Lead Data Scientist, Media Group Decision Sciences

Company Description

We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('SpinCo') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

As a company uniquely positioned to educate, entertain and empower through our platforms, Comcast NBCUniversal stands for including everyone. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, coupled with our Corporate Social Responsibility work, is informed by our employees, audiences, park guests and the communities in which we live. We strive to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where our employees feel supported, embraced and heard. Together, we'll continue to create and deliver content that reflects the current and ever-changing face of the world.

Job Description

As a Lead Data Scientist on the Media Group Decision Sciences team, you will play a critical role in developing data-driven insights and solutions that optimize audience engagement across the business. Reporting to the Director of Audience Science, the Lead Data Scientist will work closely with data scientists, business stakeholders, analysts, and engineers to design, build, and deploy scalable solutions, driving our audience prioritization, segmentation, and targeting strategies. The Lead Data Scientist will leverage their expertise in advanced statistical methods, applied machine learning, and media industry experience to deliver impactful lift across content, marketing, and targeting strategies, helping shape how we reach and retain audiences.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g. Consumer Insights, Research, Advanced Analytics teams) to develop and implement solutions that optimize our audience.
• Own and deliver results on new and existing projects, implementing statistical analysis, machine learning, and data science techniques to enhance our understanding of our audiences, their behaviors, and optimize their engagement.
• Communicate complex findings effectively via clear presentations to all levels of the organization.
• Ability to clearly document code, methodologies, and workflows for maintainability and collaboration.
• Think critically about first and third party data and how to leverage them to generate actionable insights and drive better decision making.
• Advance the innovation of methodologies and tools used by the team.
• Manage priorities across a mix of ad-hoc and operational projects. 
• Provide mentorship to junior teammates via pairing and code reviews.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in a quantitative or technical field (e.g. Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or related disciplines).
• 5+ years of experience applying statistical methods or machine learning techniques in an industry or research environment.
• Advanced knowledge of statistical methods and machine learning, and the ability to select appropriate methods and tools while staying informed on recent advancements.
• Fluency in Python and SQL, along with experience in cloud-based data processing frameworks such as PySpark and BigQuery.
• Experience using data visualization tools and techniques to communicate business insights and recommendations.

Desired Characteristics:

• Experience designing and deploying scalable data and machine learning pipelines, particularly in Databricks or similar cloud platforms.
• Experience with ownership of data products, either internal or consumer-facing.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Team-oriented and collaborative, with