Data Scientist - Senior

About this role

Established in 2021,Independence Pet Holdingsis a corporate holding company that manages a diverse and broad portfolio of modern pet health brands and services, including insurance, pet education, lost recovery services, and more throughout North America.
We believe pet insurance is more than a financial product and build solutions to simplify the pet parenting journey and help improve the well-being of pets. As a leading authority in the pet category, we operate with a full stack of resources, capital, and services to support pet parents. Our multi-brand and omni-channel approach include our own insurance carrier, insurance brands and partner brands.
Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC), a subsidiary of IPH, has over 50 years of underwriting experience and a history of innovation in the pet insurance industry. IAIC has built a reputation as a trusted and dependable partner. We are a pet-focused underwriter with deep insurance industry experience, offering a product with proven consumer appeal.

Job Location: Remote (U.S.) Teams with hubs in: Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Scottsdale, AZ | Cleveland, OH
Job Summary
We are seeking a Lead Data Scientist with hands-on experience in P&C or Pet Insurance pricing to join our growing R&D team. This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for leading pricing model development, driving analytical best practices, and serving as a subject matter expert in insurance pricing.
You will own projects end‑to‑end — from scoping to delivery — and balance a portfolio of 2–4 concurrent initiatives across pricing, research, and model enhancement. This role requires someone who can independently run a project to ground, ask the right questions when roadblocks arise, and communicate complex modeling work to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
You will partner closely with actuarial, product, engineering, and business stakeholders while helping shape the analytical culture of the team.
What You’ll Do
Pricing & Modeling Leadership

Develop, refine, and maintain GLM‑based pricing models and related regression approaches used for rate setting, segmentation, and performance forecasting.

Apply machine learning techniques where appropriate to enhance predictive accuracy and customer behavior insights.

Serve as a technical lead on pricing initiatives, ensuring methodological rigor and regulatory awareness.

End‑to‑End Project Ownership

Take a scoped project and drive it independently to completion, escalating questions or blockers appropriately.

Manage a rotating portfolio of 2–4 active projects, including pricing model builds, research initiatives, and support for regulatory filings.

Data Exploration & Analytical Insight

Conduct exploratory data analysis to understand relationships across pricing, conversion, retention, and risk segmentation.

Perform advanced root‑cause analysis using SQL and statistical techniques to investigate data issues and collaborate with engineering to resolve them.

Translate complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights for leadership across varying technical backgrounds.

Communication & Influence

Present modeling results, assumptions, and recommendations to senior leadership in a way that is accessible and compelling.

Become an SME in a key area of insurance pricing, providing guidance to peers, leaders, and cross‑functional partners.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

Mentor junior team members and contribute to elevating data science best practices across the organization.

Demonstrate flexibility in leading or following depending on project needs, contributing to a collaborative and high‑trust team environment.

Required Qualifications

Graduate degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Actuarial Science, or related quantitative field and 2+ years of experience in a data science or analytical role OR 4+ years of progressive experience in data science or analytics.

At least 1 year of experience in P&C or Pet Insurance pricing (rate modeling, GLMs, segmentation, or related actuarial/data science work).

Strong proficiency in Python and SQL for data manipulation, modeling, and analysis.

Deep understanding of GLMs, regression modeling, and statistical inference.

Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment with a small, high‑impact team.

Strong problem‑solving skills, critical thinking, and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Snowflake, Databricks, or SQL Server.

Familiarity with data warehousing concepts.

Hands-on experience with WTW Radar, Emblem, or Earnix.

Experience building dashboards in Power BI or similar tools.

Who Thrives Here
This role is ideal for someone who:

Enjoys owning complex analytical work from start to finish.

Can balance multiple projects without losing quality or momentum.

Communicates with clarity, confidence, and humility.

Wants to grow into a pricing SME and influence decisions across the business.

Values both leading and following depending on what the project requires

#LI #carrier
All of our jobs come with great benefits including healthcare, parental leave and opportunities for career advancements. Some offerings are dependent upon the location of where you work and can include the following:

Comprehensive full medical, dental and vision Insurance

Basic Life Insurance at no cost to the employee

Company paid short-term and long-term disability

12 weeks of 100% paid Parental Leave

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Retirement savings plan

Personal Paid Time Off

Paid holidays and company-wide Wellness Day off

Paid time off to volunteer at nonprofit organizations

Pet friendly office environment

Commuter Benefits

Group Pet Insurance

On the job training and skills development

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

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