Lead Data Scientist

Established in 2021, Independence Pet Holdings is a corporate holding company that manages a diverse and broad portfolio of modern pet health brands and services, including insurance, pet education, lost recovery services, and more throughout North America.

We believe pet insurance is more than a financial product and build solutions to simplify the pet parenting journey and help improve the well-being of pets. As a leading authority in the pet category, we operate with a full stack of resources, capital, and services to support pet parents. Our multi-brand and omni-channel approach include our own insurance carrier, insurance brands and partner brands. 

Job Location: Remote (U.S.) Teams with hubs in: Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Scottsdale, AZ | Cleveland, OH

Job Summary

We are seeking a Lead Data Scientist with hands-on experience in P&C or Pet Insurance pricing to join our growing R&D team. This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for leading pricing model development, driving analytical best practices, and serving as a subject matter expert in insurance pricing.

You will own projects end‑to‑end — from scoping to delivery — and balance a portfolio of 2–4 concurrent initiatives across pricing, research, and model enhancement. This role requires someone who can independently run a project to ground, ask the right questions when roadblocks arise, and communicate complex modeling work to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

You will partner closely with actuarial, product, engineering, and business stakeholders while helping shape the analytical culture of the team.

What You’ll Do

Pricing & Modeling Leadership

• Develop, refine, and maintain GLM‑based pricing models and related regression approaches used for rate setting, segmentation, and performance forecasting.
• Apply machine learning techniques where appropriate to enhance predictive accuracy and customer behavior insights.
• Serve as a technical lead on pricing initiatives, ensuring methodological rigor and regulatory awareness.

End‑to‑End Project Ownership

• Take a scoped project and drive it independently to completion, escalating questions or blockers appropriately.
• Manage a rotating portfolio of 2–4 active projects, including pricing model builds, research initiatives, and support for regulatory filings.

Data Exploration & Analytical Insight

• Conduct exploratory data analysis to understand relationships across pricing, conversion, retention, and risk segmentation.
• Perform advanced root‑cause analysis using SQL and statistical techniques to investigate data issues and collaborate with engineering to resolve them.
• Translate complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights for leadership across varying technical backgrounds.

Communication & Influence

• Present modeling results, assumptions, and recommendations to senior leadership in a way that is accessible and compelling.
• Become an SME in a key area of insurance pricing, providing guidance to peers, leaders, and cross‑functional partners.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor junior team members and contribute to elevating data science best practices across the organization.
• Demonstrate flexibility in leading or following depending on project needs, contributing to a collaborative and high‑trust team environment.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Actuarial Science, or related quantitative field and 2+ years of experience in a data science or analytical role OR 4+ years of progressive experience in data science or analytics.
• At least 1 year of experience in P&C or Pet Insurance pricing (rate modeling, GLMs, segmentation, or related actuarial/data science work).
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL for data manipulation, modeling, and analysis.
• Deep understanding of GLMs, regression modeling, and statistical inference.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment with a small, high‑impact team.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, critical thinking, and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Snowflake, Databricks, or SQL Server.
• Familiarity with data warehousing concepts.
• Hands-on experience with WTW Radar, Emblem, or Earnix.
• Experience building dashboards in Power BI or similar tools.

Who Thrives Here

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Enjoys owning complex analytical work from start to finish.
• Can balance multiple projects without losing quality or momentum.
• Communicates with clarity, confidence, and humility.
• Wants to grow into a pricing SME and influence decisions across the business.
• Values both leading and following depending on what the project requires

#LI #carrier

All of our jobs come with great benefits including healthcare, parental leave and opportunities for career advancements. Some offerings are dependent upon the location of where you work and can include the following:

• Comprehensive full medical, dental and vision Insurance

• Basic Life Insurance at no cost to the employee

• Company paid short-term and long-term disability

• 12 weeks of 100% paid Parental Leave

• Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Retirement savings plan

• Personal Paid Time Off

• Paid holidays and company-wide Wellness Day off

• Paid time off to volunteer at nonprofit organizations

• Pet friendly office environment

• Commuter Benefits

• Group Pet Insurance

• On the job training and skills development

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

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