VP of Data Science & Analytics

Job Description

At a Glance

Us: Prolific is not just another player in the AI space – we are the architects of the human data infrastructure that's reshaping the landscape of AI development. In a world where foundational AI technologies are increasingly commoditized, it's the quality and diversity of human-generated data that truly differentiates products and models.

We've built a unique platform that connects researchers and companies with a global pool of participants, enabling the collection of high-quality, ethically-sourced human behavioral data and feedback. This data is the cornerstone of developing more accurate, nuanced, and aligned AI systems.

Our mission is to bridge the gap between AI potential and human insight. We believe that the next leap in AI capabilities won't come solely from scaling existing models, but from integrating diverse human perspectives and behaviors into AI development. By providing this crucial human data infrastructure, Prolific is positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of AI innovation – one that reflects the breath and the best of humanity.

The Role

The VP of Data Science and Analytics will be responsible for driving the data strategy and leveraging data to create value across the organization. This role will identify key areas of opportunity for data and data science within Prolific, focusing on initiatives that bring the most value to the business. The VP will collaborate with stakeholders to create innovative data products using Prolific’s unique access to a global pool of verified participants.

What you'll be doing

• Set and execute the data strategy, both for internal analysis and external products
• Identify and prioritize high-impact data science projects, such as ML models to improve data quality / fraud detection, optimizing marketplace efficiency, etc. Foster effective collaboration between the data science team and product teams to deliver these
• Develop analytics suites for strategic accounts and embed data models into products to enhance customer-facing capabilities
• Improve data literacy across the technology team and establish clear, consistent internal scorecards for company-wide understanding
• Manage data privacy and security, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and best practices
• Deliver a 3+-year data strategy that aligns with Prolific's long-term goals and strategic vision
• Embed a data-driven mindset across the organization
• Hire, manage, and develop a high-performing data team, including data scientists and data engineers
• Implement processes and best practices within the data department

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience leading and scaling data science and analytics teams in a high-growth environment
• Strong strategic thinking skills and the ability to align data initiatives with business goals
• Deep understanding of data science techniques, machine learning, and statistical analysis
• Experience building and deploying data products and embedding data-driven decision-making across an organization
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex data concepts to non-technical audiences
• Passion for creating a data-driven culture and improving data literacy
• Experience with data engineering and modern data stacks is a plus
• Interest in areas related to Prolific, such as polling, behavioral or survey research, human-computer interaction and AI training, is a nice-to-have

This role will be crucial in driving Prolific's growth and success through data-driven insights and innovation. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leveraging data to create business value and will be able to effectively lead and inspire a talented data team.

Our Interview Process

Talent Call - You'll meet with one of our Talent team and have an exploratory call about the role requirements, life at Prolific, as well as your background and aspirations.

Hiring Manager Interview - You'll interview with two members of the team, one of which will be the hiring manager. You'll have the opportunity to ask about the company and the role, and we'll ask you questions about your experiences and goals.

Panel Interview - We'll hold a panel interview that evaluates skills required for the role. You'll meet with more of our team and may be asked to complete a presentation or task. You'll be compensated with a £50 voucher 💰 for completing the task because we know your time is valuable!

Final Interview - We will deep dive into your past experiences, goals, motivations, and skills all aligned to our Prolific Principles. You'll speak with two to three members of the team and - as always - have an opportunity to ask questions about the role and company.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Monitoring

Prolific is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome all applications, and consider them without regard to race, religion, belief, age, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender reassignment, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, sex or sexual orientation.

We are committed to ensuring a fair recruitment process, it's essential to our success. Under the Equality Act (2010) we collect information from individuals at the point of application. We anonymously monitor the profiles of individuals that apply to each vacancy to ensure that no individual is unfairly discriminated against or disadvantaged.

Privacy Statement

By submitting your application, you agree that Prolific may collect your personal data for recruiting and global organisation planning. Prolific's Candidate Privacy Notice explains what personal information Prolific may process, where Prolific may process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over Prolific use of your personal information.