Head of Data Science

Via; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Private medical insurance

L&D budget

33 days holiday

Enhanced parental leave

Nursery scheme

Discounted tech devices

Job summary

Via, a high-growth consumer fintech, is hiring a Head of Data Science in London (hybrid) to build and lead the data science function from scratch. You’ll own models that drive growth, from credit risk decisioning to customer retention, with autonomy and senior visibility across the company.

You’ll lead production ML deployments, partner with cross-functional teams, and shape data science practices across the business while driving tangible commercial outcomes and strategic AI adoption.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in data science and predictive modelling with proven results.
• Hands-on experience building state-of-the-art ML models and deploying them to production.
• 2:1 or higher from a top university, STEM preferred.
• Strong stakeholder management and data-driven decision making.
• Strong sense of ownership across an area, not just a part.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the data science function, setting vision and standards.
• Own end-to-end design, build and deployment of production ML models (credit risk, churn).
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Risk, Operations, Commercial to maximize impact.
• Translate models into clear commercial outcomes for senior stakeholders.
• Introduce cutting-edge AI/ML into a business ready to act.

Skills

Data science

Predictive modelling

Stakeholder management

Ownership

ML deployment

Education

STEM degree (2:1 or higher)

Job description

Head of Data Science | High-Growth Consumer Fintech

£100,000 – £160,000 + Stock Options | London (Hybrid)

We're partnering with one of the UK's fastest-growing consumer fintechs to appoint their first Head of Data Science. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a data science function from the ground up, at a business that already has the strong data foundations most teams spend years trying to put in place.

You’ll own the models that drive growth directly, from credit risk decisioning to customer retention, and you’ll have the autonomy and senior visibility to shape how data science is done across the whole company.

The Role

• Define and lead the data science function, setting the vision, roadmap and standards for how advanced modelling is used across the business.
• Own the end‑to‑end design, build and deployment of production-grade machine learning models, including credit risk and churn prediction.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Risk, Operations and Commercial teams to identify where advanced modelling can have the greatest impact.
• Translate complex modelling approaches into clear commercial outcomes for senior stakeholders.
• Bring cutting‑edge AI and ML into a business that’s ready to act on it.

What You’ll Bring

• 7+ years’ experience in data science and predictive modelling, with a proven track record of delivering results.
• Hands‑on experience building state‑of‑the‑art ML models and deploying them into production.
• A 2:1 or higher from a top university, ideally in a STEM or quantitative discipline.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and a genuine passion for data‑driven decision‑making.
• A strong sense of ownership: you take responsibility for an entire area, not just your part of it.

Bonus points for

experience with agentic architectures and applying the latest LLMs in a commercial setting.

What’s On Offer

• Salary of £100,000 – £160,000, depending on experience.
• Stock options for all employees.
• Genuine career acceleration: around 40% of employees progress at each bi‑annual review.
• Private medical insurance.
• A personal L&D budget to develop the skills you care about.
• 33 days’ holiday (25 days plus 8 bank holidays) with full flexibility on when you take them.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave (after 12 months' service).
• Workplace nursery scheme offering significant savings.
• Exclusive employee access to discounted tech devices.