Data Scientist Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Your job description is the first contact between your company and your new recruit. With millions of people searching for jobs on Indeed each month, a great job description can help you attract the most qualified candidates to your open position. To get you started, here are some tips for creating an effective job description.

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Data Scientist job title

An effective job title wiil typically include a general term, the level of experience and any special requirements. The general term will optimize your job title to show up in a general search for jobs of the same nature. The level of experience will help you attract the most qualified applicants by outlining the amount of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if your position is specialized, consider including the specialization in the job title as well. But avoid using internal titles, abbreviations or acronyms to make sure people understand what your job posting is before clicking.

  • Data Scientist
  • Senior Data Scientist
  • Data Scientist (with SAS proficiency)
  • Data Scientist (Full-Time)
  • Research Analyst
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Data Scientist Job Description Examples:

Data Scientist job summary

A good job description starts with an attention-grabbing summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is suitable for them.

Example of a Data Scientist job summary

Our leading data management and integration organization is currently in need of a Data Scientist to join our fast-growing team. The ideal candidate will be intricately involved in running analytical experiments in a methodical manner, and will regularly evaluate alternate models via theoretical approaches. This is the perfect opportunity for the successful candidate to become a part of an innovative and energetic team that develops analysis tools which will influence both our products and clients.

Data Scientist responsibilities and duties

The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and the title of the manager the person will report to.

  • Research and develop statistical learning models for data analysis
  • Collaborate with product management and engineering departments to understand company needs and devise possible solutions
  • Keep up-to-date with latest technology trends
  • Communicate results and ideas to key decision makers
  • Implement new statistical or other mathematical methodologies as needed for specific models or analysis
  • Optimize joint development efforts through appropriate database use and project design

Data Scientist qualifications and skills

Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you expect from a successful candidate. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.

  • Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Math or related field
  • 7+ years’ practical experience with SAS, ETL, data processing, database programming and data analytics
  • Extensive background in data mining and statistical analysis
  • Able to understand various data structures and common methods in data transformation
  • Excellent pattern recognition and predictive modeling skills
  • Experience with programming languages such as Java/Python an asset

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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