This page presents the coordinated recruitment campaign for Technopolis Group’s Data Science Unit. Office-specific requirements and application links are below. 

Technopolis Group is expanding its team of policy data scientists across multiple country offices. Applicants can select their preferred location using the relevant application form linked at the end of this page. Joining our team now means contributing to developing innovative data science tools and methods for public policy. The role involves designing cross-cutting techniques and applying them to diverse projects in the public sector. Clients will include national and regional governments, the European Commission and other public authorities and institutions. 

Technopolis Group is an international research and consulting firm for the public sector with colleagues spread across twelve locations in Europe, Africa and Latin America. We support policy instruments such as funding programs in various fields. We work primarily for regional, national, and international public institutions and foundations.

Our Data Science Unit (DSU) operates in several of our country offices. Our team brings together diverse academic backgrounds in astrophysics, economics, psychology, management, and statistics. We foster openness, collaboration, and diversity and are passionate about developing data science applications to improve policymaking. 

The DSU works in policy consulting for clients and in internal R&D projects to develop innovative data applications – often in collaboration with internal and external partners. We rely on methods such as machine learning, natural language processing, web scraping, and dynamic visualisations, and our current priority areas for further development are real-time indicators, causal AI, and generative AI. Experience or willingness to develop strong expertise in these areas is particularly desirable. 

Your tasks 

• Shape policy recommendations using advanced data science methods and translate results into actionable messages for decision-makers 

• Apply suitable data science techniques to deliver evidence-based consulting 

• Extract, clean, integrate and validate data from various sources to ensure high-quality datasets 

• Develop dashboards to communicate insights effectively 

• Prepare reports and presentations tailored to different target audiences 

• Explain the strengths, limitations and opportunities of data science methods and internal databases to clients and non-technical colleagues 

Essential requirements 

• Candidates must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) and demonstrate strong data science skills acquired through formal education, specialised training, or relevant professional experience. At least one of their academic degrees should be in a social science or a related field (such as economics, statistics, innovation studies, sociology, geography, or political science…) or include a strong foundation in the social sciences 

• A PhD is a plus 

• At least one year of relevant professional experience applying advanced data science methods—beyond basic statistics or econometrics—in public policy contexts. Please note that some offices may require additional years of experience; refer to the specific country office advertisement for details. 

• PhD research or work as a research assistant counts toward this and is highly valued 

• Proficiency in Python is required; knowledge of other languages (e.g. SQL, R and STATA) is an advantage  

• All candidates must have an excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Fluency in English is sufficient for positions in the Belgium and UK offices, while proficiency in an additional language is considered an asset. For all other offices, candidates must be fluent in both English and the primary working language of the respective office. 

Additional requirements 

• Beyond data science, applicants must have interest and experience in applied, policy-oriented work in at least one of Technopolis’ areas of specialisation. Our policy areas include science, technology and innovation policy, digital economy, climate and sustainability, entrepreneurship, health and life sciences, education and skills, international development and regional development. 

• Experience with Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning is particularly desirable 

• Familiarity with GitHub (or equivalent) for version control and experience using Azure or AWS are also desirable. 

• Excellent knowledge of research methods, statistics, economic and scientometric-related data is a big plus 

• Good communication skills and the ability to work in an international and multicultural environment 

Our offer 

• Join an international, dynamic and growing team with a permanent contract 

• Work on meaningful topics at the intersection of data science and public policy, combining the flexibility and pace of the private sector with the purpose of public service 

• Collaborate closely with public institutions, contributing to a socially impactful and intellectually engaging working environment 

• Benefit from ongoing professional development, supported through both internal learning and external training opportunities 

• Thrive in a culture that values initiative and independence, supported by flat hierarchies and an open, collaborative atmosphere 

• Enjoy a positive and inclusive work environment, with regular team events and international gatherings that connect colleagues from across our offices in Europe, Africa, and Latin America 

• Become part of an employee-owned company—Technopolis Group has no external investors, and all employees have the opportunity to become shareholders as they grow within the organisation 

Apply now

You will need to upload the following PDF documents as part of your application: 

• CV 

• Cover letter 

• Employment reference: Please provide contact information, including name, position, relationship to the candidate, and email or phone number. 

• A writing sample (e.g. Master’s thesis; an extract is acceptable) combined with the university transcripts of your most recent formal degree. Please merge both documents into a single PDF and upload it under the “Other” category. 

Please note: Additional requirements may apply depending on the country office—be sure to check the specific advertisement for the office you are applying to. Application deadlines vary by office, and interviews may be conducted before the stated closing date. Referees will only be contacted if you are invited to the interview stage. 

Choose the country office you are applying to in the links below: 

• Application to the Dutch office here
• Application to the German office here
• Application (French office) here
• Application (Belgian office) here
• Application (UK office) here

Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the country to which they are applying at the time of application. Incomplete applications or those that do not meet the stated requirements will not be considered. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.