Lead Data Scientist

Central East Integrated Care Board; Ely; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Central East Integrated Care Board is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to drive the data science discipline across the Strategic Value Unit and Population Health Unit. You will develop robust models, translate insights for commissioning decisions and work with clinicians to improve outcomes.

The role requires leadership of complex analytics programmes, setting standards, and coaching a team of data professionals to deliver reusable analytical assets.

Qualifications

• Significant experience applying advanced data science, statistics or operational research methods to complex problems in health/public-sector contexts.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary analytical programmes and providing senior technical leadership.
• Strong knowledge of NHS data, including primary and secondary care data, and handling large linked datasets.

Responsibilities

• Lead the data science discipline across Strategic Value Unit and Population Health Unit.
• Oversee forecasting, predictive modelling, segmentation, optimisation and simulation methods.
• Ensure analytical products meet governance, validation and documentation standards.
• Translate complex analyses into actionable insights for senior leaders and clinicians.
• Line manage the Senior Data Scientist and Data Scientist, providing coaching and development.
• Embed analytical products into decision-making and monitor ongoing impact.

Skills

Advanced programming (R/Python)

SQL

Reproducible analytics

Insight communication

Education

CPD in data science/analytics

Professional registration or equivalent

Tools

R

Python

Job description

We are Central East ICB, the new organisationentrusted with serving more than 3.5 million people across Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Hertfordshire.

We are responsible for making sure that the NHS can continue to support our community – now, and in the future. Everything we do will be guided by our core purpose: to do what best serves the population of this area.

We promise to focus on what makes the biggest difference to people’s lives – acting earlier to help prevent illness and detect disease and making it easier for our community to get the health care they need, closer to home, whenever that’s possible.

If you need support with the application process, please contact our People Team at [e-mail].

Read about our priorities in our strategy document, Our Way .

Job overview

The Lead Data Scientist is a senior technical and professional leadership role within the Strategic Value Unit, working across the integrated Strategic Value Unit and Population Health Unit function. The postholder will lead the data science discipline , ensuring that advanced analytical methods support strategic commissioning, population health management and evaluation.

Working with large, linked health and care datasets, the postholder will lead the development of robust models and analytical tools and translate complex findings into practical insight. They will work within a multidisciplinary decision intelligence function, collaborating with analysts, health economists, public health specialists, commissioners and clinicians to ensure analysis informs decisions, supports implementation and improves outcomes.

Proposed Interview dates: 19th - 20th November

Main duties of the job

The postholder will lead complex analytical work. They will determine where advanced data science methods add value, select proportionate approaches and provide technical assurance for high-impact analytical products.

The role will:

• provide professional leadership for data science across the Strategic Value Unit and Population Health Unit function;
• lead advanced analytical programmes supporting strategic planning, commissioning, population health management, and evaluation;
• develop and apply forecasting, predictive, risk, segmentation, scenario, simulation and machine-learning methods where these strengthen decision-making;
• lead the development and assurance of analytical tools, including population segmentation, risk stratification and case-finding approaches;
• establish standards for programming, version control, documentation, peer review, model validation and lifecycle management;
• assess model performance, uncertainty, limitations and potential bias, ensuring methods are transparent, reproducible and used responsibly;
• translate complex analysis into clear insights and actionable recommendations for senior leaders, commissioners, clinicians and operational teams;
• work with stakeholders to embed analytical products into strategic and operational decision-making and monitor their continuing effectiveness; and
• build organisational data science capability through line management, coaching, technical supervision and the development of reusable methods and analytical assets.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to promoting equal opportunities to achieve equity of access, experience and outcomes and to recognising and valuing people’s differences. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity; we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, values and behaviours. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers patient outcomes.

We are committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution is valued, your wellbeing is supported and all our colleagues can reach their full potential. We welcome and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of their protected characteristic. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone, including making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition and support with the recruitment process for people with lived experience.

We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles.

We operate a Carer friendly working environment that is supportive and inclusive. We actively encourage Carers to self-identify themselves.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and commit to shortlisting suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria for an interview. Please inform us of any adjustments you may require.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A.Professional leadership and strategy

· Lead the data science discipline across the integrated Strategic Value Unit and Population Health Unit, providing authoritative professional advice and setting the direction for its development.

· Work with the Head of Evaluation and other professional leads to align the analytical work programme and data science capability with ICB priorities.

· Identify where data science can materially improve decisions and advocate proportionate approaches based on the question, available evidence and intended use.

B.Advanced analytics and modelling

· Lead complex analytical projects using appropriate statistical, data science and operational research methods.

· Apply techniques such as predictive modelling, machine learning, forecasting, segmentation, optimisation, simulation, systems modelling and scenario analysis where they add value.

· Ensure methods reflect the decision context, data quality, implementation requirements and limitations of the evidence.

C.Strategic commissioning, population health, and evaluation analytics

· Lead advanced analysis of population need, inequalities, demand, utilisation, capacity, outcomes and variation to support strategic planning and commissioning.

· Apply analytical methods to option appraisal, population segmentation, targeting, pathway redesign and neighbourhood-level decision-making.

· Lead the data science components of evaluations and contribute multidisciplinary evaluation design and delivery of services, programmes and interventions, assessing impact, effectiveness, equity and implementation.

· Integrate quantitative findings with clinical, public health, economic, operational and qualitative evidence.

D.Analytical products, assurance and governance

· Lead the development, validation and implementation of analytical products supporting strategic and operational decisions, including risk stratification, case-finding and population segmentation tools.

· Define each product’s intended use, population, outcomes, assumptions and limitations, with proportionate arrangements for validation, sensitivity analysis, independent review and documentation.

· Assess performance and potential bias across population groups and ensure operational products are monitored, reviewed, recalibrated and retired where appropriate.

E.Data and analytical engineering

· Provide senior technical oversight of large, complex and linked health and care datasets, including their provenance, coding, completeness, linkage quality, limitations and fitness for purpose.

· Work with data engineering, architecture and information governance colleagues to define requirements and secure reliable, authorised access to analytical data.

· Lead reproducible analytical practice using R and/or Python, SQL, version control, structured code, testing, peer review and automated reporting.

F.Insight, influence and implementation

· Work with decision-makers to define analytical questions and translate findings into clear recommendations for strategy, commissioning and delivery.

· Communicate assumptions, uncertainty and limitations clearly, particularly where analysis may influence significant service or resource decisions.

· Provide constructive challenge where methods, assumptions or interpretations are unsupported or potentially misleading.

· Support stakeholders to implement analytical products and assess whether they continue to deliver their intended benefit.

G.Team and portfolio leadership

· Line manage the Senior Data Scientist, Data Scientist and Clinical Policy Data Analyst, including objectives, appraisal, performance, development and wellbeing.

· Provide technical supervision, coaching and professional development across the analytical function, fostering curiosity, constructive challenge, inclusion and continuous learning.

· Lead a portfolio of complex analytical work, balancing priorities, risks, dependencies, resources and timescales to deliver high‑quality outputs.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Continuing professional development in data science, advanced analytics, programming or related methods.
• Relevant professional registration or evidence of wider contribution to the data science or analytical profession.

Knowledge & experience

• Significant experience applying advanced data science, statistical or operational research methods to complex health, care, public‑sector or comparable problems.
• Significant experience providing senior technical or professional leadership and leading complex multidisciplinary analytical programmes.
• Strong knowledge of NHS data, including primary care and secondary care data, and experience analysing large, complex or linked person‑level datasets, including coding, provenance, linkage, quality and limitations.
• Experience designing, validating and implementing advanced analytical models to support strategic or operational decisions.
• Experience assessing model performance, uncertainty, limitations and potential bias, including documentation, review and ongoing monitoring.
• Experience leading, managing, supervising or developing analytical staff, including setting technical standards and supporting professional development.
• Experience designing or delivering quantitative evaluations of services, programmes or interventions.
• Experience applying systems modelling or operational research methods.
• Experience deploying analytical models in operational environments or developing shared analytical assets using cloud‑based or modern analytical engineering tools.

Skills

• Advanced programming expertise in R and/or Python, with strong SQL skills and experience manipulating large datasets.
• Ability to apply reproducible analytical practices, including structured code, version control, testing, documentation and peer review.
• Ability to apply reproducible analytical practices, including structured code, version control, testing, documentation and peer review.
• Ability to interpret complex findings, assess assumptions and limitations, and draw defensible conclusions from incomplete or imperfect data.

Please Note:

• This vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received. We recommend submitting your application early to avoid disappointment.
• Successfully shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email with an invitation to interview.
• Please note that we do not pay interview expenses, all costs are incurred by the candidate.

Notes on completion of applications:

• All reference requests will be made to your employer/previous employers' HR Department, covering the previous 3 years of activity.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.
• All eligible staff will need to have gained clearance through a standard/enhanced DBS check prior to working.
• All posts are subject to a probationary period.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Sam Williamson Job title Deputy Director of Health Economics and Evaluation Email address [e-mail] Additional information

Joao Rocha - [e-mail]