Senior Data Scientist
12-month contract (Citizen / Baseline required)
The Organisation
A large, complex organisation with a strong focus on leveraging data, analytics, and artificial intelligence to support operational excellence and strategic decision-making. The central data function plays a key role in delivering advanced analytics capabilities across the enterprise.
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity exists for a Senior Data Scientist to join a high-performing data team in a senior technical capacity. This role will lead the design and delivery of advanced data science and machine learning solutions, translating complex business problems into scalable, production-ready analytics outcomes. You will work across the full data science lifecycle and act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders while mentoring junior team members.
Key Responsibilities
Advanced Analytics & Data Science
- Lead the design, development, and delivery of advanced statistical and machine learning solutions, including regression, classification, forecasting, Bayesian methods, and causal inference
- Apply supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques, ensemble models, and feature engineering
- Develop deep learning solutions (e.g. CNNs, RNNs, transformer-based models) where relevant
- Design robust experiments with appropriate statistical controls and validation frameworks
End-to-End Delivery
- Own the full lifecycle of data science initiatives from problem definition through to deployment, monitoring, and optimisation
- Build scalable, production-ready analytical solutions aligned with business needs
- Implement rigorous testing, validation, and performance monitoring processes
Technical Capability
- Develop high-quality Python code using libraries such as NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch, and/or TensorFlow
- Write efficient, maintainable SQL for working with large, complex datasets
- Contribute to best practices in version control, testing, documentation, and reproducibility
- Collaborate with engineering and platform teams to support deployment and maintenance
Stakeholder Engagement
- Partner with stakeholders to define analytical problems and success criteria
- Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business insights
- Provide evidence-based recommendations to support decision-making
- Guide stakeholders on the appropriate use of data science and AI
Leadership & Mentoring
- Act as a technical leader and mentor for analysts and junior data scientists
- Promote best practices and knowledge sharing within the team
- Support capability uplift across the broader data function
Governance & Risk
- Ensure all solutions are explainable, reproducible, and aligned with ethical, privacy, and security requirements
Skills & Experience
Essential
- 8–10 years’ experience in data science, machine learning, advanced analytics, or applied research roles
- Deep expertise in advanced statistics, modelling techniques, and experimental design
- Proven experience delivering end-to-end data science solutions
- Expert-level Python skills and strong SQL capability
- Experience working with large, complex datasets
- Strong communication skills with the ability to engage non-technical stakeholders
- Ability to operate in secure or regulated environments
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification (Master’s or PhD) in a quantitative discipline
- Experience with modern AI techniques including deep learning, NLP, or computer vision