Job Description:
Ratonga Matihiko | Digital Services
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand
- 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
- Professional development opportunities
- Generous superannuation provisions (up to 6.75% employer contribution)
- Full-time (37.5 hours per week), permanent position
Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā! He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Data Scientist (AI Enablement)? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.
Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
As a Data Scientist (AI Enablement), you will transform data into actionable insights and support decision-making across the University. You'll be part of the Data & AI Enablement team, working with faculties, professional services, and project teams to develop robust and interpretable modelling solutions that generate real-world value.
Key Responsibilities
- Build, validate, and deploy statistical and machine learning models (e.g., regression, NLP, clustering).
- Evaluate and implement emerging AI patterns including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), AI agents, and orchestration frameworks to support university use cases.
- Design end-to-end solutions with strong focus on transparency, reproducibility, and performance.
- Explore and visualise datasets using Python and SQL to generate insights.
- Communicate results through reports and dashboards (e.g., Power BI).
- Trial generative AI applications and contribute to reusable AI templates and frameworks.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to define needs and deliver user-centred solutions.
- Uphold ethical data practices and UC’s commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Mōu | Who You Are
To be successful in this role, you will have:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant data science discipline (NZQA Level 7).
- At least 5 years of data engineering experience and 3+ years in data science/machine learning.
- Proficiency in Python, SQL, and cloud tools (Azure, DataBricks, Snowflake).
- Strong communication skills, business acumen, and stakeholder engagement experience.
- Commitment to cultural responsibility and UC values.
- Competency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga is an advantage.
- An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.
