What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Data Scientist - Consultant position at The World Justice Project?
Summary
The World Justice Project (WJP) is seeking a full-time Senior Data Scientist – Consultant to support its Data Analytics Unit. This position will contribute to WJP’s global research on rule of law issues by supporting data analysis and report production processes. The role involves designing and implementing machine learning models, developing AI agents, and working with large language models (LLMs) to support a range of research projects.
WJP’s global research and data team is based in Washington, DC, and this position will be remote.
About the World Justice Project
The World Justice Project (WJP) was launched in 2009 to promote justice and the rule of law globally. It is best known for its Rule of Law Index, the world’s leading source on the performance of 143 countries in relation to absence of corruption, open government, civil and criminal justice, fundamental rights, and other rule of law standards. Drawing on the Index methodology, WJP also undertakes in-depth studies on particularly countries and topics, such as access to justice, criminal justice, environmental governance, and corruption. WJP puts this data and research into action to strengthen the rule of law through convening, engagement, and support of a global network—including through the biennial World Justice Forum and World Justice Challenge. At a time when the rule of law is facing fundamental challenges throughout the world, WJP’s mission to strengthen respect for justice, peace, and fundamental rights is more pressing than ever. For more information, please visit worldjusticeproject.org.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement machine learning models and statistical analyses to support WJP research initiatives
- Lead technical infrastructure modernization including containerization and cloud deployment strategies
- Develop and maintain agentic AI systems and LLM-powered tools for data analysis workflows
- Provide technical mentorship to other team members on advanced analytics techniques
- Collaborate with research teams to translate complex data questions into analytical solutions
Qualifications
Technical Skills
- Advanced proficiency in Python and R for statistical analysis and machine learning
- Experience with LLMOps and deployment of large language model applications
- SQL for database management and complex queries (bonus)
- Git/GitHub for version control and collaborative development
- Docker and containerization technologies
- Understanding of cloud computing concepts (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Basic HTML/CSS for report customization
- Understanding of RESTful APIs and web scraping techniques
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong experience with scikit-learn and other ML frameworks
- Knowledge of agentic systems and AI workflow automation
- Strong statistical background including dimensionality reduction techniques (PCA, factor analysis, MDS, t-SNE)
- Expertise in data imputation methods and handling missing data
- Experience with latent variable modeling (SEM, IRT, mixture models)
- Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, or related field
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please visit our employment portal: https://worldjusticeproject.org/about-us/connect/employment. The following materials are required for this position:
- Resume
- Writing sample. It can be in Spanish or English.
- Contact information for three professional references
Please submit all application materials in one PDF document.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the high volume of applications received, we are only able to follow up directly with candidates selected for interviews. No phone calls please.