Lead Data Scientist

hastingsdirect; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Hastings Direct is recruiting a Lead Data Scientist to shape and deliver advanced analytics across the business. You will lead a team of data scientists, drive model development, and collaborate with stakeholders to translate data science into practical insurance solutions.

The role emphasizes ownership from model concept through production deployment, monitoring and ongoing improvement, in a hybrid work environment spanning London/Leicester/Bexhill regions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a Data Science team.
• Experience delivering end-to-end ML solutions in a commercial setting.
• Strong programming in Python and SQL, with production deployment experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of Data Scientists.
• Shape and deliver the Data Science strategy aligned to business goals.
• Lead development of advanced ML and statistical models from concept to deployment.
• Own DS projects from exploration to production monitoring and optimisation.
• Translate complex technical outputs into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Machine learning

Statistical modelling

Python

SQL

Cloud platforms

Stakeholder management

Tools

AWS

Azure

Databricks

Snowflake

Spark

Job description

Job Title: Lead Data Scientist

Location: Bexhill/Leicester/London - Hybrid

Role overview

The Lead Data Scientist will play a key role in shaping and delivering advanced Data Science solutions across the business, using machine learning, statistical modelling and innovative data sources to solve complex commercial and customer problems. In this role, you'll lead and develop a team of Data Scientists, taking ownership of projects from initial exploration and model development through to deployment, monitoring and ongoing optimisation. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, you'll help identify where Data Science can have the greatest impact and turn complex data and modelling into practical, scalable solutions. This could involve areas such as telematics, claims, customer behaviour and other applications across the insurance lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of Data Scientists, fostering innovation and technical excellence.
• Shape and deliver the Data Science strategy within your area, ensuring work is aligned to wider business priorities.
• Lead the development of advanced machine learning and statistical models to solve complex business problems.
• Take ownership of Data Science projects from initial concept and experimentation through to production deployment and ongoing monitoring.
• Work closely with senior stakeholders to identify opportunities where Data Science can drive better decisions and business outcomes.
• Explore and evaluate new data sources, techniques and technologies to improve modelling capability.
• Ensure models are robust, scalable and appropriately governed, with strong validation and monitoring in place.
• Partner with Data Engineering and Technology teams to develop effective data pipelines and support deployment into production.
• Translate complex technical outputs into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Champion best practice across Data Science and help drive innovation and continuous improvement across the wider function.

Essential skills/experience

• Proven experience leading, mentoring and developing Data Scientists.
• Strong technical expertise across machine learning, statistical modelling and predictive analytics.
• Strong Python and SQL skills, with experience developing Data Science solutions in a commercial environment.
• Experience taking machine learning models through the full lifecycle, from development and experimentation to deployment and monitoring in production.
• Experience working with large, complex and varied datasets.
• Experience with modern cloud and Data Science technologies such as AWS, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, Spark or similar.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and influence decision-making.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to connect Data Science work to real business problems and outcomes.

Recruitment Process:

• Recruitment screening call
• 1st Round Intro with the hiring leader
• Case Study round - a mix of Technical and Competency

As a Disability Confident employer, we're committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fully inclusive - what this means to you is if you're applying for a job with us, you'll have fair access to support and adjustments throughout your recruitment journey. We also welcome applications through the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS).For more information on the DCS, please visit our inclusive business page on our career's website

What we offer

Join us and you'll find a different way of doing things. We call it the 4Cs. We focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. As one of our colleagues, you'll be helping to drive our growth, so in return, we'll give you all the support, training and development you need. Not to mention plenty of recognition and rewards, and the scope to voice your ideas and put them into practice.