision for the company and building AI solutions that transform how we operate and make decisions. The role provides technical thought leadership and mentorship across the company using an educator’s mindset to explain highly complex concepts. The Head Data Scientist manages and participates in the design, build, and deployment of scalable AI solutions using best-in-class and highly novel techniques while ensuring responsible outcomes. Additionally, the role sets direction on the technical architecture, patterns, and practices used by the Data Scientists and contributes to developing and maintaining AI policy.

Key Responsibilities

Vision and Strategy

• Accountable for leading the development and execution of AI solutions impacting global business unit results and organizational strategy.
• Research AI methods and trends relative to the industry and business domains served. Educate stakeholders on these methods and trends to assist with use case identification.
• Provide technical thought leadership and mentorship across the Data Science team and other Data Scientists across the company.
• Set direction on the technical architecture, patterns, and practices used by the Data Scientists and contribute to developing and maintaining AI policy.
• Partner with Data Science Product Managers, Engineers, and business sponsors to develop AI solution roadmaps.
• Identify data sources that support near-term and long-term use cases.

Development

• Coordinate and conduct exploratory data analyses to determine if AI can be used to provide further insight into business challenges and opportunities.
• Manage and participate in the design, build, and deployment of scalable AI solutions using best-in-class and highly novel techniques.
• Evaluate the quality of all solutions developed by the Data Scientists and determine readiness for deployment.
• Proactively prioritize and manage the backlog for all products within the AI portfolio ensuring work is appropriately sized to be completed on-time.
• Manage the Data Scientists resource allocation in collaboration with the other team leaders.
• Facilitate requirements gathering sessions with business owners and stakeholders. Regularly obtain feedback to confirm requirements are being met prior to deployment.
• Assist Data Scientists with setting priorities, making decisions, and removing roadblocks.
• Setup the support process for each product aligned to the overall support strategy, including issue management and escalation.
• Support the team and business owners during the initial go-live and provide leadership and focus on deployment issues or defects.
• Ensure solution performance is proactively managed and performance issues are addressed in a timely manner.

Leadership

• Lead all Data Scientist activities for solutions covering multiple business disciplines.
• Plan, direct, and monitor activities of individual contributors and/or contingent workforce. Apply strong subject matter knowledge to manage staff activities in solving complex business and technical issues within established principles, policies, and standards.
• Understand, articulate, and optimize solutions, processes, and procedures used by the team and stakeholders.
• Develop and present analyses to management (e.g., organizational, systems, feasibility, cost/benefit studies, implementation plans). Identify budget requirements to successfully carry out the portfolio.
• Partner with Procurement to evaluate and negotiate third party solutions and services.
• Ensure team meets or enables achievement of relevant metrics and commitments defined through clear objectives and goals.
• Drive change management in the team and the department demonstrating personal ownership and support of changes.

Typical Education

• Master’s degree (M.A. or M.S.) or equivalent
• Doctoral degree (Ph. D.) or equivalent preferred

Relevant Experience

• 10+ years related experience and/or training
• Educator mindset with the ability to convey significantly complex concepts across a diverse group of learners.
• Deep technical background in using Python, Databricks, and MLOps frameworks with solid understanding and/or hands-on experience in software development.
• Mastery knowledge of AI and machine learning technologies and their application in business.
• High degree of ethics, especially in developing and evaluating AI solutions.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and drive to reach resolutions acceptable to multiple stakeholders.
• Skilled at working effectively with cross-functional teams in a matrix organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Understanding of data management techniques, especially improving data quality.

Other Information

Is visa sponsorship for the United States provided for this position? Yes Is remote work allowed for this position? No Does this position offer relocation? Yes

Travel Required: Up to 25%

Location(s): Simplot Headquarters - Boise

Country: United States

**The J.R. Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status. **