Data Scientist

Reporting to the Deputy Chiefs, the Data Scientist is a research and analytics leader responsible for applying advanced quantitative and qualitative methodologies to drive evidence-based decision-making, program evaluation, operational improvements, and strategic initiatives across the organization.

The Data Scientist will work collaboratively with departmental leaders, staff, community partners, and external stakeholders, the incumbent transforms data into actionable insights that inform service delivery, policy development, resource allocation, and organizational strategy. This role supports a diverse range of corporate initiatives and may be assigned projects across multiple County departments and service areas.

Responsibilities

Research Leadership & Funding

• Lead the design, funding, and execution of complex research, evaluation, and data analytics projects across County departments.
• Secure external research funding through grant applications, academic partnerships, and strategic collaborations.
• Translate research findings into actionable operational, service delivery, and policy improvements.
• Author and oversee publications, technical reports, briefing materials, and knowledge translation products.
• Build organizational research and evaluation capacity through mentoring, training, and collaboration.
• Establish and promote evidence-informed practices that support continuous improvement and innovation.

Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis

• Apply advanced statistical and analytical techniques to examine trends, outcomes, operational performance, and program effectiveness.
• Assess and account for confounding, effect modification, bias, and other methodological considerations in study design and analysis.
• Conduct qualitative research including focus groups, interviews, surveys, and thematic analysis.
• Integrate quantitative and qualitative findings to support comprehensive program and policy evaluations.

Organizational Collaboration & Strategic Support

• Partner with leaders and staff across multiple County departments to identify opportunities for data-driven improvements.
• Support strategic planning, business cases, service reviews, and organizational transformation initiatives.
• Provide expertise on performance measurement, program evaluation, outcomes assessment, and data governance.
• Engage internal and external stakeholders to facilitate project success and organizational learning.
• Support the implementation and evaluation of new programs, technologies, and service delivery models.

Communication & Knowledge Translation

• Communicate complex analytical and research findings clearly to operational, managerial, executive, political, and community audiences.
• Present findings and recommendations through reports, presentations, dashboards, and briefing materials.
• Represent the County in partnerships with academic institutions, funding agencies, professional organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Mentor staff and students participating in research, analytics, and evaluation activities.
• Protects own health and health of others by adopting safe work practices, reporting unsafe conditions immediately, and attending all relevant in-services regarding occupational health and safety. Follows all guidelines for employees and employers as legislated under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Performs the responsibilities of the position within the legislative and regulatory standards set out in the applicable Provincial and Municipal Acts. Performs the responsibilities of the position consistent with the Operational policies of the County of Renfrew.

Qualifications

• University degree in Data Science, Statistics, Health Services Research, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Economics, Public Administration, Computer Science, Social Sciences, Applied Research, or a related field. PhD or Master’s degree is preferred.
• Two to three years of experience conducting health or social research, analytics, program evaluation, or applied data science projects.
• Certification as a Primary Care Paramedic, Advanced Care Paramedic, or other healthcare professional designation is an asset.
• Demonstrated success obtaining research funding and leading complex projects from design through implementation, evaluation, and knowledge translation.
• Experience designing and executing complex research, evaluation, or analytics projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Advanced skills in quantitative analysis, including statistical modelling, predictive analytics, regression analysis, performance measurement, and program evaluation methodologies.
• Experience applying advanced analytical techniques such as predictive modelling, machine learning, casual inference, and mixed-methods research approaches.
• Experience conducting qualitative research, including focus groups, interviews, thematic analysis, and other qualitative methodologies.
• Strong understanding of research design, data quality, data governance, privacy, ethics, bias, confounding, and other methodological considerations.
• Experience working with large, complex datasets from multiple sources and transforming data into actionable insights.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical findings into practical recommendations for operational, strategic, and policy decision-making.
• Proficiency with statistical, analytical, data visualization, and reporting software and tools.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with subject matter experts, leaders, external partners, and stakeholders across a variety of service areas.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, priorities, and deadlines in a dynamic environment.