Data Scientist

ICF Olson; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a data scientist to deliver data science and AI solutions across client projects in the UK and EU. You will work with subject matter experts to frame questions, analyse evidence and present findings to diverse audiences in a consulting setting.

You will apply Python-based analyses, ML techniques, and large language models where suitable, while ensuring reproducibility, privacy, and reliability. Collaboration across teams and proposals is encouraged.

Qualifications

• Hands-on Python for analysis and modelling with common data and ML libraries.
• Able to use SQL to extract, join and check data.
• Strong grounding in statistics and ML, including forecasting and model validation.

Responsibilities

• Speak with subject matter experts and clients to define problems and analytical approaches.
• Prepare and analyse data; develop models or prototypes using statistical methods or ML.
• Present findings to technical and nontechnical audiences with clear limitations.
• Collaborate across disciplines to document work and develop prototypes into solutions.
• Contribute ideas and estimates to proposals; manage work across several projects.
• Share methods with colleagues and promote reproducible analyses.

Skills

Python for analysis

SQL

Statistics

Machine learning

Large language models

Version control

Education

Quantitative degree

Job description

ICF supports governments and organisations on challenges in areas such as energy, the environment, aviation, health and public policy. Our data science team works with subject matter experts to turn evidence and data into practical solutions for clients in the UK and EU. You will help deliver data science and AI solutions across client projects, working with subject matter experts to frame questions, analyse evidence and deliver findings. This is a hands‑on technical and consulting role: you will discuss needs with specialists, present approaches and results to varied audiences, and contribute to proposals. You will join an established team and work across technically diverse projects.

What you will do

• Speak with subject matter experts and clients to define the problem, success measures, data needs and an appropriate analytical approach.
• Prepare and analyse data, develop and evaluate models or prototypes using statistical methods, forecasting, machine learning or language models where suitable.
• Present findings, assumptions and limitations to subject matter experts, clients and nontechnical audiences, invite challenge and adapt the work to their feedback.
• Collaborate with colleagues across different technical disciplines to document work, make results reproducible and develop promising prototypes into reliable solutions.
• Contribute technical ideas, estimates and evidence to proposals, and manage your work across several concurrent projects.
• Share methods and reusable approaches with colleagues across the data science team.

What you will bring

• Hands‑on experience in Python for analysis and modelling, including common data and machine learning libraries, ability to use SQL to extract, join and check data.
• Sound grounding in statistics and machine learning, including regression or classification, forecasting, validation, baseline comparisons and appropriate performance measures.
• Practical familiarity with using large language models in analysis or prototyping, including prompting, checking outputs against evidence and recognising privacy, accuracy and reliability risks.
• Experience preparing imperfect data, building reproducible analyses and writing maintainable code with version control and testing.
• Ability to take an ambiguous question from discovery to a working demonstration, explain assumptions and uncertainty, and judge whether a solution is worth developing for operational use.
• Confidence working independently and engaging stakeholders across teams, clear written and spoken English for technical and nontechnical audiences.
• A relevant degree or equivalent practical experience in a quantitative field.

Useful additional experience

• Experience working in public policy, government, research or evaluation.
• Experience in consulting, public policy research or client‑facing delivery, familiarity with cloud platforms, APIs, data pipelines or deployment.
• Experience building AI agents or applications that connect language models to data and tools, such as retrieval-based systems.
• We can train someone with strong core skills.

What you can expect

You will work alongside colleagues with a wide range of technical and subject expertise, tackle varied client challenges from discovery to delivery. We will support your career development with ongoing training and opportunities to deepen both your technical and consulting skills.

Right to Work, Location & Sponsorship

We welcome applications from candidates based anywhere in the world. For roles located in the UK, Belgium, Spain, or Germany, applicants must: Hold the right to work in the country where the role is based, or be eligible for visa sponsorship, which we may consider on a case-by-case basis, and Be physically present in that country by their first day of employment (or able to relocate beforehand). Unless stated otherwise, relocation support is not automatically provided.

About us

Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. Learn more at icf.com.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair and equitable interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in‑person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodations that involve the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

The benefits of joining ICF

ICF also offers a range of competitive benefits, which include:

• Single Private Medical Insurance cover with no restrictions on existing conditions.
• Dental insurance and an online GP service.
• 25 days annual leave, plus UK bank holidays (annual leave increases with years of service).
• Pension scheme with 5% of salary employer contribution.
• Life assurance paying 4x annual salary and Group Income Protection paying 66% of salary for up to 5 years if you are off work on long-term sick.
• Enhanced parental leave policies, enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay.

We enjoy celebrating success, which is why we have a competitive recognition program called ‘You Matter’, which awards points as a ‘thank you’ for your work achievements. These can be spent on a large variety of high‑quality items, as well as online or high‑street vouchers, all with zero tax payable by the employee.

We offer a hybrid working policy, which will provide you with the flexibility to collaborate in the office, as well as in the comfort of your own home, ensuring you are able to successfully deliver the requirements of your role. To support you, our employee wellbeing hub is designed to provide highly personalised support across a comprehensive range of wellbeing issues, such as mind, body, finances, community, career programs and HR support.