Manager of Data Science (Based in Bangkok, relocation assistance provided)

Get to Know our Team:

The Data department caters to all of Agoda’s data-related needs. Our ultimate goal is to increase and facilitate the use of data in the company through creative strategies and the implementation of efficient resources such as operational databases, analytical databases, queue systems, BI tools and data science technology. We recruit the brightest minds globally to take on this challenge, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to personally develop while supporting our company’s culture of diversity and experimentation. The role the Data team plays at Agoda is pivotal, as business users, product managers, engineers and many more rely on us to make informed decisions. We are equally dedicated to our customers by improving their search experience with faster results and protecting them from any fraudulent activities. Data becomes interesting when you have enough of it, and we have plenty - this is the challenging yet rewarding aspect of working in the Data department.

The Opportunity:

Data Science in Agoda is seen differently. For us, a data scientist combines production skills with business and analytic skills. We have recruited top talents from around the world who specialize in building products which utilize Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence as their main edge. We know that incorporating Machine Learning and technology shifts you from good to great, and that is our mission. Our Data Science managers are action-oriented leaders capable of forming clear goals and successfully guiding their team towards achieving them, while maintaining a strong grasp of the details and practice.

As a Data Science Manager, you will:

Develop your team and create a diverse, entrepreneurial environment. You enjoy leading diverse teams of professionals with both qualitative and quantitative backgrounds using data-driven and insights-led approaches to respond quickly in a dynamic, competitive, and rapidly changing industry.

Get your hands dirty. Solve complex problems in the online travel and eCommerce space using a range of Machine Learning and data analysis methods. Use our extensive data repositories to push our business metrics to their limits, both directly and indirectly. Cultivate a culture that consistently raises standards and encourages innovation.

Work on tough problems. Can we discern causation between metrics and bookings? How can we automatically answer our users’ queries? How do we optimize our AB testing platform to ensure we aren’t optimizing noise? How do we measure experiment success to balance type I and II errors correctly? What's the ideal caching strategy for prices and how do we build a Machine Learning model to implement it? How can you detect anomalies within the more than one million time-series we track daily? Can you distinguish between bot and human traffic? Can you make our cross-data-centers replication into smart replication using Machine Learning models? These are just a few of the diverse questions we tackle, and some which you will lead your team to solve. Every aspect of the business will be impacted, and it will require a variety of techniques, from delving deep into data with SQL and Big Data tools, all the way to deploying modern Machine Learning Models.

Deliver results. Work directly with the heads of business departments and the product management team. Influence them with convincing product ideas based on data insights that can significantly improve our business.

In this Role, you'll get to:

• Balance quantitative data analyses with qualitative user insights to uncover how our users book travel, thereby driving the impact of new and existing products.
• Build, validate, test, and deploy machine learning or other Data Science models to predict and influence consumer behavior with the goal of optimizing products and processes.
• Test and affirm insights via rapid experimentation and deployment.
• Engage with business/operation teams and key stakeholders at all levels to formulate solutions & product changes informed by your discoveries.
• Leverage data to assist the business in answering questions about expansion, products, process optimization, cost optimization, customer acquisition/retention/churn and any other business objectives that can be addressed through data insights.
• Form solid cross-functional relationships with designers, product managers, software developers, and marketers who build, design, and optimize our technology and tools.

What you'll Need to Succeed:

• Vast analytical problem-solving capabilities & experience.
• Experience leading a team of both researchers and analysts, preferably in an e-commerce, tech, banking, advertising, or management consulting environment.
• Statistical knowledge and extreme proficiency in SQL. Comfort with R, Python, and Tableau. Experience with Big Data technologies (such as Hadoop/Vertica) is a plus.
• A strong understanding and implementation experience of predictive modeling algorithms like regressions, time series, neural networks, clustering, decision trees and heuristic models, acquainted with balancing model performance against business needs.
• Experience combining user research and data science methodologies across multiple products and teams.
• Research applications experience regarding user experience, marketing, and market insights.
• Excellent communication skills that enable cross-functional work with product managers, tech enthusiasts and design leaders, establishing a solid relationship with a diverse set of stakeholders.
• The ability to explain complex solutions to a less technical audience.
• Bias for action.
• Advanced degree (Master’s/PhD) in Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Operations Research, Physics, or Mathematics/Statistics is preferred.

We welcome both local and international applications for this role. Full visa sponsorship and relocation assistance available for eligible candidates.

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