Lead Data Scientist

Shell Energy Australia; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Purpose-driven work

Challenging and high-impact projects

Inclusive team environment

Job summary

A leading energy company in Victoria is looking for a Mid-Senior Level Lead Data Scientist to head their data science function. This pivotal role involves leading a team to deliver analytics solutions that drive profitability and improve operational efficiency. Candidates should have deep expertise in the data science lifecycle, strong leadership capabilities, and advanced technical skills in Python and machine learning. The role offers full-time employment with exciting challenges and innovative projects in a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with machine learning, predictive modelling and statistical methods.
• Ability to coach teams and drive a collaborative culture.
• Understanding of ITIL and data privacy standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of analytics and data science initiatives.
• Develop technology roadmap and prioritize investments.
• Engage stakeholders to shape data-driven solutions.
• Manage and develop a high-performing team.
• Ensure compliance and risk management.
• Oversee vendor relationships and budget management.

Skills

Deep expertise in data science lifecycle

Proven leadership capability

Advanced technical skills in Python

Strong stakeholder and communication skills

Strategic thinking

Commitment to operational excellence

Tools

AWS

Job description

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The world’s biggest challenge needs you, here. Big challenges require big solutions. And the transition to a net‑zero world is about as big as it gets. Working at Shell Energy – one of Australia’s leading energy retailers – puts you at the heart of that endeavour.

Lead the change, from the frontline. Drive the future of data science at Shell Energy.

We’re looking for a forward‑thinking Lead Data Scientist to play a pivotal role in shaping how advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI are embedded across our energy business. In this influential role, you’ll lead a team of data experts, champion innovation, and deliver analytics solutions that improve profitability, drive sustainable customer growth, and improve operational efficiency. As the lead of our Data Science function, you’ll balance the development of cutting‑edge data products with the delivery of high‑value, insight‑driven solutions that help our customers stay competitive. You’ll foster a culture of curiosity, continuous learning, and technical excellence, while driving automation, standardisation, and best‑practice uplift across the business. If you’re passionate about using data to solve complex problems and want to make a real impact across the energy sector, this is your opportunity to lead at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of advanced analytics and data‑science initiatives from concept to deployment, ensuring alignment to Shell Energy’s strategic objectives.
• Develop and deliver the technology roadmap, prioritising investment and ensuring solutions add value across operations, commercial, and customer environments.
• Engage stakeholders across the business, including Product, Data, Executive and Design teams, to identify problems and shape innovative, data‑driven solutions.
• Manage, coach and develop your team, fostering a culture of continuous learning, high performance and modern engineering practices.
• Ensure compliance and risk management, including adherence to standards, data‑privacy regulations, security controls and best‑practice governance.
• Oversee vendor relationships, budgets and contract negotiations, ensuring quality delivery and alignment with organisational goals.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise across the data science lifecycle, including problem framing, modelling, deployment, monitoring and continuous improvement, supported by strong software engineering and agile delivery practices.
• Proven leadership capability, fostering high performance, coaching teams, navigating complexity, and driving a collaborative, outcomes‑focused culture.
• Advanced technical skills in Python, machine learning, predictive modelling, statistical methods, and experience working within cloud environments (ideally AWS).
• Strong stakeholder and communication skills, able to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for senior leaders and diverse audiences.
• Strategic thinking and commercial acumen, enabling you to align technology initiatives to business priorities, identify innovation opportunities and guide long‑term roadmaps.
• A commitment to operational excellence, with experience in service management (ITIL), compliance requirements, data privacy standards, and delivering reliable, scalable analytics solutions.

Benefits

• Purpose that you can see. As part of our team, you’ll have the best shot at energising a better future, one customer at a time.
• Work that’s interesting, innovative and high impact. We hope you’ll love the challenge and opportunity to achieve – for our customers and for you.
• People who bring the expertise and drive to succeed. Our team is respectful, inclusive, and supports connection and collaboration.

Visit our careers site to find out more.

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Engineering and Information Technology

Industry: Utilities

Shell Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values the diversity of its people. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, colour, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Join us. Together, we can make the difference count.