Applied Science Manager, Marketplace Optimisation

Team: Marketplace

Prolific

Prolific is not just another player in the AI space—we are the architects of the human data infrastructure that's reshaping the landscape of AI development. In a world where foundational AI technologies are increasingly commoditized, it's the quality and diversity of human-generated data that truly differentiates products and models.

The Role

Prolific’s marketplace connects AI companies, researchers and enterprises with a global pool of participants. The quality of our matching, allocation and forecasting decides how fast studies fill, how good the data is and how participants experience the platform.

We’re hiring an Applied Science Manager to own the scientific strategy for that marketplace. You’ll lead a team of four Data Scientists and Applied Scientists, with room to grow it, and work closely with Product and Engineering to get models into production.

What you'll be doing

• Own marketplace optimisation: Set the scientific direction and lead the development of matching, ranking, allocation, forecasting and supply-demand optimisation algorithms.
• Drive scientific rigour and impact: Apply experimentation, causal inference, simulation and model evaluation to improve marketplace efficiency, fulfilment, participant experience and data quality.
• Partner with Product and Engineering: Translate complex marketplace challenges into scalable algorithmic solutions, shape product priorities and bring models into production.
• Lead and grow the team: Manage and develop a team of four Data Scientists and Applied Scientists, setting technical standards, coaching individuals and building the team's capabilities as it expands.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience managing, coaching and developing Data Scientists or Applied Scientists.
• Strong technical expertise in applied machine learning, optimisation and algorithm development, with a track record of delivering production decision systems.
• Strong foundations in experimentation, causal inference and rigorous model evaluation.
• Experience with two-sided marketplaces or large-scale platforms is a plus.

Why this is exciting

Prolific is growing fast, and this role sits at the centre of one of our most important challenges: scaling a trusted, representative participant marketplace to meet rapidly increasing demand for human data. You’ll join at a moment when the team is still small, the problem space is rich, and the opportunity to shape strategy, algorithms, and the future of the marketplace is significant.

Why Prolific is a great place to work

We've built a unique platform that connects researchers and companies with a global pool of participants, enabling the collection of high-quality, ethically sourced human behavioural data and feedback. This data is the cornerstone of developing more accurate, nuanced, and aligned AI systems.

We believe that the next leap in AI capabilities won't come solely from scaling existing models but from integrating diverse human perspectives and behaviors into AI development. By providing this crucial human data infrastructure, Prolific is positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of AI innovation—one that reflects the breadth and the best of humanity.

Working for us will place you at the forefront of AI innovation, providing access to our unique human data platform and opportunities for groundbreaking research. Join us to enjoy a competitive salary, benefits, and remote working within our impactful, mission-driven culture.

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