Senior Data Scientist

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