Data Scientist, Insights & Innovation Analytics

About This Role

Biogen's Decision & Quality Analytics Innovation (DQAI) team is part of Portfolio Leadership, Analytics & Insights (PLAI), which is under the Development department. The vision of the DQAI team is to deliver trusted insights that drive smarter decisions and measurable impact across the research, development and medical (RDM).

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Data Scientist to join our team. This position is responsible for leading the generation of actionable insights within the Decision & Quality Analytics and Innovation (DQAI) team. The role focuses on applying advanced analytics to derive meaningful insights that inform decision-making across Portfolio Leadership, Analytics, & Insights team. It requires strategic thinking and technical proficiency to translate complex data into narratives that drive operational and strategic outcomes. The position also supports the development of analytic frameworks and methodologies and plays a key role in cross-functional collaboration and capability building.

What You'll Do

• Champion the use of modern AI assistants (e.g., Azure OpenAI, Copilot, GenAI-powered BI) to accelerate data exploration, automate workflows, and enhance storytelling of insights.
• Lead the design and delivery of data-driven insights that shape strategic and operational decision-making across PLAI, and Project & Portfolio Management.
• Analyze complex, multi-source data to identify trends, risks, gaps, and opportunities in the pharmaceutical R&D portfolio.
• Translate ambiguous business questions into well-structured analytical problems and convert results into actionable recommendations.
• Apply advanced statistical modeling and machine learning to uncover root causes, predictive indicators, and optimization opportunities.
• Work independently with minimal guidance, exercising sound judgment to solve complex problems and provide new perspectives on existing approaches.
• Act as a resource and mentor for colleagues with less experience; lead small projects or project components within broader initiatives.
• Scope, prioritize, and deliver high-impact analytics projects that balance innovation with manageable risks and resource requirements.
• Deliver clear insight summaries, reports, and presentations that highlight implications and recommendations for senior decision-makers; explain difficult or technical results to non technical stakeholders.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to embed analytics into the processes.
• Collaborate with data engineering and governance teams to ensure data readiness, integrity, and scalability for advanced analytics.
• Contribute to standardized methodologies and frameworks that accelerate insight discovery, reproducibility, and adoption of best practices.
• Maintain awareness of industry best practices, competitive benchmarks, and evolving approaches to ensure analytics solutions remain differentiated and impactful.
• Support governance stage-gate reviews by delivering data-backed assessments of program cost, probability-of-success, schedule variance, and reprioritization options.

• BA or MS in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field required; advanced/graduate degree strongly preferred.
• Requires 5-7 years of experience in data science, analytics, or a comparable domain, including insight generation within pharmaceutical R&D or portfolio analytics.
• Proven expertise in Python and SQL/R, with experience applying statistical, ML, and visualization techniques in production-grade environments.
• Strong competency in software development or data engineering (e.g., version control, modular code design, APIs, pipelines), enabling deployment across a broad range of analytics and operational projects.
• Familiarity with FAIR data principles and modern data engineering stacks (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks).
• Effective communicator, skilled at explaining complex or sensitive information and building consensus across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Enthusiastic AI advocate who leverages emerging tools to enhance productivity, accelerate insight generation, and scale analytical impact.
• Recognized for independent problem solving, innovative thinking, and the ability to integrate best practices with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
• Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
• Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
• A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
• Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
• 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
• 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
• Employee Resource Groups participation