IO Careers: Head of Machine Learning & Science

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Impact Observatory is a mission-driven company that brings AI-powered algorithms and on-demand data to sustainability and environmental risk analysis for governments, industries, and markets. Impact Observatory empowers decision-makers with the timely, actionable, science-based geospatial insights they need to succeed.

Duties and Responsibilities

ML/Science Team Supervision

Plan and direct technical work to be done based on committed tasks and product roadmap requirements, including collaboration with other teams and tracking work by subcontractors
Recruit, hire, and train department staff based on current and expected needs
Mentor and coach the ML/Science team as they scope projects and design algorithms
Manage and conduct performance evaluations of department staff
Plan and manage the department budget
Ensure that plans and decisions such as those for staffing, development, organization, material efficiency, hardware acquisitions, and facilities are in line with the organization’s strategy, plans, and vision.
Ensure the department has the equipment and supplies needed to function properly.

Technical Leadership

Connect IO to the state of the art in machine learning and remote sensing
Help team prototype creative solutions quickly by developing minimum viable products in an entrepreneurial environment
Look ahead to strategic needs - explore new technical capabilities and datasets
Design, develop, and maintain IO core tools and systems used for training and deployment of machine learning, remote sensing, and data science algorithms
Represent IO and our capabilities via speaking engagements, blog posts, and published papers results internally and externally with customers & community
Support customer reporting and briefings as needed, coordinated by Customer Success

New Work Development

Propose and develop strategic R&D projects for government, NGO and commercial opportunities that advance our machine learning, data science, and/or remote sensing capabilities
Support marketing and customer proposal development as needed, ensuring alignment of proposals with existing and anticipated technical capabilities and capacity

Company Strategy and Executive Team Membership

Collaborate and contribute to develop of company strategy and roadmap
Support the Product team by advising on technical feasibility and outlook for the product strategy
Work with other members of the Executive Team to ensure collaboration, transparency, and efficiency. Remove obstacles to team success

Education & Experience

Relevant Bachelor’s degree, Masters or PhD preferred
5+ years of experience leading ML and/or science teams in relevant organizations
10+ years of practical experience in ML and/or science work in relevant organizations

Required Qualifications

Experience building and deploying AI and deep learning models
Demonstrated leadership, communications, planning, and organizational skills
Experience with recruiting, training, managing, and mentoring people
Experience with geospatial data, overhead imagery, and/or machine learning
Knowledge of fiscal planning, budgeting and reporting
Excellent decision-making and problem-solving ability
Experience with Python, Tensorflow, PyTorch, and other tools
Experience working and managing multiple “priority” projects simultaneously while meeting established deadlines, working both independently and as part of a team
Ability to respond to changing circumstances and use new information to adjust approach and to quickly respond to new needs

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with conservation, environment, or climate change related modeling
Experience with risk, carbon, or biodiversity modeling
Experience with modeling that integrates satellite imagery with socio-economic data to create insights

Benefits

Health, Dental & Vision
Paid Holidays
Unlimited Flexible PTO Program
Extended Leave Program (Sick, Caretaker & Parental)
Remote Work Option
Option to work in the Washington D.C. office, located in the co Studio by Tishman Speyer (co-working space complete with a rooftop, lounges, concierge service).

How to apply

At Impact Observatory, we empower planetary superheroes to succeed - come join us! To apply, please email your cover letter and resume to careers@impactobservatory.com with “Head of Machine Learning & Science” in the subject line. If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation during the hiring process, please feel free to disclose that information at that time. Thank you!

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.