What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Data Scientist position at Philadelphia 76ers?
WHO WE ARE:
Founded by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) includes in its portfolio the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the Delaware Blue Coats, the Utica Comets and a variety of other sports and entertainment properties. Led by some of the best and brightest minds in the industry, HBSE positions itself as a pioneering and innovative global sports and entertainment business enterprise. We also strive to positively impact the local communities in which we operate through the powerful platform of sports. HBSE offers an energetic work environment built on collaboration, growth and a quest to excel in everything we do.
HBSE owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, one of the most storied franchises in American sports, having won three championships led by some of the most iconic athletes in NBA history. As part of its portfolio, Prudential Center in downtown Newark, N.J. annually hosts more than 200 games, concerts, family shows and special events and is a top-5 ranked sports and entertainment venue in the U.S. by Pollstar and Billboard. It is home to the New Jersey Devils, a renowned NHL franchise with three Stanley Cup championships and a proud, passionate fan base.
OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION:
At HBSE, we are dedicated to hiring the best talent from the communities where we live, work and play – across all groups and levels; supporting and developing every employee to reach their potential; and creating an inclusive environment that allows team members to bring their true authentic selves to work.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Philadelphia 76ers are seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join the Basketball Research and Development team. This role supports decision-making across all departments in Basketball Operations. The ideal candidate combines a strong foundation in machine learning, predictive modeling, and data engineering.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED, TO THE BELOW:
- Lead the development, validation, and deployment of models that evaluate and forecast player and team performance
- Work with large, complex, and often noisy datasets (including player-tracking and biomechanical data) to generate actionable insights on the court
- Collaborate with front office and coaching staff to translate analytical findings into decision support tools
- Continuously iterate on existing models and infrastructure to improve performance and usability
- Stay up to date with emerging techniques in data science, sports analytics, and related academic research
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 3 years of professional experience in a data science, research, or quantitative modeling role
- Expertise with modern machine learning techniques
- Proficiency in at least one programming language, Python and SQL experience preferred
- Familiarity with data engineering or cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) is a plus
- Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working on open-ended or ambiguous problems
- Passion for basketball and for leveraging data to improve decision-making
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Travel Requirements: May be required to travel occasionally, including between HBSE’s various offices; trips may require air travel and/or overnight stay.
- Work Environment: This position generally requires that work primarily be performed from the Penn Medicine/Philadelphia 76ers’ office in Camden, NJ, and may require attendance at events taking place at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $130,000 and $200,000/year. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including eligibility for bonus.
This position may be governed by an employment agreement, on a form to be provided by the Company, with an expected initial term of two years, although all terms and conditions of any such employment agreement are subject to negotiation between the selected candidate and the Company. If, instead, this position is determined to be an “at will position”, the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
The benefits package for the position may include the following, subject to the terms of the then-in-effect Company policies, plan documents and other eligibility criteria:
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Flexible Spending Accounts
- Pretax Transportation Benefit
- Generous Parental Leave policies
- 401K (with a company match after 1 year of service)
- Generous Paid Time Off policies
- 13 Paid Holidays
- ½ Day Summer Fridays
- Complimentary or Discounted Sports & Concert Tickets
- On Site Fitness Rooms
- Other League & Partner Discounts
Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
Salary : $130 - $200