Principal Data Scientist - Water and Forest

Requisition ID: 18615

Join us in building a better future for Arizona!

SRP is one of the largest public power and water utilities in the U.S. providing electricity to approximately one million customers in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area. Since its founding in 1903, SRP has fostered a culture of stewardship and customer service consistently ranking as an industry leader in customer service according to J.D. Power and named one of Arizona's best employers by Forbes. SRP continues to adapt to its changing business environment by seeking innovative ways to reimagine utility service and the provision of critical resources essential to the life and economy of Arizona.

Why Work at SRP

At SRP, we foster an inclusive work environment and believe everyone should have a fair chance to work, regardless of who they are. That’s why we value teams with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to help SRP deliver on its mission of providing reliable, affordable and sustainable water and power.

Benefits

SRP's success is rooted in our employees' happiness, health, and safety. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and enhance their well-being. In addition to competitive pay and performance incentives, eligible employees can take advantage of the following benefits:

• Pension Plan (at no cost to the employee)
• 401(k) plan with employer matching
• Available your first day: Medical, vision, dental, and life insurance
• Over 200+ hours of PTO (includes vacation days, holidays, floating holidays, and sick leave)
• Parental leave (up to 4 weeks) and adoption assistance
• Wellness programs (including access to a recreation and fitness facility)
• Short and long-term disability plans
• Tuition assistance for both undergraduate and graduate programs
• 10 Employee Resource Groups for career development, community service, and networking
  
  

Summary

The Principal Data Scientist will work closely with Water Strategic Services and external business partners to lead analyses and models that help drive water and forest business decisions. Utilizing their analytical, statistical and programming skills, they will collect, analyze and interpret large data sets to develop and recommend data-driven solutions to water and forest challenges. Projects may include hydrology modeling, carbon modeling, biodiversity modeling, wildfire risk analysis, remote sensing product optimization, text analytics, and digital analytics. Translating highly technical concepts for non-technical audiences and team members is a significant responsibility. The successful candidate will be passionate about discovering solutions hidden in large data sets and working with external business partners to improve water and forest outcomes.

What You'll Do

• Act as project leader on water and forest analytics projects of major scope and importance.
• Define problems, manage data collection, apply advanced statistical and mathematical solutions, establish facts and draw valid, data-supported conclusions. Work often requires the analysis of large data sets using complex R, SAS, SPSS or python modeling approaches.
• Recommend solutions to new and complex water and forest problems, develop innovative strategies, quantify the performance of the marketing function and evaluate the potential impact of changes.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a drive to learn and master new technologies and techniques.
• Gather model requirements, design observational experiments and analyses, build and deploy predictive and monitoring models.
• Proven ability to drive water and forest business results with their data-driven insights.
• Comfortable working with a wide range of diverse stakeholders and functional teams.
• Strong experience using a variety of data cleaning, mining, and analytic methods.
• Mastery of statistical software (R, SAS or SPSS) and its application. Data visualization experience is strongly preferred. Experience with Python, Hadoop, Spark, and/or Hive is desired.
• Experience with SQL Server databases and T-SQL queries.
• Working knowledge of the following concepts:
• Data transformations and traditional univariate and multivariate statistics (e.g. t-test, ANOVA, MANOVA, ANCOVA)
• Statistical modeling (e.g. linear regression, logistic regression, multivariate regression, longitudinal and/or spatial lag models, mixed models)
• Machine learning (e.g., random forests, support vector or gradient boosting machines, unsupervised classification, k-means clustering, neural networks)
• Multivariate dimensionality reduction (e.g. Principle Components Analysis, Discriminant Analysis, Factor Analysis)
• Conjoint Analysis and Discrete Choice Analysis
• Ability to interpret results and explain impacts to the business for consumption by leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to convey advanced quantitative and technological concepts to all levels of employees. Excellent data visualization skills are preferred.
  
  

What It Takes To Succeed

• Master's degree preferred, with experience or coursework in water resource management, forest science, wildlife science, rangeland management, natural resource management, or related field.
• Ability to perform multiple, non-routine assignments concurrently under stress and restricted time frames.
• Ability to provide accurate, timely and rigorous analyses and produce science-based recommendations to executive management.
• Ability to plan and carry out applied research projects.
• Ability to present in front of large groups in a composed, clear, and concise manner, including conducting group trainings.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to be a recognized advisor in areas of specialty.
• Ability to work with dynamic and high-performing teams.
• Ability to adapt to change and handle uncertainty.
• Ability to represent SRP to industry organizations in areas of expertise.
  
  

Experience

A minimum of 10 years of related experience is required.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution is required and a master’s degree in the area of specialty is preferred.

Hybrid Workplace

SRP currently offers a hybrid workplace, which allows employees whose jobs can be performed remotely, and who have sufficient technical capability, to telework up to three days per week. Although teleworking is available, all employees must live and work in Arizona. We are taking steps to protect the health and well-being of all team members, and by following a number of health and safety protocols, to reduce the risk of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Drug/Alcohol Policy Statement

To promote the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve, SRP is committed to maintaining a drug/alcohol free work environment. Although marijuana may now be legal in Arizona, except as otherwise specified under Arizona law, SRP considers it to be an illegal drug for the purpose of our drug/alcohol policy because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Any candidate found to be impaired during the hiring process or who has the presence of an illegal drug or unauthorized substance in their system during the pre-employment drug/alcohol test may be disqualified from further consideration in the hiring process.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Salt River Project (SRP) is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state or local law.

Work Authorization

All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Currently, SRP does not sponsor H1B visas, OPT, or other employment-related visa's.