Data Science Research Manager - Accenture Research

Accenture; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 266,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Bonus opportunities

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Accenture Research is seeking a manager‑level data scientist who blends strong business acumen with deep technical fluency. You will lead high‑impact client engagements by designing and deploying machine learning models, GenAI pipelines, and agentic AI workflows.

You will contribute to reusable analytic assets built on a GCP‑first stack. The role reports into the Research Principal Director, AI and Data Science, and involves senior IC work plus team leadership across multiple client and internal

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years delivering analytical outputs in client-facing or commercial settings.
• Minimum 5 years applying machine learning methods (including NLP and time series).
• Minimum 2 years experience with generative AI (LLM prompting, RAG, multi-modal).
• Minimum 2 years hands-on experience designing agentic AI architectures.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 5+ years work experience.

Responsibilities

• Translate complex business problems into research questions with clear outputs and success metrics.
• Collaborate with research leads and client-facing teams to embed AI-native tools into delivery.
• Design, build, and deliver ML and GenAI-powered analyses for client engagements across industries.
• Develop synthetic persona generation pipelines and behavioral simulation models.
• Implement agentic AI workflows on GCP using ADK, A2A, and MCP protocols.
• Design and maintain real-time dashboards and AI services assets.
• Coach and mentor junior data scientists to maintain rigor and business relevance.

Skills

Business acumen

Executive communication

Client engagements

Team leadership

ML model development

GenAI pipelines

GCP native tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics/related field

Master’s degree

PhD (plus)

Tools

GCP (BigQuery, Vertex AI)

Python

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) deployment

Job description

We Are:

We are Accenture Research, a team specialized in delivering impact through thought leadership and client insights. Our AI & Data Science team sits at the frontier of applied AI, combining rigorous quantitative methods with the latest in generative AI, agentic systems, and synthetic data generation to deliver differentiated intelligence for Accenture’s clients and internal stakeholders.

We Are:

We are Accenture Research, a team specialized in delivering impact through thought leadership and client insights. Our AI & Data Science team sits at the frontier of applied AI, combining rigorous quantitative methods with the latest in generative AI, agentic systems, and synthetic data generation to deliver differentiated intelligence for Accenture’s clients and internal stakeholders.

We operate like a research lab with the accountability of a consulting team. Our work spans industries, geographies, and problem types — and we build the tools and methodologies that power it. We partner with world-class institutions including MIT Sloan and The Wharton School, and we invest in long‑horizon research alongside immediate client impact.

If you want to do the most technically ambitious, strategically relevant work of your career — in an environment that values rigor, craft, and intellectual honesty — this is the team.

This role sits within Accenture Research’s AI team— a team built to develop next‑generation research capabilities. We operate at the frontier of applied AI, combining rigorous quantitative methods with the latest in generative AI, agentic systems, and synthetic data generation to deliver differentiated intelligence for Accenture’s clients and internal stakeholders.

You Are:

We are looking for a manager‑level data scientist who brings a rare combination of very strong business acumen and technical fluency. You will support high‑impact client engagements across industries by designing and deploying machine learning models, GenAI pipelines, and agentic AI workflows. You will be a core contributor to the team’s portfolio of reusable, scalable analytical assets — including synthetic persona systems and intelligent agent frameworks — built on a GCP‑first technology stack.

The Work:

In this role, you’ll be reporting into the Research Principal Director, AI and Data Science, and will work as a senior individual contributor and team lead across a portfolio of client and internal research engagements. The work is highly varied — spanning model‑building, client workshops, and thought leadership — and is always tied to real decisions and real audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate complex business problems into well‑scoped, researchable analytical questions with clearly defined outputs and success metrics
• Collaborate with research leads, economists, and client‑facing teams to embed AI‑native tools into project delivery
• Design, build, and deliver ML and GenAI‑powered analytical methodologies to support client engagements across multiple industries
• Develop and iterate synthetic persona generation pipelines, including large‑scale digital executive personas and behavioral simulation models
• Implement agentic AI workflows using frameworks such as Google ADK, A2A, and MCP protocols on GCP
• Design and maintain real‑time intelligence dashboards and AI‑as‑a‑service analytical assets
• Coach and mentor junior data scientists, fostering a culture of technical rigor and business relevance

What's In It For You?

• You’ll have access to 100+ proprietary business data sources through Accenture Research’s global data lake — the kind of depth you won’t find anywhere else.
• You’ll get a mandate to build at the frontier: agentic pipelines, synthetic intelligence systems, and AI‑native research assets that are genuinely new.
• You’ll collaborate with world‑class academic institutions including MIT Sloan and The Wharton School, with the opportunity to publish and present externally.
• You’ll have dedicated time to develop novel methodologies beyond immediate project constraints — because we believe great research needs room to breathe.
• You’ll gain leadership exposure across Accenture’s global industry and capability networks, working with senior stakeholders across sectors.
• You’ll join a team that values auditability, rigor, and craft in every analytical deliverable — and that holds itself to that standard.

The work location for this role will include a mix of working remotely and working onsite. With all our roles, there is some in‑person time for collaboration, learning and building relationships with clients, peers, leaders and communities. As an employer, we will be as flexible as possible to support your specific work/life needs.

Here’s What You Need:

• Minimum of 5 years delivering analytical outputs in client‑facing or commercial settings, with demonstrated ability to translate technical findings for executive audiences.
• Minimum of 5 years applying machine learning methods, including simulations, supervised/unsupervised models, NLP, and time series.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience with generative AI — including LLM prompting strategies, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), and multi‑modal models.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands‑on experience designing and building agentic AI architectures, including tool‑use patterns, planning loops, and multi‑agent orchestration.
• Bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics, Data Science, Strategy, Economics, or a related field with minimum 5 years of work experience.
• Master’s degree with minimum 5 years of work experience. PhD is a plus.

Technical Skills

• Python (advanced): modeling, data wrangling, pipeline development, and API integration.
• Machine learning: supervised and unsupervised methods, ensemble models, time series, NLP, and text analytics.
• Generative AI: LLM prompting, fine‑tuning, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), and multi‑modal models.
• Agentic AI: experience building agent architectures including tool use, planning loops, and multi‑agent orchestration.
• Synthetic data generation: methods such as SDV, Gaussian Copula Synthesizer, IPF calibration, or equivalent.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) — critical requirement: Cloud Run, BigQuery, Vertex AI, Secret Manager, and GCP deployment architecture.

Soft Skills & Mindset

• Strong business acumen: ability to contextualize analytical findings within industry dynamics and C‑suite decision‑making.
• Excellent communication skills — written, verbal, and visual — for presenting to executive and non‑technical audiences.
• Strategic problem‑solving mindset: comfortable moving from ambiguous business context to a structured analytical approach.
• Strong project and stakeholder management capabilities in fast‑paced, global environments.
• Enthusiasm for cross‑functional, multicultural teamwork with a bias toward building durable, reusable infrastructure.

Bonus Points if You Have:

• Experience designing and facilitating client workshops, co‑creation sessions, or executive briefings in a consulting or advisory context.
• Published thought leadership — white papers, industry reports, or HBR‑style research — with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex AI topics for non‑technical audiences.
• Deep vertical expertise in at least one industry (e.g., financial services, consumer goods, healthcare, energy) with a track record of designing industry‑specific AI solutions.
• Experience with synthetic data generation methods (SDV, Gaussian Copula Synthesizer, IPF calibration, or equivalent) in research or commercial settings.
• Background in academic or institutional research collaborations, such as with business schools or think tanks.

Compensation at Accenture varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Accenture provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired as set forth below.

We anticipate this job posting will be posted until 09/18/2026.

Accenture offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long‑term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off. See more information on our benefits here:

U.S. Employee Benefits | Accenture

California $94,400 to $266,300

Cleveland $87,400 to $213,000

Colorado $94,400 to $230,000

District of Columbia $100,500 to $245,000

Illinois $87,400 to $230,000

Maine $80,400 to $196,000

Maryland $94,400 to $230,000

Massachusetts $94,400 to $245,000

Minnesota $94,400 to $230,000

New York $87,400 to $266,300

New Jersey $100,500 to $266,300

Virginia $87,400 to $245,000

Washington $100,500 to $245,000

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