Academic Chair, LIDA Data Scientist Development Programme

We are seeking an Academic Chair at grade 9 or 10 for the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) Data Scientist Development Programme (DSDP). Applicants can come from any subject area aligned with the DSDP aims of advancing data science employability and research activity across its Communities and Programmes: Health, Societies, Environment, Food, Artificial Intelligence, Immersive Technologies, Data Science Infrastructures, Data Visualization and Science of Data Science.

The DSDP is a competitive employability development programme for entry-level data scientists to work on two 6-month interdisciplinary research projects, all motivated by providing data solutions to challenges for the public good. The Programme is approaching its tenth year, with a strategic focus on growing Programme funding, partnerships and its research impact base. It offers a unique opportunity to develop and apply skills that are in high demand within industry and academia, nationally and globally, within a leading, state-of-the-art facility.

You will join a DSDP leadership team which includes:

• DSDP Manager, Kylie Norman – responsible for line management of the data scientists, day-to-day running of the Programme, Programme operations from project selection to recruitment, and the DSDP mentoring service.
• DSDP Deputy Academic Chair, Prof Nick Malleson – responsible for data scientist recruitment and deputising for the Academic Chair as necessary.
• DSDP Chair for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Assoc. Prof. Sajid Siraj – responsible for agreeing and evaluating Programme EDI strategy & KPIs.

LIDA's DSDP is an award-winning programme. It has contributed to seven research awards to date and won (in 2022) an award for its positive action approach to diversifying the data workforce across the categories of Global Majority, women and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

• Lead the DSDP strategic direction and contribute to growing Programme funding, partnerships and impact.
• Provide leadership for the two 6-month interdisciplinary projects and oversee outcomes that advance data science employability and research activity.
• Work with the DSDP leadership team to ensure high-quality recruitment, project selection, and programme operations, from inception to delivery.
• Lead and coordinate the Programme's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion agenda and KPIs in collaboration with the DSDP Chair for EDI.
• Inspire and mentor current and future data science leaders within the Programme and across LIDA.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to broaden the Programme's impact and partnerships.

• Experience in data science or a closely related field with a track record of leadership or academic oversight.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in data science and higher education.
• Internal applicants only for this role.
• Desirable: a demonstrated ability to work across disciplines and lead cross-cutting initiatives in data science employability, research, and impact.

The role supports the University's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. LIDA particularly encourages applications from groups currently under-represented on the Programme and within LIDA, including female and Global Majority applicants. Applications will be evaluated on merit.