We are seeking a Data Scientist to join ReFED’s Data & Insights team. You are an experienced and creative data scientist with a strong background in data wrangling, natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, statistics, and visualization. In this role, you will apply NLP techniques to unlock insights from unstructured data, architect knowledge systems from diverse data sources, and build explanatory and predictive models to empower stakeholders—policymakers, NGOs, and businesses—to make data-driven decisions to reduce food waste. This position will report to the Director of Research.
About The Organization
ReFED is a U.S.-based nonprofit working to catalyze the food system to take evidence-based action to stop wasting food. We do this by cultivating and convening the food community, delivering actionable evidence and insights, and seeding and accelerating food waste solutions. Starting with the 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste, ReFED has produced first-of-their-kind tools and resources, providing a full-supply-chain picture of U.S. food waste, cost-effective solutions to reduce it, and methods to track progress. In 2021, ReFED launched the Insights Engine, an online data center serving as the next generation of data, insights, and guidance on U.S. food waste reduction. Reducing food waste will have a significant impact on mitigating climate change, optimizing the use of water, land, and other resources, and providing meals for the over 47 million people in the United States who currently face food insecurity. We are continuing to grow our team to further build our capacity to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that makes the best use of the food we grow.
We are a team of doers, and we get a lot accomplished. We create outsized impact, and everyone on the team contributes to accomplishing our shared goals. Learning and professional development are heavily embedded in ReFED’s culture. We promote cross-functional work to embrace diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills to ensure we are an inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Learn more at www.refed.org.
\n- Build knowledge systems to enable our quantitative research and unlock qualitative insights about food waste measurement and solutions from academic literature, case studies, reports, and media
- Creatively utilize structured and unstructured data and apply NLP, statistical, and machine learning to answer questions about the extent of food waste, its climate and environmental impacts, and what we can do to reduce it.
- Synthesize and communicate findings to empower technical and lay audiences to make data-driven decisions about reducing food waste.
- Develop system dynamics, simulation, and material flow models to analyze how food moves through the supply chain, helping to understand how changes in one part of the food supply chain would influence food waste upstream and downstream.
- Develop scenario analysis frameworks to systematically explore "what-if" questions about the future of food waste reduction.
- Formal training in computer science, data science, statistics, math, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience building predictive and explanatory models using statistical and machine learning methods.
- Experience with natural language processing, semantic modeling, LLMs, and RAG development.
- Data wrangling, cleaning, exploratory analysis, and data visualization experience.
- Python experience with an emphasis on clean, maintainable code.
- Experience with software design patterns and architecture principles and using APIs in a data science context.
- Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP) experience.
- Bayesian statistics experience.
- Experience with system dynamics modeling and simulation tools.
- Background in environmental economics, industrial ecology, or complex systems modeling.
- Familiarity with material flow analysis or environmental input-output modeling methodologies.
- Knowledge of systematic review/meta-analysis methodologies.
- Are passionate about the role of data science and technology in addressing social and environmental issues.
- Are comfortable working and communicating in an entrepreneurial, ambiguous environment.
- Thrive in a small, fast-paced, high-growth organization.
- Have a strong commitment to reducing food waste.
- Experience working in the nonprofit or food sector.
We strive to maintain clear and frequent communication throughout the recruitment process, however, due to capacity limitations we may not be able to respond to every initial application. Our process always includes input from multiple team members with diverse backgrounds and perspectives from across the organization.
Our Operating Environment
ReFED is a distributed organization, with a team of 25+ working remotely from various locations across the United States. We use a range of digital collaboration and connectivity tools to facilitate our work, including Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Airtable, Salesforce, Miro, Jira, MS Office, Adobe, and Insperity.
Our remote culture is built through a variety of means, including 3-4 annual in-person gatherings. These events include our annual team retreat, department retreats, and the Food Waste Solutions Summit, a national convening of the food waste movement that we host annually. We also foster team connections through informal virtual get-togethers, ask-me-anything sessions with our Board and Advisory Council members, and peer recognition on our shoutouts channel in Slack. We also have a “Big Dill” spot bonus program and engage in conversation through our watercooler channel in Slack. Our in-person events are essential for team building, learning, and fun.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment
ReFED is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all individuals have equal opportunities to contribute and grow. We recognize that our success is rooted in the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of our team members, and we strive to foster a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, training, and promoting individuals regardless of their gender identity, sex, race, religion, age, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. We acknowledge that systemic barriers limit opportunities for certain groups, and we are dedicated to actively working to remove those barriers and promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in all aspects of our organization. Our commitment to JEDI is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuously learning, listening, and improving our practices to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for all.
Asch Harwood is the hiring manager for this position. Applications must be received by February 28, 2025, to be fully considered.
