Job Opportunity: Computational Social Scientist
Please kindly read the entire job posting. Application instructions are located at the end.
Data-Pop Alliance is looking for a Data Scientist/Computer Scientist. We are an international nonprofit created in 2013 out of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI), the MIT Media Lab and ODI. We bring together researchers, experts, practitioners, and activists to change the world with data through three pillars of work: diagnosing local realities and human problems with data and AI; mobilizing capacities, communities, and ideas towards more data-literate societies; and transforming the systems and processes that underpin our societies and countries.
DPA has partnered with and received funding from organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, UNDP, FAO, UN ESCWA, GIZ (German development agency), the Vodafone Institute, Oxfam México and other key international stakeholders to develop projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA), and Asia. To learn more about DPA, please visit our website or read our “Outlook and Overview” annual reports for 2019-20, 2020-22 and 2021-23.
DPA’s projects are managed and carried out by a core team of about 41 people, including Directors, Managers, Officers, Data Scientists, Research Assistants, and Interns.
Dates: Immediate start. 3-month trial period with a longer-term contract to follow, based on performance.
Location: Remote, preferably between UTC -1 to UTC +4 time zones.
Reporting to the Research Director of Data Science and working closely with the Just Digital Transformations Director. Amongst others, primary activities for the Computational Social Scientist include:
Scope of Work
The Project and Research Manager will be supported by Project Officers and program staff, and report to the Program Director. He, she or they will:
| 1.Research (40%) |
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| 2. Data Science (60%) |
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Profile/Qualifications
- MSc/MA in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, or any other related field is required. A Bachelor’s degree in computer science, statistics, or a related field is a plus.
- Highly proficient and experienced in programming languages and statistical computing skills, that is, fluency in Scala and/or Python or R amongst others.
- Proficient in Hadoop and related technologies including HDFS, Spark, Impala and Hive
- Experienced with Linux
- Experienced with data modeling
- Proven experience with natural language processing algorithms including conducting sentiment analysis.
- Experience in cloud computing is desirable.
- Knowledge of PowerBI is desirable.
- Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative impact evaluation methods and techniques is a plus
- Bilingual proficiency in English and French is requisite (able to write and deliver conferences, reports, etc in both languages). Arabic or Spanish is highly desirable.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- A self-starter, disciplined, driven, eager to learn, grow and make an impact.
- Successful experience working in a multicultural environment with partners and people of different backgrounds and levels of seniority.
- Availability to travel (only if necessary and according to the current COVID-19 situation).
- Working experience applying data science to social science research and/or development field is highly desirable.
Candidates should be able to work independently, manage their time wisely, and meet deadlines. They should be detail-focused, reliable, professional, and possess strong research, writing, editing, and analysis skills, as well as excellent communication, and interpersonal skills.
Remuneration
Competitive and based on experience.
Recruitment Process
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a CV, and a cover letter with two academic or work references to jobs@datapopalliance.org with the subject line “R2023002_Computational Social Scientist” by February 4, 2023, 6:00 pm EST. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly encouraged.
Please note that only complete applications submitted in English will be considered. Due to the large volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Also, rename each document you’ll submit with your name, the position, and the type of document you are submitting. Ie. FIRSTNAME LASTNAME_Position_CV.
Equal opportunity
Data-Pop Alliance employs personnel without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, language, citizenship, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, physical and/or mental handicap or financial ability. While remaining alert and sensitive to the issue of fair and equitable treatment for all, Data-Pop Alliance has a special concern with the participation and advancement of members of four designated groups that have traditionally been disadvantaged in employment: women, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities.
