Senior Data Scientist

ABOUT M&C SAATCHI WORLD SERVICES

M&C Saatchi World Services is a full-service marketing company renowned for using commercial advertising to solve the world's toughest challenges. World Services is a specialty branch of M&C Saatchi Group, and we provide strategic communications, behavior change, and marketing support to Public Sector clients with special emphasis on the US Federal Government and State, Local, Tribal, & Territorial leaders.

THE ROLE

M&C Saatchi World Services is seeking a strategic and technically skilled Senior Data Scientist to lead advanced analytics, performance measurement, and data-driven decision support across a diverse portfolio of federal programs. Working at the intersection of analytics, communications, audience engagement, and organizational performance, you will help shape how data informs strategy, planning, and program optimization. You will lead complex analytical initiatives, develop predictive models, guide measurement frameworks, and provide actionable insights that support senior leadership decision-making.

The ideal candidate combines deep analytical expertise with strong business acumen and stakeholder engagement skills. They are comfortable working with large datasets, building advanced models, translating findings into strategic recommendations, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to drive measurable outcomes

This is a hybrid role; however, the ideal candidate will live in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of analytics strategies that support communications, outreach, stakeholder engagement, and mission performance objectives.

• Define, measure, and evaluate key performance indicators, audience segments, and organizational performance metrics.

• Develop predictive models, forecasting methodologies, anomaly detection capabilities, and advanced analytical frameworks.

• Lead trend analysis, performance assessments, and root cause investigations that support decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Design and maintain dashboards, visualizations, reporting frameworks, and executive-level analytics products.

• Translate complex datasets into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for leadership and stakeholders.

• Partner with communications, UX, stakeholder engagement, technology, and governance teams to align analytics efforts with mission objectives.

• Guide the development of data models, taxonomies, reporting standards, and measurement methodologies.

• Support the automation and optimization of reporting processes, data pipelines, and analytical workflows.

• Ensure data quality, governance, documentation, and reporting integrity across analytics initiatives.

• Provide mentorship and analytical guidance to team members while promoting data-driven decision-making across the organization.

• Stay current on emerging technologies, machine learning techniques, analytics platforms, and industry best practices.

Key Attributes

• Proven history in developing data science teams supporting operational products and live deployments.

• Strong software engineering fundamentals; version control (Git), testing, code reviews, documentation.

• Experience in applying unsupervised and supervised modelling and expert knowledge on the right application to different problem sets.

• Ability to break down ambiguous or poorly defined problems, developing implementation roadmap, acceptance criteria, and leading a team through the roadmap.

• Experience leading analytics, business intelligence, performance measurement, data science, or advanced reporting initiatives.

• Experience in predictive modeling and forecasting based on historic user activities.

• Strong proficiency in Python and a track record of building and maintaining production systems.

• Hands on experience with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc) and production implementation.

• Experience deploying ML and generative workflows into workflows in cloud environments using common open-source and proprietary tools such as Airlow, AWS Lambda, AWS Batch, AWS Sagemaker, or equivalent.

• Strong experience working with SQL, Python, and Python data science package ecosystem.

• Ability to translate complex analytical findings into clear business recommendations and stakeholder-facing insights.

• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.

• Experience supporting federal government, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, or mission-driven programs is preferred.

• Must hold an active U.S. Government security clearance, as required by the position.

• Degree or relevant experience in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Analytics, Economics, or a related field preferred.

Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen (required by government contract).
• Clearance Eligibility: Must be able and willing to obtain a U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance immediately upon employment.
• Background Screening: Must be willing to submit to a rigorous federal background investigation, which includes an in-depth review of personal finances, criminal history, employment history, and drug use.

The salary range provided reflects the anticipated compensation for this role across our Washington, DC and New York locations. Actual starting salary will be determined based on geographic location, relevant experience, skills, and other job-related factors.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE

• Work on impactful programs supporting federal and defense-related initiatives.
• Collaborate with high-performing cross-functional teams across communications, digital and analytics disciplines.
• Opportunity to shape strategic public engagement initiatives at enterprise scale. • Flexible hybrid working environment.
• Exposure to complex, mission-driven stakeholder engagement challenges.
• Career development opportunities within a fast-growing global organization.

WHAT YOU GET

• We offer a competitive salary and a benefits package designed to support your health, family life, financial wellbeing, and growth.

Family & parental support

• 12 weeks' full pay for Primary Carers and 6 weeks for Secondary Carers (after one year of service; return requirements apply for subsequent leave)
• Applies to birth, adoption, and surrogacy
• Up to 10 days' paid fertility leave per year (5 per cycle)
• 2 days' paid leave for new grandparents
• $2,500 annual interest-free parental loan
• $6,000 interest-free fertility treatment loan

Healthcare & wellbeing

• Choice of three medical plans (HSA at $0 cost; EPO 75% employer funded; PPO 65% employer funded)
• 70% employer-funded dental and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, including an office closure between Christmas & New Year's
• Gym membership reimbursement and/or Wellhub subscription
• 401(k) with 4% employer match
• 24/7 mental health support through Self Space
• Social events, happy hours, professional development trainings, etc.
• Work from anywhere for up to 2 weeks per year (subject to approval)

Culture & development

• $300 annual cultural stimulation allowance (accrued monthly; available after 90 days)
• Weekly Thursday happy hour
• Mentorship and Buddy programs

ABOUT M+C SAATCHI WORLD SERVICES

M+C Saatchi World Services is a specialist division of M+C Saatchi Group, the world's largest independent communications network. Our specialists work in office hubs across six continents, grounding our global expertise in local nuance.

We offer award-winning commercial communications capabilities, which are utilized by global organizations to address the world's most complex problems across defence, development, diplomacy, homeland and national security, law and order, health, education, and the environment.

We work with clients that want to help the hardest-to-reach, hardest-to-influence audiences. This includes a range of Western Government departments, such as DOS and USAID; partner governments, including the U.K. and Australia; and prominent IGOs/NGOs such as the U.N.

We are a comms agency that works on behaviour change projects typically focused on issues related to Security, Defence and Stabilization. Whether it's producing critically acclaimed feature films in Africa, to TV shows in the Middle East, to pop music videos in Asia, we have a record of leveraging creativity to access communities anywhere in the world.

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