Head of Data Science

Are you a proven leader and experienced manager with data science expertise? We are looking for a new Head of Data Science to join our Research department and lead a team of talented and ambitious data scientists striving to enable safer use of medicines worldwide.

Our areas of focus and expertise include data-driven discovery for observational medical data, and computational methods to support and enhance human decision-making throughout pharmacovigilance. We work with advanced methods in natural language processing, statistical pattern discovery and machine learning, collaborate internationally, and share our results in Open Access scientific publications. To get the best possible results, we have adopted an agile mindset and approach to scientific development, where scientists collaborate closely across disciplines in agile teams, with a common focus and joint responsibilities.

What you will do

- Lead a team of 8-10 data scientists
- Ensure the right expertise within the team through strategic competence development and recruitment
- Establish effective processes for data and knowledge management and for development and deployment of prototypes for routine analytics
- Contribute to the leadership of the UMC research department together with the Head of Pharmacovigilance Science and the Chief Science Officer
- Contribute to the strategic direction of UMC scientific development
- Collaborate closely with other parts of the organisation to bring scientific methods and results to real-world use
- Help further develop and refine UMC’s approach for agile scientific development
- Serve as scientific lead for selected research projects
- Stay abreast of scientific and technological developments within machine learning and data science
- Represent UMC in external collaborations and meetings

Your qualifications

- A MSc degree in Computer science/Engineering/Mathematical statistics

You have

- Proven leadership abilities
- Three or more years experience as a manager
- Expertise in data analysis and machine learning (we work primarily with Python, R, and SQL) complemented by broad knowledge and understanding of data science and its sub-disciplines
- Experience of scientific development, evaluation and dissemination
- An ability to communicate effectively in English, which is our working language

It is an advantage, if you

- have a PhD or licentiate degree
- have worked with cloud platforms, DevOps and MLOps
- have worked in agile settings
- have prior experience of analysing observational medical data

Personal profile

We are looking for a candidate with the following characteristics:

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Leader
Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team of strong individuals to perform to the best of their capacity; confident in making decisions

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Proactive
Forward-thinking, enterprising and capable – getting things done

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Personal and professional maturity
Perceptive and responsive; stable and insightful; displaying integrity and independence

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Flexibility
Ability to function in a fast-moving, dynamic environment, adapting to change in internal or external demands

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Communication
Excellent oral and written presentation skills



Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) is a centre for international service and scientific research in the field of pharmacovigilance. We are the WHO Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring, and manage the technical and operational aspects of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring since 1978.

As an independent, non-profit foundation, we support the World Health Organization, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders who share our vision of advancing medicines safety. Through research and development of new scientific methods, we explore the benefits and harms of medicines for patients, and offer products and services used by health authorities and the pharmaceutical industry worldwide.

UMC follows the collective agreements between the Swedish Agency for Government Employers and Saco-S and ST. Union representatives are Malin Zaar (Saco-S) and Jessica Avasol (ST), +46 (0)18-65 60 60.