Head of Data/ Lead Data Scientist (m/f/d)

ABOUT THE TEAM

At WDL, you’ll be part of a dynamic, international team of data scientists, software engineers, sales executives, designers, and project managers who are passionate about using data to drive positive change. While most of our team is based in Vienna, we also have a growing presence in Africa and collaborators across the globe. Our team brings together diverse backgrounds and perspectives, creating a vibrant and inclusive work culture. We value curiosity, initiative, and collaboration and we’re united by a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful work in a fast-paced, supportive environment.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a Head of Data/ Lead Data Scientist (m/f/d) to head a talented team focused on delivering cutting-edge insights into consumer spending and other socio-economic parameters. This role combines deep technical expertise with team leadership, project management, and stakeholder engagement. You’ll design and implement scalable data pipelines, guide analytical workflows, ensure high-quality outputs, and represent WDL in both internal and international settings.

THE CHALLENGE

• Design, implement, and maintain robust, scalable data pipelines for ingestion, harmonization, transformation, and analysis – primarily using R.
• Lead the development of clean, well-documented, and reproducible code across multiple projects, ensuring alignment with best practices in version control (e.g., GitHub) and collaborative workflows.
• Drive innovation in data architecture and modeling strategies to support complex analyses and forecasting.
• Provide hands-on support in debugging, performance optimization, and methodological problem-solving.
• Translate analytical goals into actionable project tasks and oversee the technical execution from planning to delivery.
• Mentor and support data scientists, fostering a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
• Coordinate project workstreams to ensure timely delivery, code consistency, and adherence to WDL’s technical standards.
• Review analytical code and outputs to ensure methodological rigor, reproducibility, and transparency.
• Enforce internal standards for documentation, data ethics, and research integrity.
• Communicate project progress and results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Represent WDL at meetings, workshops, and occasionally at international events.

YOUR PROFILE

Required:

• Master’s degree or PhD in a STEM field (e.g., Data Science, Economics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related discipline).
• Specialization in or demonstrable experience with economic analysis.
• Advanced proficiency in R, including building reproducible workflows and reviewing complex team codebases.
• Strong experience in data pipeline design, dataset harmonization, and wrangling large data sets from diverse sources.
• Proficiency in version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative development environments.
• 5+ years of experience in data science or a related field, including 3+ years in a technical leadership role.
• Solid understanding of economic data, policies, and household-level spending dynamics.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex data topics to non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills, including managing competing deadlines and deliverables.
• A collaborative, team-oriented mindset and commitment to a positive team culture.

Preferred:

• Experience working in command-line interfaces and managing workloads on virtual machines or remote servers.
• Familiarity with data visualization and storytelling tools such as ggplot2, Shiny, or Tableau.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, data-driven projects and delivering actionable insights to external clients.
• Experience in mentoring junior team members and providing constructive feedback.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including coordinating cross-functional initiatives and aligning deliverables with strategic goals.
• Ability to inspire and motivate others, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

OUR OFFER

• The opportunity to make an impact in a well-established big data SaaS scale-up
• Clients who are leading global institutions and companies
• Be part of a diverse team of highly motivated and like-minded individuals (we collaborate with colleagues from all around the world)
• Opportunity to shape your career through personal development plan supported by the growth opportunities
• A collaborative environment with colleagues from all over the world
• Flexible working time & hybrid work model with office in the center of Vienna (near Schwedenplatz)
• Vienna Transportation ticket
• Team activities

While we appreciate the option to work from home, we believe that coming together in person helps us grow stronger, share ideas, and tackle challenges as a team. Also through these connections we become better as individuals and as a company. That’s why we have established a hybrid working model.

The minimum monthly salary for this position is starting at € 5,000.00 gross, overpayment will be considered depending on qualifications and working experience.

OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS

• Initial Screening: A quick chat with our People & Culture Manager to understand your background and expectations.
• 1st Interview: Meet the hiring manager and showcase your skills.
• 2nd Interview: Meet the team and get to know our working culture personally in our office.
• Final Steps: Receive feedback and, if successful, an offer!

We keep it simple and aim to wrap up the process within 3 weeks.

We encourage you to apply even if you only meet most of the requirements (but not 100% of the listed criteria) – we believe skills evolve over time. If you’re willing to learn and grow with us, we invite you to join our team!

About us

World Data Lab (WDL), founded in 2014 in Vienna, Austria by visionary economic thought leaders and technologists, is a forward-thinking data science SaaS company on a mission of "Making Everyone Count." We are dedicated to revolutionizing how the world understands and leverages data, ensuring that every individual, organization, and community has access to the insights they need to thrive. By using state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed methodologies and artificial intelligence, we deliver the most accurate models and forecasts on global spending power and demographic trends. Our proprietary data models enable businesses, organizations, and the general public to make informed decisions—whether optimizing labor market policies or identifying emerging high-growth markets.
With a focus on creating meaningful impact, WDL’s leading products—including population.io, worldpoverty.io, worldhunger.io, and World Data Pro—have already reached millions worldwide, democratizing access to critical data.

At World Data Lab, we are looking for talented, driven individuals who thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments. If you're passionate about solving complex challenges and making a global impact, we want you on our team!