Lead Data Scientist

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward. Lead Data Scientist ( Financial Forecasting & Modeling), Enterprise Analytics, JLL TechnologiesJLL Technologies Enterprise Data team is a central organization that oversees JLL’s data strategy. Enterprise Analytics is an internal consulting team that provides data-driven expertise to various business and support functions, with a growing focus on financial forecasting, AI-powered insights, and advanced predictive modeling. The Lead Data Scientist is a senior technical leader responsible for driving high-impact analytics initiatives, applying the latest machine learning and AI techniques to solve complex business problems.The ideal candidate is passionate about using data and AI to drive business strategy and develop enterprise-grade data products. They will lead end-to-end data science projects, scoping, designing, and executing the vision, while collaborating with finance, operations, and technology stakeholders. Experience with financial forecasting and a command of modern AI/ML frameworks are essential to this role.Key ResponsibilitiesLead end-to-end data science projects by understanding business needs, scoping solutions, and delivering measurable outcomes. Act as a technical leader who advises, mentors, and delegates to junior data scientists and analysts.Develop and own financial forecasting models, including revenue projections, cost modeling, budget variance analysis, and scenario planning, working closely with Finance and FP&A teams.Apply the latest machine learning and deep learning techniques, including gradient boosting (XGBoost, LightGBM), transformer-based models, and time-series frameworks (Prophet, TFT) to build production-ready predictive solutions.Leverage generative AI and large language model (LLM) capabilities, including agentic AI architectures, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and prompt engineering, to build intelligent data products and automate analytical workflows.Design and implement MLOps practices including model versioning, monitoring, automated retraining pipelines, and CI/CD for ML models to ensure scalability and reliability in production.Enhance data collection and feature engineering procedures to improve analytical systems; perform data discovery across internal and external sources to assess data value and relationships.Experience5+ years of hands-on industry experience designing and implementing machine learning models and data science solutions, with at least 3 years in a lead or senior individual contributor role.Demonstrated experience in financial forecasting and FP&A analytics including time-series forecasting, budget modeling, revenue/cost prediction, and scenario analysis.Proven track record of deploying machine learning models to production at scale using cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and MLOps tooling.Experience working cross-functionally with Finance, Technology, and Operations stakeholders to translate business requirements into analytical solutions.EducationMasters degree (or higher) in Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Economics, Finance, or Engineering.This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.Estimated compensation for this position:140,000.00 – 150,000.00 USD per yearThis range is an estimate and actual compensation may differ. Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.Location:On-site –Chicago, ILIf this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits may include:401(k) plan with matching company contributionsComprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision CarePaid parental leave at 100% of salary Paid Time Off and Company HolidaysEarly access to earned wages through Daily PayAt JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.JLL Privacy NoticeJones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading global provider of real estate and investment management services. We take our responsibility to protect the personal information provided to us seriously. Generally the personal information we collect from you are for the purposes of processing in connection with JLL’s recruitment process. We endeavour to keep your personal information secure with appropriate level of security and keep for as long as we need it for legitimate business or legal reasons. We will then delete it safely and securely.For more information about how JLL processes your personal data, please view our Candidate Privacy Statement.For additional details please see our career site pages for each country.For candidates in the United States, please see a full copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity policy here.Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process – including the online application and/or overall selection process – you may email us at View email address on click.appcast.io. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.Pursuant to the Arizona Civil Rights Act, criminal convictions are not an absolute bar to employment.Pursuant to Illinois Law, applicants are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest.Pursuant to Columbia, SC ordinance, this position is subject to a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.California Residents onlyIf you are a California resident as defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) please view our Supplemental Privacy Statement which describes your rights and disclosures about your personal information. If you are viewing this on a mobile device you may want to view the CCPA version on a larger device.Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, JLL will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.Accepting applications on an ongoing basis until candidate identified.SummaryLocation: Chicago, ILType: Full time