Operations Research Decision Scientist — Data-Driven Animal Health Impact

elanco; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Two weeklong shutdowns in the US

8-week parental leave

401K matching

Job summary

Elanco, headquartered in Indianapolis, seeks an Operations Research Decision Scientist to lead advanced analytics across the value chain in a hybrid role. You will develop and validate ML models, partner with Strategy & Innovation, R&D, Manufacturing, Finance, and Commercial to turn data into actionable business insights.

You will guide strategic planning, optimize operating models, and influence senior stakeholders. A strong background in statistics, ML, and data visualization is required.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Operations Research, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years experience in Data Science or relevant work.
• Strong programming skills in Python or R, with data manipulation and ML libraries.
• Deep understanding of statistical principles and experimental design, including hypothesis testing, regression, and classification.
• Proven experience applying ML techniques (e.g., gradient boosting, clustering, NLP, time-series forecasting).
• Expertise in data visualization and communicating insights to non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Model Development: design, develop, and validate statistical and ML models from data exploration to final analysis.
• Owns, designs, and executes strategic planning and research initiatives to optimize the enterprise operating model using advanced modeling.
• Manages and solves diverse, ambiguous problems with limited guidance.
• Influences solution adoption through stakeholder management at senior levels.
• Data storytelling and visualization to present actionable recommendations.
• Collaborate with Strategy & Innovation, R&D, Manufacturing, Finance, and Commercial to translate challenges into data science frameworks.
• Drive innovation by researching new methodologies and promoting a data-driven culture.

Skills

Python

R

Data manipulation

ML libraries

Statistics

Experiment design

Data visualization

Communication

Education

Master’s or PhD in Data Science/Statistics/CS/Operations Research

Tools

SQL

Job description

Elanco, headquartered in Indianapolis, seeks an Operations Research Decision Scientist to lead advanced analytics across the value chain in a hybrid role. You will develop and validate ML models, partner with Strategy & Innovation, R&D, Manufacturing, Finance, and Commercial to turn data into actionable business insights.

You will guide strategic planning, optimize operating models, and influence senior stakeholders. A strong background in statistics, ML, and data visualization is required.