Data Scientist

BBC Studios Distribution Limited; Salford; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

35-hour working week

25 days annual leave (option to buy 5)

Defined pension scheme

Healthcare discount

Gym discount

Job summary

BBC Studios Distribution Limited in Salford is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to prototype, experiment, and deploy machine learning solutions at BBC scale. You will work with engineers, product managers, and data scientists to build recommender systems and deliver real audience impact.

You will join the BBC Data Science community, contribute to production ML, and influence data science practices across the organisation, with opportunities to mentor and learn.

Qualifications

• Hands-on data science with ML delivery to production.
• Experience building scalable recommender systems or IR systems.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to mixed audiences.

Responsibilities

• Prototype, experiment, and implement ML approaches at large scale.
• Collaborate with engineers, product managers, and fellow data scientists to deliver high impact systems.
• Contribute to production ML deployment and model lifecycle practices.

Skills

ML

Python

Recommender systems

Production ML

Cloud AWS

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Job description

As a Senior Data Scientist, you'll play a key role in building the recommender systems used by millions of people each day. You'll be a hands on contributor - prototyping, experimenting, and implementing technical approaches for complex ML solutions at true BBC scale. Working in a cross-functional team, you'll partner closely with engineers, product managers, and data scientists to deliver high impact systems that help audiences connect with the BBC's breadth and depth of content. Beyond your immediate team, you'll be an active member of the wider BBC Data Science community. You'll have opportunities to share your work, influence the development of data science and AI practices across the organisation, and engage with external communities to continue your own learning and development.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• You'll use your technical skills to deliver value to BBC audiences, blending a breadth and depth of data science expertise.
• You'll have impact within your immediate team and beyond, across the wider BBC, instrumental in developing scalable ML products.
• You'll bring experience of being an effective contributor in a cross‑functional team, working with others to overcome the challenges of delivering ML in production.
• You'll apply your knowledge of machine learning algorithms to solve complex user and business problems in a robust and scalable way.
• You'll join the wider BBC Data Science community, with internal and external opportunities to get involved and share your knowledge.
  Extensive hands‑on experience in data science and machine learning, with a proven track record of contributing to technical machine learning projects.
• Experience developing and deploying information retrieval systems, ideally recommender systems.
• Strong coding skills (Python), with knowledge of code management and deployment.
• Ability to clearly communicate to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross‑functional team, including the ability to prioritise and work in a structured manner.
• A proven track record of delivering value in production.
  The BBC has been serving audiences online for decades. Across our flagship products - BBC iPlayer, Sounds, News, Sport, and more - we educate, inform, and entertain millions of people every single day.

DESIRABLE

• Experience with model lifecycle management and MLOps, including model deployment, versioning and monitoring.
• Good knowledge of cloud services, ideally AWS.
• Knowledge and understanding of best practices such as testing, code management and deployment.
• Mentorship and/or supervision of other team members.
• A proven track record of delivering value in production.

We are now accelerating our shift towards experiences that are shaped around our audiences: more personal, more relevant, and more responsive to their needs. At the heart of this transformation is the Recommendations team. We design and build large scale ML/AI systems that help audiences discover the right content at the right moment. Our work already powers experiences across the BBC, including personalised recommendations on iPlayer and BBC Sounds.

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.

Information at a Glance

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world's best loved content, and the BBC's mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract. Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential. We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Disability confident

We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered.

This role is currently advertised as internal only. Freelancers are eligible to apply if they have been on a Worker Contract (more info ) continuously for 6 months. If less than 6 months (or they have had a break of 3 weeks or more between engagements), they must seek Divisional HR approval to apply. Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Contracts of Employment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Disclaimer This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved. Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory. Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

For any general queries, please contact:

Redeployment The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.