Data Scientist, Senior

Closes: August 8, 2023
Starting Range: $90,542 - $118,610         
Full Range: $90,542 - $132,645

Job Description

Data Scientists are analytical experts who apply strong statistical modeling and programming skills to extract meaning from complex business data.   

Avista’s current data science program is emerging and is looking to advance our current maturity with additional skills and tools beyond our existing toolbox, which is primarily Tableau/Python (on-site) and AWS/Python (in cloud).  Our core team includes Data Science Analysts and Data Engineers, and we are now looking to add a Data Scientist to complement our team.  Currently we are exploring options for a suitable analytic platform(s) that can be used by the Data Science team as well as by qualified business experts throughout the enterprise.  We help drive adoption of various tools and skills throughout the enterprise.  Our program is mature in descriptive analytics but is looking to supplement existing skills to advance in predictive analytic capabilities, eventually advancing towards prescriptive analytics.

OVERVIEW:

The Data Scientist is a skilled analyst who helps business partners extract meaning from complex data and use it to improve processes and productivity. Core responsibilities include:

• Partners with Business Leaders to Identify High-Value Use Cases
• Prepares Data for Analysis: Profiles, validates, and cleans data for analysis
• Analyzes Data: Uses statistical and modeling algorithms to produce predictive and prescriptive analytics
• Influences Business Processes: Uncovers empirically based insights to enhance business process improvement initiatives
• Delivers Clear Messages and Actionable Insights: Interprets results in ways useful for stakeholders, using meaningful visualizations, and providing actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Curious mindset: The ideal candidate has a bachelors or higher degree in a technical discipline, which has provided a strong mathematical or statistical foundation and good programming skills. They should also be inherently curious and comfortable working with several stakeholders on a broad range of business problems.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Communicates with stakeholders to understand challenges and requirements. Assesses availability and quality of supporting data to support objectives.
• Identifies data sources needed to support desired outcomes. Data sources may include structured (tabular) and/or unstructured (text, images, sound) data of various origins and sizes. In some cases, the data scientist must design experiments to collect new data.
• Cleans and validates data. Data Scientists are skilled at detecting data problems, and they have experience cleaning it or coaching data analysts or data stewards to resolve.
• Performs exploratory data analysis. The Data Scientist is very skilled at interpreting data. This is done by identifying relationships and trends, testing hypotheses, and conceiving and assessing the strength of predictive relationships.
• Applies appropriate modeling techniques, including machine learning and artificial intelligence., and able to articulate why a specific model(s) are best for a given use-case.
• Storytelling and framing the problem. Established Data Scientists are good writers and presenters –skilled at creating meaningful visualizations and identifying actionable insights for stakeholders.

Preference will be given to candidates with predictive and prescriptive modeling experience within the utility industry.

Minimum Requirements

• Strong knowledge of SQL (i.e., Oracle, Athena, Redshift, SQL server)  
• Proficiency in developing models with R or Python
• Experience with analytics platforms such as AWS services for data science and analytics, Alteryx, Knime
• Excellent oral and written communication and teamwork skills, with a self-starter mentality and ability to work independently
• Participates in or develops analyst communities within the organization as well as with existing industry groups with established communities
• 5 years of related work experience
• Experience interpreting business stakeholders’ analytics needs
• A bachelor’s degree in data analytics, mathematics, statistics, data science, computer science, operations research, management science, or related fields 

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Data Science, Mathematics, or related fields
• Experience with AWS tools for data scientists, including Glue and SageMaker
• Member of Certified Analytics Professionals CAP - Home (certifiedanalytics.org)
• Member of Utility Analytics Institute

• Competitive wages and generous benefits 
• Supportive team environment with opportunities for advancement
• Industry stability and innovative company culture
• Opportunity to work with a broad range of teams and technology
• Remote/Flexible work options

Hybrid work options are available for this role. The successful candidate must be able work from the Spokane, WA Corporate office at least 3 days per week.

To Apply
We encourage you to apply as many of our positions have step progressions to account for an incoming employee’s various levels of knowledge, skills, and experience.

Complete an online application and attach your resume and cover letter to your profile. All documents must be attached to your application at the time of submitting your application for review. No documents can be attached after you click "Submit".

Benefits
At Avista, we believe our employees are essential. Through them we deliver value to our customers and the communities we serve. The physical, mental, and financial health and well-being of our employees and their families are important to us. We are committed to offering a comprehensive total rewards program comprised of an externally competitive, internally equitable compensation structure and a benefits package that allows us to retain and attract a diverse, engaged, and skilled workforce. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage, retirement benefits, incentive plans, wellness resources, time-off programs and much more. In addition to our total rewards program, the Pacific Northwest offers abundant outdoor recreation, four distinct seasons, and all the amenities and activities an individual or family might be interested in. To learn more, please visit our benefits website at https://avistabenefits.com/.

Pre-employment screening requirements
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a drug test, background check and motor vehicle records review.   

Avista’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
Avista is a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds, and we are committed to Equal Opportunity Employment, Affirmative Action efforts, and Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, protected veterans, and all others. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, sensory, mental or physical disability (unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification), Veteran status or any other classification protected by nondiscrimination laws.

Equity and diversity in our workplace is important to us. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you require any special accommodations to participate fully in our recruitment process. Avista will make reasonable accommodation to assist a qualified person with a disability in the job application, interview process, and to perform the essential functions of the job whenever possible, where undue hardship would not be created for Avista. Please contact us at humanresources@avistacorp.com if you would like assistance.

Salary : $90,542 - $118,610