Senior Data Scientist, MNO Data

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Enhance and expand analytical method templates for inferring residence, detecting displacement, and estimating poverty based on MNO data.

• Create innovative analytical methods as needed for specific interventions.

• Evaluate the inferences that can be drawn from each operator’s data and assist in designing interventions focused on data quality.

• Facilitate technical discussions with mobile network operators and clarify data requirements.

• Document tests and comprehensive method specifications, including detailed steps, parameters, pseudocode, and validation criteria.

• Provide guidance to operator engineering teams during implementation, either remotely or in person.

• Modify methods to accommodate large data volumes and computational limitations.

• Conduct workshops within the country and adjust parameters using statistical tests and distributions when feasible.

• Integrate analytical and implementation enhancements into standard templates.

• Develop privacy-preserving analyses utilizing aggregation, minimization, private set intersection, or homomorphic encryption.

• Safeguard partner data confidentiality and enhance internal data security processes and tools.

• Create training materials for both technical and non-technical teams at GiveDirectly.

• Assist in introductory meetings with MNOs and inform the data privacy and cybersecurity teams.

• Report directly to the Senior Product Manager – MNO data.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proficient in mathematical modeling, machine learning, and statistics.

• Strong familiarity with spatio-temporal data, temporal filtering, GIS, probability distributions, combinatorial reasoning, and sparse, irregular observations.

• Direct experience with Call Detail Records (CDRs) or latching data is highly advantageous; similar experience with mobility, transport, sensor, or remote-sensing data is also valuable.

• Capable of reasoning without ground truth and establishing parameters based on data distributions.

• Practical approach balancing analytical precision and operational feasibility.

• Exceptional communication and relationship-building abilities; skilled at conveying methods to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Proven experience in writing technical specifications that are implemented by other teams.

• Ability to read and review SQL and Python code produced by others.

• Knowledge of large data volumes and database management.

• Dedication to privacy by design; familiarity with private set intersection, secure multi-party computation, or homomorphic encryption is highly desirable.

• Experience managing commercially sensitive data while ensuring confidentiality.

• Background in developing training materials for non-specialists.

• Able to thrive in dynamic and rapidly changing environments.

• Desirable qualifications include experience in poverty modeling, survey data and instruments, mobile network operator experience, or contributions to open-source mobility estimation.

• Willingness to travel to fragile and post-disaster areas.

• Proficiency in English is required.

• Proficiency in French, Portuguese, Swahili, or Spanish is preferred.

• Must be eligible to work in one of the specified hiring countries; U.S. or U.K. visa sponsorship is not available.

🏝️ Benefits

• 10% bonus based on target performance.

• Annual benefits stipend of $21,393 for the United States, £2,760 for the United Kingdom, or $8,454 for Kenya.

• The benefits stipend can be utilized for covering benefits or taken as additional taxable income.

• Significant international travel opportunities (approximately 25–50% of the time).