Data Science Leader, Statistics & Data Science Innovation Hub

Key Skills

Java Programming, Leadership, Python Programming, Framework, SQL, Aartificial intelligence, Machine learning techniques, Data science techniques, Data Visualization, R Programming, Statistics, Statistical modeling

Job Description

Data and analytics professionals are critical to GSK’s success, performance and the difference we can make to patients’ lives. The work you do will transform GSK, making sense of our untapped data sources to drive better business choices, make advanced analytics a competitive advantage for GSK and secure better health outcomes for those who depend upon our medicines and innovation.

This Data Science Leader role is an exciting opportunity to channel your passion for Innovation in the field of Statistics and Data Science to help shape the future of the Biostatistics function and transform the way in which GSK uses data and quantitative thinking to drive decision-making in R&D.

Biostatistics is the single-largest functional group of Statisticians, Programmers and Data Scientists within GSK R&D, numbering approx. 700 permanent people in the US, UK, Europe and India. Our work ensures that robust quantitative examination and statistical analysis is at the heart of R&D decision-making and enables scientists to make timely, data-driven choices about which potential new medicines and vaccines are most promising to add value for patients – ultimately making the development process more efficient and maximising success. We are investing in growing our cutting-edge statistical innovation and data science capabilities by creating the new Statistics & Data Science Innovation Hub (SDS-IH) led by Prof Nicky Best.

SDS-IH’s mission is to build capability and deliver data-driven approaches to decision making across the organization. Achieving this vision requires us to adapt to new ways of working and rebalance skills across Biostatistics. The SDS-IH team itself is a model for our vision, consisting of Statisticians and Data Scientists with a variety of different skills and backgrounds, working together to develop novel quantitative methodologies, systems and tools.

An ideal candidate for this position has a broad interest in the application of data science to address varied business problems. You will need to have a strong grounding in R and/or python and have experience of leading value delivery through simple predictive modelling, tools and applications. Experience of Machine Learning or Statistical Modelling is required for this role. You will operate in matrix teams on a wide range of projects using agile ways of working collaboratively with other SDS-IH colleagues and partners from the wider Biostatistics, Data Science and R&D community. You will be expected to drive delivery and uptake of data science solutions across R&D, and to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to a range of stakeholders.

Please note, we'd like you to use an application cover letter to tell us why you would be suited to a role in Data Science, SDS-IH.

In this role you will

• Be a strategic decision-maker for matrixed teams, having accountability in providing direction and continued oversight of projects and the work of other, more junior data science members of the team.
• Collaborate with other data scientists to build your understanding of the business context, systems, environment, strategy and people aligned to the given area. This also includes an understanding of the relevant internal and external data sources, validity and domains of such data to align with the intended business objective. You will conduct data acquisition from multiple data sources and wrangle data sets selecting appropriate techniques.
• Drawing on your extensive experience, you will lead the creation of required data set(s) utilising your understanding of complex business problems, data security and privacy, data formats, applicability of the data to the problem and standard modelling techniques. You can perform techniques to validate the quality of the data and can connect data from various sources using knowledge of data pre-processing techniques.
• For the intended business objective, you can utilize predictive modelling techniques, such as regression, classification and clustering to create a model or models depending on requirements and specifications. You can anticipate how a model’s requirements or the available data, might change over time and be able to design a product that will be able to cope with these requirements. 
• You can apply best practice model fit testing, tuning and validation techniques, such as chi square, ROC curve, root mean square error, to assess model performance, compare results from various methodologies and suggest improvements. You both give and seek feedback with others from across differing business areas, as relevant, to create better products and continually advance your data science skills. 
• You are able to design rich data visualisations and use them to communicate complex messages to business leaders at all levels of the organization in a clear and simple way, with the ability to respond effectively to highly challenging questions.
• You will connect with internal and/or external scientific groups (industry, academia, regulators) and vendors through presentations, publications and collaborations, in order to identify future trends, contribute to innovation and uptake of predictive analytics and data science within GSK and across the pharmaceutical industry.
• You will provide coaching and guidance on best practices including predictive modelling approaches, coding standards, data security and privacy requirements, stakeholder engagement, and communication and value delivery.

Why you?

Qualifications & Skills:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• Minimum BSc degree (or equivalent) in STEM subjects (Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry)
• Practical experience of working in Data Science or related role
• Working knowledge and experience of Data Science frameworks, IDEs and toolkits
• Experienced in R and/or python
• Have a practical understanding of predictive modelling and understand the mathematical foundations of applied ML and AI algorithms
• Strong written, data visualization and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts
• Experienced in project/matrix leadership

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

• Advanced degree in STEM subjects (as above), i.e., graduate diploma, Masters or PhD
• Knowledge and experience of one of: the data landscape in healthcare, healthcare, pharmaceutical industry, consulting
• Working knowledge and experience of app development
• Experience in coaching and developing others