Data Scientist Associate

IP Global Career Site; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

International Paper seeks a Data Scientist Associate to join the Manufacturing Cost Innovation Team in Atlanta, GA. The role focuses on time-series analytics and turning data from Aveva PI, GE Proficy, SQL, and SAP into actionable insights that reduce costs and boost efficiency.

You will design analytics solutions, collaborate with partners, validate data, and maintain clear documentation while mentoring colleagues and advancing analytics standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, applied mathematics, engineering, computer science, or related quantitative field.
• Master’s or data science/analytics degree is required.
• Experience with industrial manufacturing data is preferred.
• Strong SQL and programming skills in Python or R.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain analytics solutions and dashboards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define data requirements and specs.
• Lead data validation, reconciliation, and quality checks for analytics outputs.
• Create technical documentation, data definitions, and user guides.
• Manage multiple priorities and small projects with clear communication.
• Mentor junior team members with technical guidance and reviews.
• Improve analytics methods and automation across the organization.

Skills

Strong SQL

Python

R

Data visualization

Data management

Analytical thinking

Documentation skills

Continuous learning

Independent work

Travel up to 25%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in statistics or related quantitative field

Master’s or BA/BS in data science/analytics

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Position Title:

Data Scientist Associate

Pay Rate:

$70,000 – $92,000

Multiple factors, including Individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range.

PL 9

Category/Shift:

Salaried Full-Time

Physical Location:

Atlanta, GA,

The Job You Will Perform:

The Data Scientist Associate an important member of the Manufacturing Cost Innovation Team – an integral part of the International Paper Containerboard Manufacturing. Cost Innovation is a strategic, innovative, and cross-functional team that is focused on manufacturing data analytics and improving the company’s cost-competiveness thru non-capital opportunities.

The Data Scientist Associate designs, develops, and sustains medium-complexity analytics solutions, tools, and data products that turn business needs into accurate, timely, and actionable insight. This role partners across functions to define requirements, translate them into technical specifications, and deliver scalable analytics capabilities that support better decisions, operational efficiency, and cost savings.

The successful candidate will:

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain medium-complexity analytics solutions, reusable tools, dashboards, and data platforms.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to gather data and business requirements, clarify success criteria, and translate needs into technical specifications.
• Lead data validation, reconciliation, and quality checks to ensure the accuracy, completeness, reliability, and traceability of analytics outputs.
• Create and maintain clear technical documentation, analytics solution guides, data definitions, and user instructions.
• Manage multiple priorities and small projects; communicate status, risks, dependencies, and tradeoffs while delivering on agreed timelines.
• Mentor and support junior team members through technical guidance, code and solution reviews, knowledge sharing, and development coaching.
• Continuously improve analytics methods, development standards, automation, and capabilities across the organization.

An ideal candidate will have mathematical and statistical expertise, but also a natural curiosity and creative mindset (thinking out-of-the-box).

The successful candidate will work from International Paper’s Advanced Analytics Center (A2C), which is located in Atlanta’s Technology Square community.

The candidate will research and devise innovative statistical models for data analysis (focus: time series data). Integrate manufacturing data from a variety of sources such as Aveva PI Data Archive Tools, GE Proficy (Plant Applications), SQL databases, and SAP.

Continual learning on the technical and organizational aspects of the role are expected.

The Skills You Will Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, applied mathematics, engineering, computer science, or other related quantitative fields. Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in data science (or analytics) is required.
• Prior working experience with industrial Pulp & Paper containerboard manufacturing data is required.
• Strong SQL skills, including the ability to write, troubleshoot, and optimize database queries.
• Programming experience in Python, R, or a comparable language used for data analysis and analytics solution development.
• Hands-on experience with data visualization and business intelligence tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
• Working knowledge of data management, data cleaning, validation, reconciliation, and data-quality best practices.
• Strong analytical thinking, structured problem-solving, communication, collaboration, organization, and time-management skills.
• Ability to document technical solutions clearly and explain analytical findings to both technical and business audiences.
• The candidate must demonstrate a passion for continual learning and acceptance of working within a highly innovative, less-structured, environment where self-directed research and prototyping may be required.
• Must be able to work independently with little supervision, perform in a team environment, as well as effectively communicate with others.
• Willingness to travel as required, up to twenty-five (25) percent.

Competencies:

• Action Oriented
• Customer Focus
• Creativity
• Leading by Influence
• Technical Learning
• Organizational Agility
• Perseverance
• Presentation &Communication Skills