Data Science Lead

Job Description:

Dentsu is transforming advertising as a force for growth and a force for good. It has become the destination for employees to cultivate meaningful careers and for brands to accelerate growth like never before. Media is the largest area of specialism within dentsu international, and is brought to markets globally through three award-winning agency brands: Carat, iProspect and dentsu X. All three are underpinned by a scaled network offering of talent, capabilities, and services to support, grow and transform the world’s leading advertisers. Working together as the most integrated network, dentsu Media supports Carat’s EQ and people-first approach, dentsu X’s experience-driven proposition and iProspect’s full-performance methodology. dentsu Media also allows greater access to unparalleled integrated, marketing solutions through the network’s Creative and CXM specialisms.

The Data Science Lead, will be part of a cross-functional team, specifically focused on developing mixed marketing models for our clients. The ideal candidate is both well versed in the data modeling process and leading MMM projects: whether it’s data collection, data tidying, statistical modeling, and communicating insights to non-technical teams.

This job requires the candidate to be proficient in Advanced Analytics concepts such as marketing mix modeling, regression, etc.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the project lead to understand client objectives and design robust statistical and econometric attribution models.
• Develop, validate, and refine statistical and econometric models, including Marketing Mix Models, to measure marketing effectiveness across channels.
• Build statistical analyses aligned with business needs, focusing on ROI, marginal returns, and budget optimization.
• Utilize open-source MMM tools such as Google Meridian, Meta Robyn, and Light-weight MMM, while exploring custom modeling approaches when necessary.
• Explore and implement a variety of statistical and analytical techniques, including linear and non-linear regression, Bayesian time-series forecasting, hierarchical models, and machine learning algorithms (e.g., random forests, gradient boosting).
• Prepare and manage structured and unstructured data sources, ensuring data quality through effective ETL processes and rigorous validation checks.
• Automate data pipelines and model workflows using tools like SQL, Python, dbt, or Airflow to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Conduct scenario simulations, what-if analyses, and incrementality tests (e.g., geo-lift, A/B testing) to validate model outputs and improve attribution accuracy.
• Work closely with the project lead to translate complex analytical outputs into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for clients and industry stakeholders.
• Interpret model results within the context of the client’s business and industry to identify relevant trends, growth opportunities, and actionable strategies.
• Communicate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through clear storytelling, visualizations, and presentations.

Qualifications:

• 5 years of hands-on experience building MMM.
• Proficient in SQL, Python, and/or R for data manipulation, statistical modeling, and automation.
• Strong knowledge of statistical methods, including regression analysis, Bayesian modeling, time-series forecasting, and causal inference techniques.
• Proficient with data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or Python libraries (Plotly, Seaborn, Matplotlib) to create clear, impactful dashboards and reports.
• Proficient with cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud (BigQuery), or Azure for large-scale data processing.
• Well versed in marketing and media analytics. Experience measuring channels (TV, digital, search, social, OOH) and how they influence business outcomes.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to approach complex business challenges analytically and strategically.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical findings to non-technical audiences.
• Experience in project management, with the ability to manage timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder expectations effectively.
• Experience with open-source MMM frameworks and advanced machine learning techniques.
• Knowledge of marketing attribution models, budget allocation strategies, and optimization techniques.
• Background in experiment design, including A/B testing and geo-lift studies for marketing campaigns.

Location: Toronto

Brand: Dentsu Media

Time Type: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent