Data Scientist

Role Responsibilities

Use data to shape Alberta’s auto insurance landscape and impact millions.

Are you a data expert who thrives on solving complex problems with real-world impact? As a Data Scientist with the AIRB, you will turn billions of rows of auto insurance data into insights that inform public policy, protect consumers, and guide regulatory decisions. Your work will directly affect over 3 million Albertans and the $4 billion automobile insurance market in Alberta.

Working in collaboration with the Senior Data Scientist and a team of regulatory experts, you will create innovative dashboards, analyze pricing models for fairness, and develop tools that empower consumers and inform Board Members, insurers, and government officials.

•    Lead the development of enterprise-level dashboards and analytics tools to support evidence-based decision-making by the AIRB and Albertans.
•    Analyze multi-source auto insurance premium and claims data to identify trends and inform regulatory strategy.
•    Collaborate with the Senior Data Scientist to develop and implement outcome-based health claims data tracking.
•    Translate complex analyses into clear, actionable insights using dashboards, infographics, and public reports.
•    Evaluate insurer pricing models for fairness, systemic bias, and regulatory compliance.
•    Advise AIRB staff and Board Members on model appropriateness, advanced statistical methods, and ethical risks.
•    Build strategic partnerships with data scientists, actuaries, and national regulators to share insights and enhance Alberta’s data leadership in auto insurance.
•    Support and mentor colleagues, contribute to peer code reviews, and uphold best practices in code quality and reporting consistency.
•    Represent AIRB in meetings with government, industry stakeholders, and regulatory partners.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

In this role, you will contribute to our team by demonstrating the following behavioral competencies:

Systems Thinking: Takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities. Anticipates outcomes and potential impacts and seeks stakeholder perspectives. Works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values. Works with others to identify areas for collaboration

Develop Networks: Success in the role requires ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships  with insurers (data analysts, actuaries, data scientists), and other provincial government counterparts and other stakeholders, including other provincial rate regulators, government policy personnel and the Superintendent of Insurance.  These partnerships and relationships will strengthen Alberta's reputation as data-driven, and explore synergies and opportunities to collaborate with other organizations.  The position builds consensus across technical and policy stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes. Incumbent must anticipate the needs of various stakeholders and seek to meet or mitigate risks related to those needs.  Must recommend solutions to address issues at hand.

Agility:  Incumbent must manage timelines and data input from several stakeholders while working towards fixed board meeting delivery dates. Expected to challenge existing processes and suggest improvements where they identify them. Thinks strategically and attempts to anticipate obstacles and arrives prepared for any challenge.

Drive for Results: The goal of this position is to further the AIRB's data driven decision making. That means working on several reports and dashboards and accepting the responsibility of decisions used making that information. Devotion to the health of the Alberta consumer and consistently advocating on their behalf.

Build Collaborative Environments: Be part of a heavily collaborative environment within the data science team that encourages knowledge sharing. Work closely with individuals on the data science team to peer review each others work to elevate the level of AIRB's analysis. Partner regularly with subject matter experts such as GISA, IBM, and AIRB's consulting actuary for their expertise in auto insurance data and actuarial science.

Qualifications

Requirements:
University degree in Statistics, Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Economics, or other relevant quantitative field plus at least  two (2) years’ experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large datasets, preferably within the insurance or financial services sector.

•    Expertise in R for statistical modeling (e.g., GLM), data visualization, and report generation.
•    Proficiency with SQL for querying large databases (2TB+); comfort with Python for basic machine learning tasks.
•    Experience with Power BI or similar tools to develop dashboards for both technical and public-facing audiences.

Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.
Equivalency:  Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 
•    1 year of education for 1 year of experience; 
•    or  1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

The following are considered assets:

•    Experience working with automobile insurance data sources and regulatory environments.
•    Knowledge of insurance pricing, underwriting practices, and actuarial methods.
•    Familiarity with government policies, legislative mandates, and their impact on data-driven regulatory practices.
•    Exceptional communication skills to present complex data to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership and the public.
•    Proven ability to manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and contribute to strategic regulatory outcomes.
•    Strong attention to detail, critical thinking, and a commitment to data integrity and fairness in pricing models.

A cover letter outlining what makes you the ideal fit is required, and will be used to help us assess your written communication skills.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This position is a permanent, full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday

This position will be located at Canadian Western Bank Place, Edmonton.

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary. This competition may be used to fill future roles at the same or lower classifications.

Candidates may be asked to participate in a written assessment. Final Candidates for this position will be asked to undergo a security screening.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.