Senior Data Scientist at uLesson Group (Miva Open University)

uLesson Group (Miva Open University) - We are an education company building a new kind of university targeted at the African region. Miva is a Pan- African Distance e-Learning University that is built on a couple of beliefs: Firstly, we believe that the traditional brick-and-mortar approach to tertiary education is no longer a viable option in serving learners on the African continent. This approach will not provide the capacity and efficacy for the people of the region. We are building a university experience that can leverage excellent academic talent (wherever it is to be found) and digital technologies to create a new, fresh, more efficacious and more accessible tertiary experience. Our second belief is that this new tertiary experience must not only meet but exceed the existing way of doing things in terms of quality, efficacy and preparing learners for the future. We are uncompromising in these beliefs, and this is why we are excited to speak to you.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Data Scientist

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time

Overall Function

• We are seeking a Senior Data Scientist to lead the development and implementation of data-driven and AI-powered solutions across Miva’s digital learning ecosystem. 
• You will work at the intersection of machine learning, generative AI, and educational data science to drive innovation, shape intelligent learning experiences, and improve operational and learner outcomes. 
• This role requires both technical excellence and strategic vision, as you collaborate across engineering, product, and curriculum teams to transform ideas into impactful, scalable features, such as personalised recommendations, intelligent tutoring systems, and adaptive assessments.

Key Responsibilties

• Design, build, and deploy machine learning models and statistical algorithms to support key features such as personalised learning, intelligent content recommendations, and learner performance prediction.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of AI-enabled capabilities, including chatbots, intelligent tutors, and generative feedback tools.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to build and optimise data pipelines and ML workflows, ensuring production-grade reliability and real-time responsiveness.
• Support prompt engineering and optimisation for generative AI systems (e.g., LLM-powered tutors and content creators), enhancing contextual accuracy and instructional relevance.
• Translate product, content, and pedagogy requirements into data science strategies that align with learner needs and business goals.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA) and deep-dive investigations to surface insights that drive product decisions, learner support, and growth strategies.
• Develop A/B testing frameworks and impact measurement models for evaluating interventions and features across the platform.
• Lead evaluation and integration of cutting-edge AI/ML techniques, including LLMs, transformers, and generative models, into core learning products.
• Define and champion best practices in reproducible science, ethical AI, and responsible experimentation.
• Mentor junior data scientists and help foster a high-performing, collaborative, and innovative data science culture.
• Communicate insights and results effectively to diverse stakeholders using visual storytelling, dashboards, and reports.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of model development, deployment decisions, and experimental findings.
• Contribute to the establishment of data governance standards, including data quality, lineage tracking, and privacy safeguards.
• Monitor model performance post-deployment, detect drift, and iterate to improve accuracy, fairness, and learner impact.
• Stay informed on AI and edtech trends, academic research, and practical advancements to inform Miva’s innovation roadmap.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field (PhD is a plus).
• 6 - 10 years of experience in data science, machine learning, or applied AI—ideally within edtech, SaaS, or consumer digital platforms.
• Deep experience with Python, R, and libraries/frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, or XGBoost.
• Demonstrated experience deploying ML models into production environments on cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Proficient in SQL and adept at working with large-scale datasets across structured and unstructured data sources.
• Strong understanding of experimental design, statistical modelling, and causal inference.
• Skilled in working with LLMs, embedding models, and generative AI frameworks, with a strong grasp of their potential in learning personalisation and content generation.
• Experience with prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and performance optimisation for LLM-based tools is highly desirable.
• Proven leadership in complex data science initiatives, with the ability to mentor team members and manage cross-functional collaborations.
• Strong communication, data storytelling, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with data visualisation tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or Plotly.

Salary
N1,000,000 - N1,500,000 monthly.

Application Closing Date
7th May, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online