Associate Director Data Science and Scientific Support

Inside Higher Ed

Philadelphia (Philadelphia County)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 175,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health and life insurance

Tuition assistance

Generous retirement plans

Substantial time off

Flexible work options

Adoption assistance

Job summary

A prestigious university in Philadelphia is seeking an experienced Data Science Associate Director to lead the integration of data science into academic research. The role demands strong programming skills in Python, effective leadership experience, and a background in HPC support. This position offers a salary range of $120,000 to $175,000 annually, with excellent benefits including health insurance, tuition assistance, and professional development resources.

Qualifications

5–7 years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
5 years of experience providing HPC support.
2 years in management roles.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the strategic vision for integrating data science and scientific computing.
Analyze and optimize the performance of AI models and HPC applications.
Oversee the allocation of computational resources.
Provide exceptional user support and develop training programs.
Collaborate with faculty and researchers to advance computational research projects.
Develop and enforce resource allocation and data management policies.
Manage and support scientific applications deployment.
Work closely with cross-functional teams to foster continuous learning.
Provide robust solutions and perform troubleshooting for complex issues.

Skills

Excellent programming skills (Python)

Leadership and management experience

HPC support experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline; MS or PhD preferred

Job description

Associate Director Data Science and Scientific Support

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world‑renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly‑regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Posted Job Title

Associate Director Data Science and Scientific Support

Job Profile Title

Information Technology Technical Director

Job Description Summary

The Penn Advanced Research Computing Center (PARCC) core facility is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Data Science Associate Director to join our team. PARCC’s primary computational resource, the betty cluster, provides HPC and Artificial Intelligence (AI) resources to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. The incumbent will play a pivotal role in supporting scientific computing initiatives by applying AI techniques and advanced analytical tools to integrate data science effectively into the academic environment. The AD will oversee a team of talented data scientists and scientific computing consultants, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality services to the PARCC community.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute the strategic vision for integrating data science and scientific computing into PARCC’s offerings, aligning with the university’s research priorities and technological advancements.
Performance Optimization: Analyze and optimize the performance of AI models and HPC applications focusing on GPU‑enabled computing. Implement parallel processing, distributed computing, and resource management techniques for efficient resource utilization.
Resource Allocation: Oversee the allocation of computational resources, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security of PARCC’s systems to meet the diverse needs of research projects.
User Support and Training: Provide exceptional user support, addressing technical inquiries and troubleshooting issues, while developing training programs to enhance researchers’ computational skills.
Collaborate with faculty and researchers to advance computational research projects, facilitating access to specialized software, tools, and datasets.
Policy and Governance: Develop and enforce resource allocation, data management, and security policies, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
HPC Scientific Software Support: Manage and support scientific applications deployment. Oversee the installation, configuration, and maintenance of scientific applications using tools like Spack, Easybuild and/or modules.
Collaboration and Mentorship: Work closely with cross‑functional teams, including researchers, data scientists, and software developers, to foster a culture of continuous learning.
Technical Support, Troubleshooting: Provide robust solutions and perform root cause analysis for HPC‑AI complex issues.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline; MS or PhD preferred; 5–7 years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
5 years of experience providing HPC support.
2 years in management roles.
Excellent programming skills (Python).

Application Requirement

A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost’s Center

Pay Range

$120,000.00 – $175,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre‑tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre‑tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs—.
Long‑Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long‑term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long‑term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility.
Wellness and Work‑life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work‑life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.