Lead Data Scientist

Role Description

The Lead Data Scientist independently applies advanced data science and AI (DS/AI) techniques to solve complex problems and drive business outcomes within McGraw Hill’s Higher Education business unit.

• Develop innovative methodologies, scalable solutions, and structured frameworks to address ambiguous and complex challenges.
• Apply acquired professional knowledge to interpret internal business issues and recommend solutions/best practices in line with business goals.
• Identify patterns and trends across diverse problems to propose actionable solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term organizational goals.
• Operate with substantial independence, planning and executing projects with minimal oversight while seeking leadership input for strategic alignment.
• Foster cross-team collaboration to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and strategic goals.
• Communicate technical concepts and insights clearly to diverse audiences, including non-technical stakeholders and cross-functional teams, using data-driven storytelling to influence decisions.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.
• 4–7 years of professional experience with demonstrated ability to deliver impactful projects.
• Advanced knowledge in a specialization with an understanding of cross-disciplinary concepts and emerging trends, enabling collaboration across teams and domains.
• Deep knowledge and practical experience with production-scale DS/AI systems with a recent focus on generative AI (GenAI).
• Understanding of complex GenAI architectures and experience with scaling, monitoring, and maintaining these systems.
• Experience supporting DS/AI systems across stages of the Machine Learning Operations/LLM Operations lifecycle at enterprise scale.
• Strong technical communication and collaboration skills, particularly communicating with non-technical stakeholders and working collaboratively with engineering teams to meet project goals and timelines.
• Strong experience with Python (7+ years).

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Affinity for education.
• Experience with educational data.
• Familiarity with AI adoption in higher education.

Benefits

• The pay range for this position is between $136,000-$190,000 annually; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
• An annual bonus plan may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical and/or other benefits, depending on the position offered.