Senior/Lead - Data Scientist - Forecasting

Company Description

BLEND360 is adding to our team of passionate people who are revolutionizing the world of Data Science. We are an award-winning, new breed Data ScienceData EngineeringBI Solutions Company focused on powering exceptional results to our Fortune 500 clients. We are a growing company – born at the intersection of advanced analytics, data and technology. 

Our new Director of Data Engineering will be in the forefront of driving major projects within BLEND360 and working with our data engineering team to develop innovative data driven solutions that integrate distributed sources of data, perform large scale learning and reasoning, and integrate results.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior/Lead Data Scientist with a specialization in forecasting to lead our forecasting initiatives. In this strategic role, you will take ownership of developing cutting-edge forecasting models that drive key business decisions. You will collaborate with senior leaders, guide junior team members, and ensure the successful deployment of forecasting solutions across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of sophisticated forecasting models to predict critical business metrics such as demand, sales, inventory, and more.
• Drive the development of innovative time series forecasting methodologies, utilizing advanced statistical and machine learning techniques (e.g., ARIMA, Prophet, LSTM, XGBoost).
• Partner with senior executives and cross-functional teams (e.g., Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing) to understand forecasting needs, present actionable insights, and inform strategic decisions.
• Mentor and lead a team of data scientists, providing technical guidance, setting best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of forecasting projects, from data collection and model development to deployment and continuous refinement.
• Ensure that forecasting models are highly accurate, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.
• Collaborate with data engineering teams to ensure the availability of high-quality data and integration of forecasting models into production systems.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in forecasting techniques, statistical methods, and machine learning, and apply this knowledge to improve forecasting accuracy and efficiency.
• Communicate complex analytical results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating data-driven insights into clear business recommendations.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance forecasting capabilities and optimize business outcomes through advanced analytics.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of experience in data science, with a strong focus on forecasting and time series analysis.
• Deep expertise in forecasting techniques such as ARIMA, SARIMA, Holt-Winters, exponential smoothing, and advanced machine learning models (e.g., LSTM, GRU, XGBoost).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, with extensive experience in building, validating, and deploying forecasting models.
• Experience with popular forecasting tools and libraries, such as Prophet, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc.
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis, data manipulation, and handling large datasets in cloud-based environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Proven track record of successfully leading data science projects from conception to implementation, with demonstrated business impact.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically about how to leverage forecasting to drive business outcomes.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex analytical concepts to senior leadership and other stakeholders in a clear, concise manner.
• Experience in mentoring and leading data science teams, fostering growth, and promoting best practices.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in demand forecasting, sales forecasting, or supply chain optimization, particularly in industries such as retail, manufacturing, or finance.
• Experience in deploying and maintaining forecasting models in production environments.
• Knowledge of experimental design and statistical testing, including A/B testing methodologies.
• Prior experience in a consulting or client-facing role is a plus.