Data Science Lead - (Geospatial AI & Climate) - 12 month contract to permanent - Green Jobs Toronto and Vancouver - Deadline to Apply August 16

Clean Foundation • ,

6d • CA$25 - CA$30 • Hybrid

About The Position

Korotu Technology is seeking a Data Science Lead to guide data science co-op students, translate client requirements into technical workflows, and manage the end-to-end lifecycle of geospatial projects. This role combines hands-on modeling with technical leadership and client-facing project delivery. The position is a 12-month contract funded through the Green Jobs Program, with the intention to transition to a permanent role upon completion. Korotu Technology is a fast-growing clean-tech startup focused on protecting the planet by using satellite imagery, AI, and on-the-ground data to help communities monitor, measure, and finance nature-based solutions. Their SaaS platform, Aroa, assists land protectors and impact investors in fighting climate change and preserving biodiversity.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree or PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Statistics, Physics, Geomatics, Mathematics) or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience in data science or machine learning.
• Direct experience with geospatial data (raster/vector data) and remote sensing applications.
• A proven track record of leading complex data science projects from conception through to delivery and client acceptance.
• Experience in a leadership, management, or team lead capacity, including mentoring junior staff.
• Strong client-facing skills, with experience in a consultative role where you translated ambiguous business problems into concrete technical solutions.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and its core data science ecosystem (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, Keras/PyTorch).
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both expert and non-expert audiences.
• Must meet Green Jobs Program eligibility criteria: Between 15-30 years old, Canadian Citizen/Permanent Resident/Protected Person, not currently enrolled in school, legally entitled to work in Canada and provincial/territorial legislation.
• Access to a reliable laptop and a stable internet connection for remote work.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Hands-on experience with MLOps, including deploying and maintaining machine learning models in production on cloud platforms (Azure or AWS).
• Experience participating in technical recruiting, interviewing, or hiring processes.
• A strong personal or professional interest in climate change, conservation, or sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the data science vision and roadmap for Korotu, identifying new opportunities to apply AI and machine learning to the natural capital space.
• Act as the technical authority in client engagements, working alongside the leadership team to understand client needs, shape project mandates, and win new business.
• Stay at the forefront of AI and remote sensing research, translating cutting-edge academic work into tangible commercial applications and a competitive advantage for Korotu.
• Serve as the primary technical mentor and daily coordinator for data science co-op students, guiding them through project onboarding, code reviews, and technical unblocking.
• Foster a collaborative environment of intellectual curiosity, best engineering practices, and peer learning within the data science stream.
• Help shape internal team workflows and documentation to ensure co-op projects scale smoothly into the core platform.
• Own the full project lifecycle, from initial problem discovery and prototyping to delivering robust, data-driven solutions to clients.
• Lead cross-functional project teams, ensuring seamless collaboration between data scientists, software engineers, designers, and product managers.
• Partner closely with the engineering lead to architect and implement the productization of successful R&D projects, turning bespoke solutions into scalable, repeatable features on the Arora platform.
• Influence company strategy and own the success of data-driven solutions.
• Identify, recruit, and shape a world-class data science team.

Benefits

• Two weeks of paid vacation during the contract year.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage (upon transition to permanent status).
• Access to employee equity (stock options) pool (upon transition to permanent status).
• Performance-based bonuses (upon transition to permanent status).
• Increased vacation time to three weeks per year (upon transition to permanent status).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level