Lead Data Scientist

Watkins Media Limited; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Flexible schedule

Team retreats

Job summary

HealthWorksAI is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to guide the data science team in delivering explainable analytics for Medicare Advantage payers across the US. You will blend traditional statistical modelling with modern AI/ML techniques and own end‑to‑end projects from problem definition to deployment.

Lead with strategic vision, mentor rising data scientists, collaborate with product managers, and contribute to whitepapers and conferences. Fully remote with periodic team retreats.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years as a Senior Data Scientist in US healthcare.
• 3+ years delivering data-driven solutions in corporate or consulting settings in healthcare.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, or related field (2017–2019 cohort preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end data science lifecycle from problem framing to deployment.
• Blend traditional modelling with AI/ML to build explainable solutions.
• Mentor and grow the data science team; drive best practices across projects.
• Collaborate with Product Managers and Customer Success Managers.
• Contribute to whitepapers, articles, and conference talks.

Skills

Azure

MLOps

Python

Spark

TensorFlow

Hadoop

Deep Learning

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Statistics/Economics

Tools

Azure

MLOps

Job description

Explainable Artificial Intelligence is an approach to building AI systems that can provide clear explanations for their decisions and actions. It aims to increase transparency and trust in AI by enabling humans to understand how AI algorithms arrive at their choices. This is especially important in healthcare, where AI systems are increasingly used to support business decisions.

We are HealthWorksAI ; our mission is to develop and implement cutting-edge XAI solutions for designing health insurance products, specifically for Medicare Advantage. We aim to create cost-effective healthcare plans tailored to individual needs, ensuring optimal patient care at affordable prices. By identifying and mitigating bias in plan design, we are committed to promoting fairness and inclusivity, ultimately empowering insurers to make informed decisions that elevate the quality of care and benefit all stakeholders.

As a Lead Data Scientist at HealthWorksAI, you will assume a pivotal leadership role — collaborating closely with Product Managers and Customer Success Managers to steer our data science team toward delivering high-impact solutions for Medicare Advantage payers. This Lead Data Scientist role sits at the cutting edge of healthcare analytics, where you will blend traditional statistical modelling with state-of-the-art AI and machine learning techniques to build explainable, actionable intelligence. From problem definition through model deployment, you will own the end-to-end data science lifecycle while mentoring a growing team and shaping the future of health plan intelligence.

Lead Data Scientist Job Responsibilities

• Marrying traditional and modern techniques:Seamlessly integrate traditional statistical and mathematical modelling approaches with state-of-the-art AI/ML techniques to deliver robust, reliable solutions for health plan clients.
• Illuminating the black box: Transform black box AI models into explainable outputs using xAI methodologies ensuring every model decision is transparent, auditable, and actionable for business users.
• End-to-end product management: Oversee the full data science lifecycle from prioritization and ideation through problem definition, model development, and deployment ensuring deadlines and strategic objectives are met.
• Data engineering depth:Apply a strong background in data engineering, data modelling, algorithms, and data science architecture to build scalable, production-ready pipelines.
• Analytical prowess:Lead the application of regression, boosting/bagging, segmentation, Market Mix Modelling (MMM), forecasting, and Deep Learning/Neural Network techniques to complex Medicare Advantage datasets.
• Team leadership: Recruit, guide, and coach the data science team scaling capabilities to match our rapid growth trajectory and fostering a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement.
• Thought leadership:Contribute to whitepapers, articles, and conference presentations that position HealthWorksAI as a leader in healthcare analytics and explainable AI.

Experience You’ll Need

• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Senior Data Scientist, ideally within the US Healthcare Insurance domain.
• Over 3 years of hands‑on experience developing and implementing data-driven solutions in a corporate or consulting environment within the healthcare industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, or a related quantitative field from a renowned institution (2017–2019 cohort preferred).
• Expertise in Azure, MLOps, Python, Spark, TensorFlow, Apache Spark, and Hadoop.
• Proven track record leading data science teams and delivering end-to-end ML solutions at scale.
• Deep familiarity with Medicare Advantage benefit design, network strategy, and competitive intelligence is a strong advantage.

What We’re Looking For

• Advocate of democratizing advanced analytics: Firmly believe in empowering business users to solve intricate challenges through accessible, explainable analytics not just handing them a black box.
• Empowering the dream team:Recruit, guide, and coach our Data Science team, scaling their capabilities to match our rapid growth and building a high-performance analytics culture.
• Thought leadership pioneering:Make your mark in the healthcare AI industry by contributing to whitepapers, articles, and conference presentations that establish HealthWorksAI’s authority.
• Curiosity unbound: Embrace intellectual curiosity and excel in problem-solving showcasing your ability to structure, prioritize, and communicate complex analytical approaches for maximum impact.

Why Join HealthWorksAI as a Lead Data Scientist?

• Lead data science work that makes a measurable difference your models and team directly shape strategic decisions for 25+ Medicare Advantage payers across the US.
• Open leave policy and flexible working hours work when and how you’re most effective.
• Fully remote with regular team retreats at exciting neutral locations.
• Join a mission-driven team at the intersection of business, math, and technology where your leadership will have real visibility and impact.

Why You will Love Working Here

• Work on healthcare analytics products that make a measurable difference your models directly shape strategic decisions for 25+ Medicare Advantage payers across the US.
• Open leave policy and flexible working hours work when and how you’re most effective.
• Fully remote with regular team retreats at exciting neutral locations.
• Join a mission-driven team at the intersection of business, math, and technology.