Lead Data Scientist

Morrisons; England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK supermarket seeks a Lead Data Scientist to manage a dynamic team, develop data science products, and drive business decisions. This hands-on role emphasizes technical delivery and collaboration across departments. The ideal candidate will possess strong SQL skills, programming knowledge (Python or R), and be an inspiring leader. Benefits include discounts, bonuses, and healthcare options.

Benefits

15% discount in store from the day you join us

Annual bonus scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Market-leading pension scheme

Healthcare benefits including Aviva Digital GP

Qualifications

• A strategic thinker with experience solving complex business problems through data.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills.
• Inclusive and motivating leader with mentoring experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Data Scientists and Analysts.
• Own the delivery of complex data science products.
• Shape and contribute to a 1-2 year data science roadmap.

Skills

Expert level SQL skills

Strong programming experience (Python or R)

Experience delivering predictive or prescriptive models

Skilled in creating impactful data visualisations

Working knowledge of cloud platforms (GCP or AWS)

Tools

Looker

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

AWS

Job description

More About The Role

At Morrisons, our Data, Analytics & AI team plays a vital role in driving decisions across the business by unlocking the power of our data. Whether it's enabling quick insight through self‑serve tools like Looker or delivering deeper analysis through exploring the patterns in our data, we help teams across the business solve problems, drive performance, and create value.

As a Lead Data Scientist, you’ll lead a small but impactful team of data scientists and analysts, helping shape and deliver a roadmap of data science products and initiatives that align with our business goals. You’ll work closely with stakeholders across the organisation to understand their challenges and apply cutting‑edge analytics to solve them. This is a hands‑on role with technical delivery at its core, combined with leadership and strategic direction.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Data Scientists and Analysts, setting clear objectives and supporting professional growth
• Own the delivery of complex data science products and models that support strategic business objectives
• Shape and contribute to a 1-2 year data science roadmap, ensuring all work is aligned with business priorities and linked to core processes
• Embed a lean, value‑first culture, minimising waste and driving improvements in efficiency and EBITDA
• Champion data literacy and promote best practice in analytical thinking across the business
• Translate business problems into analytical approaches, delivering insights that inform action
• Support the team with hands‑on technical tasks where required, including coding and modelling
• Collaborate with Data Engineering and other teams to ensure the right data is available and accessible

What we’re looking for:

• A strategic thinker with experience solving complex business problems through data
• Strong communication and storytelling skills. Able to bring data to life for non‑technical audiences
• An inclusive and motivating leader, with experience mentoring others and creating high‑performing teams
• Comfortable working in both Agile and Waterfall environments
• Inquisitive mindset - always looking to challenge the status quo and improve ways of working
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to gather and refine requirements to ensure value delivery

Key Skills:

• Expert level SQL skills, extracting and transforming data with speed and accuracy
• Strong programming experience (preferably Python or R), with experience of building, testing and deploying machine learning models
• Experience delivering predictive or prescriptive models into production, with knowledge of current MLOps principles
• Skilled in creating impactful data visualisations and dashboards
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms such as GCP or AWS, with Google preferred

About The Company

Benefits

• 15% discount in store from the day you join us
• Additional 10% discount card for a friend or family member
• Annual bonus scheme
• Career progression and development opportunities
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Market‑leading pension scheme and life assurance
• Healthcare benefits including Aviva Digital GP
• MyPerks giving you discount with over 850 retailers
• Free parking onsite
• Enhanced Family, Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Private Healthcare
• Car Allowance (company car provided in some instances)

Alive with activity, our modern Head Office is home to our corporate teams that make sure everything runs smoothly. Here, you’ll find comfy breakout areas, a coffee shop, Morrisons Daily and a subsidised restaurant. We are within commuting distance of Leeds, Manchester and the Yorkshire Dales - and we even have free parking!

At our Head Office you will expect to find supplier showcases, charity fundraising and celebrations all year round for the events that mean the most to our colleagues.

There’s more to our business as it's fast paced and ever changing, as such we’ve got lots of fresh opportunities for you to play our part in our success. We’d love to meet you!

At Morrisons, we’re proud to be building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We want every colleague to feel respected, supported and able to be themselves at work. Different voices, experiences and ways of thinking help us grow and improve and that’s good for our customers too.

We’re always looking for people from all walks of life to join us and bring their talents to our team. Together, we can build a workplace where everyone has the chance to thrive, make a difference and belong.