Hands-On Data Science Lead — Hybrid (Azure & Databricks)

ShareForce Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Job summary

ShareForce Ltd is seeking a hands-on Data Science Lead to own four predictive models and build a mature internal data science capability. This leadership role will transfer knowledge from an external partner and establish governance, while shaping data/AI strategies in Azure and Databricks.

You will advise senior stakeholders, translate complex analytics into business decisions, and scale the function as the organisation's data capability grows, blending technical execution with strategic

Qualifications

• Significant, demonstrable experience in data science, machine learning, predictive modelling or a closely related discipline.
• Deep practical expertise across the complete model lifecycle, from data preparation and development through to deployment and production monitoring.
• Strong Python and SQL skills, with experience of modern, cloud-based data environments.
• Practical experience with Databricks and Microsoft technologies, particularly Microsoft Azure.
• A strong track record of owning and improving production models and connecting model performance to measurable business outcomes.
• Experience establishing model-management and governance practices within a growing or developing data science function.
• Substantial experience in regulated financial services, insurance or a comparable regulated sector.
• Consulting experience, or an equivalent ability to diagnose complex problems, advise senior stakeholders and translate strategy into delivery.
• Experience managing specialist partners and transferring externally held knowledge and capability into an internal team.
• Strong leadership, commercial judgement and stakeholder-management skills.
• The willingness and technical ability to remain actively involved in hands‑on data science work.

Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end ownership of four predictive models, covering development, validation, deployment, monitoring, documentation and optimisation.
• Remain technically hands-on, working directly with data, code and modelling tools to resolve issues and improve model performance.
• Lead the transfer of knowledge, capability and technical ownership from an external specialist partner into the internal team.
• Define and deliver a data science roadmap aligned with customer, commercial and operational priorities.
• Establish effective standards for model development, governance, explainability and lifecycle management in a regulated environment.
• Help shape the Microsoft Azure and Databricks data science environment, including the organisation's approach to deploying and managing machine-learning models.
• Develop practical AI and external data strategies, prioritising opportunities supported by clear business cases.
• Build and develop the internal data science capability, assuming broader leadership responsibility as the function grows.
• Advise senior stakeholders and translate technical findings into clear, commercially focused recommendations.
• Support strategic and due diligence discussions by articulating the organisation's capability, progress, governance and future roadmap.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Hands-on data science

Tools

Python

SQL

Databricks

Microsoft Azure

Job description

ShareForce Ltd is seeking a hands-on Data Science Lead to own four predictive models and build a mature internal data science capability. This leadership role will transfer knowledge from an external partner and establish governance, while shaping data/AI strategies in Azure and Databricks.

You will advise senior stakeholders, translate complex analytics into business decisions, and scale the function as the organisation's data capability grows, blending technical execution with strategic