Lead Research Data Scientist | Fraud Detection in Market Research

Lead Research Data Scientist | Fraud Detection in Market Research

We’re the world’s leading data, insights, and consulting company; we shape the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere.

This role leads research-driven initiatives to detect and prevent fraud and poor data quality within online market research surveys, from bot responses to panel profile manipulation. You’ll develop and validate advanced models and systems to uphold data integrity and robust insights, at the intersection of behavioural analytics, machine learning, research methodology, and the latest AI advancements.

• Design, validate, and deploy novel machine learning models to detect fraudulent survey responses, including bots, duplicate entries, low-quality data, and improbable or non-relevant responses.
• Develop and maintain real-time scoring systems in production to assess respondent authenticity and engagement.
• Analyze behavioural patterns, metadata, and response timing to uncover anomalies and suspicious activity.
• Collaborate with survey operations, panel management, and research teams to embed fraud detection tools into survey workflows.
• Patent novel algorithms and approaches to fraud detection within Market Research.
• Provide thought leadership and mentorship to the team; promote ethical data handling, reproducible research, and sound experimental design.
• Contribute to the wider Kantar data science ecosystem by presenting methodologies, publishing internal white papers, and knowledge exchange on fraud detection.
• Stay informed about academic and industry developments in fraud tactics, data validation, and respondent quality assurance.

• PhD in Data Science (or a highly relevant MSc with real-world research experience), Statistics, Mathematical Modelling, Computer Science, or related quantitative field.
• Senior data science experience with at least 2 years focused on fraud detection, survey analytics, automated data quality solutions, or related research applications.
• Strong proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and ML libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, XGBoost, TensorFlow, PyTorch). Experience with Kafka, ML Ops, and CI/CD pipelines is advantageous.
• Experience with ML Ops and cloud platforms such as Azure ML and AWS.
• Deep understanding of anomaly detection, behavioural modelling, and time-series analysis.
• Deep research experience with NLP techniques for validating open-ended responses; experience with evaluation of LLMs (e.g., LLMs as a judge and human-evaluated testing).
• Strong communication skills to translate technical findings into actionable insights.
• Nice to have: Familiarity with survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey) and panel data structures.

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses
• Flexible working hours and hybrid work model
• Access to rich global survey datasets and cutting-edge tools, including state-of-the-art fraud detection models
• A collaborative, mission-driven team focused on data integrity, reproducibility, and innovation
• Opportunities for professional development, academic collaboration, and leadership growth
• Support for presenting at academic and industry conferences and contributing to peer-reviewed publications where appropriate

You’ll be joining our Data division, home to specialists in survey design, sampling and data science. With the world’s largest audience network, we’re trusted by leading brands to provide insights from real people. We emphasize equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: By applying, you consent to the personal data you provide being processed and retained by The Kantar Group Limited. Your details will be kept on our internal ATS for recruitment purposes, which may be shared with the hiring manager. Kantar is committed to inclusion and does not discriminate based on age, race, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

We are not able to sponsor visas or provide relocation support for this role; please ensure you have the right to work in the country where this role is located before applying.

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
• Industry: Market Research