Remote Policy Data Scientist Consultant

About Technopolis 

Founded in 1989, Technopolis Group is an independent research and consultancy company, European leader in providing strategic policy advice to public sector institutions at the local, regional, national, and international levels (such as the European institutions) – as well as to third sector organisations, public-private partnerships and research organisations.

Our Group is active in many areas such as R&I, Health, Higher Education, Green economy, Industry and entrepreneurship, Regional and urban development, Digital economy and Open science.

We have grown steadily over the past 30 years and have and a track record of over 4,000 projects. Technopolis Group has offices in ten European cities and offices in Colombia (Bogotà) and Ivory Coast (Abidjan). Our team of consultants brings an educational mix in a variety of policy, social, environmental science disciplines, and linguistic richness, originating from 40+countries and covering 30+ languages.

For more information:

The team 

The selected person will be part of the Technopolis Group Data Science Unit (DSU), whose members work in different country offices. The growing team of DSU data scientists have diversified academic backgrounds but a shared passion for developing data science applications to improve policymaking. The unit works in policy consulting jobs for our clients but also conducts R&D to develop new, untested and exciting applications, potentially in collaboration with internal and external partners.

The DSU is active in all types of data science applications in policymaking. See Examples include record linkage, building classifiers, semantic and sentiment analysis, web scraping and dynamic visualisations. Additionally, the team is looking forward to expanding its portfolio of techniques using real-time indicators, causal AI and generative AI. Experience in these last techniques, or a general understanding of their functioning combined with a demonstrable willingness to master them, is highly desirable.

Main tasks and responsibilities

The successful candidate will : 

• Shape policy recommendations using advanced data science methods and translate results into actionable messages for decision-makers 
• Apply suitable data science techniques to deliver evidence-based consulting
• Develop and promote a proportionate and ethical use of AI and 
• data science techniques
• Extract, clean, integrate and validate data from various sources to ensure high-quality datasets
• Develop dashboards and data visualisations to communicate insights effectively
• Prepare reports and presentations tailored to different target audiences 
• Explain the strengths, limitations and opportunities of data science methods and internal databases to clients and non-technical colleagues

Experience and skills 

Applicants suitable for a Consultant position in data science should have:

• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a consulting or research environment in data science applied to policy analysis 
• A Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) and demonstrate strong data science skills acquired through formal education (degree in data science, statistics or related), specialised training, or relevant professional experience. At least one of their academic degrees should be in a social science or a related field (such as economics, statistics, innovation studies, sociology, geography, or political science…) or include a strong foundation in the social sciences 
• A PhD is a plus 
• Knowledge of Python is required, knowledge of R and SQL is an advantage
• Experience of techniques such as NLP, machine learning, and LLMs is particularly desirable
• Experience with tools such as Git and Github, Docker and cloud platforms is highly desirable
• Beyond data science, applicants must have interest and experience in applied, policy-oriented work in at least one of Technopolis’ areas of specialisation. Our policy areas include science, technology and innovation policy, digital economy, climate and sustainability, entrepreneurship, health and life sciences, education and skills, international development and regional development. 
• Ability to deliver tasks under tight deadlines
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Excellent command of spoken and written English is essential and fluency in other European languages is considered an asset

What we offer 

• A full time, permanent position 
• An attractive salary package with benefits including hospitalisation insurance and a pension scheme 
• A positive working atmosphere within a team of like-minded professionals in Brussels, while also being part of a larger international Group with multiple opportunities for international cooperation 
• Good opportunities for career progression, from both a content perspective (thought leaders, methodological specialists) and in the areas of business development and company leadership 

We are committed to providing our employees with a supportive and rewarding work environment, and we offer a range of benefits to help them achieve their career goals and thrive in their roles.

Career development: We believe in investing in our employees' professional growth and offer a range of opportunities for career development, including training programs, mentoring and coaching, and the chance to work on a variety of challenging projects across different sectors and regions. Our employees have access to a network of experts across the Technopolis Group, allowing them to learn from and collaborate with colleagues in other countries and areas of expertise.

Work environment: We pride ourselves on our dynamic and supportive work environment, which is characterised by a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Our employees work in modern and comfortable offices, and we promote a healthy work-life balance with flexible working hours and the option of working from home. We also offer social events and activities, such as team-building exercises and cultural outings, to foster a sense of community and help our employees build strong relationships with their colleagues.