Head of Data Science

Head of Data Science – UK Regulatory Body – London, Hybrid (2 days per week in the office) – £70,000-£77,000 (depending on experience)

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Lead, develop, and inspire a growing team of 7-8 data scientists and analysts, combining academic expertise with applied regulatory impact.
  • Manage and prioritise a busy pipeline of analytical work, ensuring strategic alignment and clarity about what can, and cannot, be derived from analysis.
  • Partner with the Director on establishing clear backlogs, pipelines, and strategies for the team, working across risk assessment, data science, and research functions.
  • Champion a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
• Technical Excellence & Delivery
  • Oversee the use of advanced statistical modelling, AI, and machine learning methods (including NLP and LLMs) to deliver high-quality insights.
  • Ensure outputs are defensible, high-quality, and accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Drive the transition from R&D into operationalised, always-running models that directly support regulatory interventions.
• Regulatory Impact
  • Apply data science to real-world regulatory challenges: analysing practices, identifying behaviours that correlate with poor outcomes, and detecting risks.
  • Support advisory and enforcement teams with robust evidence and insight.
  • Enhance the organisation's ability to detect threats, assess risk, and identify trends in the sector.
  • Contribute to cross-organisational insight functions, maximising the impact of data and research.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build strong internal and external relationships, representing the organisation's data science work at a senior level.
  • Produce clear, persuasive reports and recommendations for governance groups and stakeholders.
  • Act as a thought leader for data-driven regulation, setting high standards and sharing best practice across the sector.

• Strong academic credentials (degree or equivalent experience) in statistics, data science, quantitative social science, physics, or other relevant discipline.
• Proven experience managing a pipeline of analytical work and aligning outputs with organisational priorities.
• Expertise in AI/ML techniques, including predictive modelling, NLP, and large language models.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and relevant libraries for data analysis and modelling.
• Demonstrated ability to balance rigour with practical application, clearly articulating both insights and limitations of data science.
• Experience leading high-performing technical teams, ideally in regulatory, risk, or research environments.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex findings to non-technical audiences.

• Experience of project or programme management.
• Knowledge of regulatory or legal services sectors.
• Practical knowledge of SQL, VBA, or similar tools.

• Salary: £70,000-£77,000 (based on experience)
• Permanent contract with hybrid working (2 days per week in the London office)
• 25 days holiday (rising to 27 after 2 years and 30 after 5 years)
• Pension contribution up to 12.25% from the organisation (total of up to 19.25% including employee contribution)
• Life Assurance
• Season Ticket Loan
• Plus a range of additional benefits

If you are interested, please feel free to apply

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