Data Scientist, Principal

Salary : $69,460.00 - $118,083.00 Annually

Location : Atlanta, GA 30303

Job Type : Regular Full-Time

Office : Office of the Chief Operating Officer / Research & Analytics

Department : Research & Innovation

Opening Date : 10 / 14 / 2025

Closing Date : 11 / 14 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Eastern

Job Description :

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Office of Research and Innovation seeks a Data Scientist at the Principal level. The role requires a deeply curious person with strong statistical, analytical, and programming skills and will be responsible for collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting large datasets to support the mission of ARC, the regional planning and inter-governmental coordination agency for the 11-county Atlanta region. ARC's mission is to consider issues from a regional perspective and work with community partners to plan the investments and programs needed to improve quality of life for all residents of the Atlanta Region.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Data collection and cleaning : Collect structured, unstructured, and spatial data from public, administrative, and proprietary sources, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Create novel databases and geographic features using web scraping, crowd sourcing, or other techniques. Clean raw data for processing and analysis.
• Data management : Aggregate, transform, and organize data. Conduct geoprocessing (such as spatial merges and joins). Organize data and metadata.
• Statistical analysis : Perform rigorous descriptive and predictive data analysis. Validate and refine models to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Data visualization : Create interactive data visualizations and dashboards to translate findings to stakeholders. Present complex data in an understandable manner.
• Communication : Prepare written and presented content to summarize key findings. Communicate to both technical and non-technical audiences using data storytelling.
• Collaboration : Work with cross-functional teams to identify data needs and deliver data-driven solutions.
• Continuous learning : Stay updated on the field of data science. Engage in continuous learning and professional development.

Minimum Qualifications :

Education : Master's degree in Data Science, Urban or Regional Planning, Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience : Two years of experience in data science, data analytics, or a related field.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies :

CV, cover letter, writing sample (peer-reviewed, technical report, web publication, etc), skills assessment (respond to a data analysis request, provide sample code, create visualizations, and write a short narrative report)

o Quantitative research design and methodologies, including statistical and machine learning techniques.

o Statistical software and programming languages such as Python, R, SQL, Stata and / or SPSS.

o Spatial analysis in ArcGIS.

o Developing or maintaining interactive applications (such as data visualizations) using JavaScript platforms or other code-based tools.

o Familiarity with no-code and low-code tools such as Tableau or Power BI.

o Knowledge of version control systems like Git.

o Knowledge of natural language processing, machine learning, and generative artificial intelligence

o Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure.

Additional Information

About ARC :

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region's success, including growth and development, transportation, water resources, services for older adults and workforce solutions. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region's collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships.

ARC Strategic Framework

Vision - ONE great REGION

Mission Statement

The Atlanta Regional Commission fosters thriving communities for all within the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments.

Our Goals

Our Core Values

Excellence | A commitment to doing our best and going above and beyond in every facet of our work allowing for innovative practices and actions to be created while ensuring our agency's and our colleague's success.

Equity | We represent a belief that there are some things which people should have, that there are basic needs that should be fulfilled, that burdens and rewards should not be spread too divergently across the community, and that policy should be directed with impartiality, fairness and justice towards these ends.

Integrity | In our conduct, communication, and collaboration with each other and the region's residents, we will act with consistency, honesty, transparency, fairness and accountability within and across each of our responsibilities and functions.

Application Process :

The Atlanta Regional Commission is looking for individuals who enjoy working in a public service environment where the mission is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Atlanta region. ARC serves as a forum where leaders come together to discuss and act on issues of regionwide consequence, so it is important that our staff share the public entrepreneurial spirit that defines ARC.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, ARC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex, religion or disability.

For questions about recruitment, or to request a reasonable accommodation during the application, interview, or testing process, please contact ARC at 404-463-3100 or Human Resources via email at hr@atlantaregional.org.

ARC offers our full-time regular employees a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off and more! For additional information, please visit :