Lead Data Scientist

Howden; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Howden is expanding its Group Data Science team in London, seeking a senior Lead Data Scientist to own and deliver scalable AI/ML initiatives. You will partner with business, data engineers and platform teams, ensuring production‑ready, high‑impact solutions across Howden’s global operations.

The role requires deep technical expertise, strong commercial acumen and a track record of delivering AI products from concept to production in large organizations. Hybrid working is available.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of building and deploying production‑grade AI/ML applications that generate measurable business value.
• Experience working with Data Engineering, MLOps and Product teams to bring ML systems from research to deployment and maintenance.
• Excellent Python programming skills and hands‑on experience with ML libraries.
• Experience with cloud platforms and AI platforms, particularly Azure and Databricks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and storytelling capabilities; translate technical complexity for executives.
• Experience in agile, cross‑functional product and delivery teams.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a commercial mindset focused on outcomes.
• Insurance or financial services exposure is desirable.
• Experience with Generative AI, LLM applications, agentic systems.
• Exposure to mentoring or coaching other data scientists.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end‑to‑end delivery of ML/AI solutions from discovery to production deployment and ongoing optimization.
• Partner with business stakeholders to identify opportunities, define use cases, and prioritize work based on value.
• Design, develop, and deploy scalable ML, analytics and AI applications.
• Drive best practices across data science, experimentation, model development, MLOps, and software engineering.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering, Platform, and Product teams to deliver production‑grade solutions.
• Contribute to the evolution of Howden’s AI capabilities, standards, and ways of working.
• Support agile delivery teams, providing technical leadership and guidance.
• Stay current with developments in data science, AI, and cloud technologies.

Skills

Python

Stakeholder engagement

Agile

Data storytelling

Commercial mindset

Problem solving

mentoring

Leadership

Regulated industry experience

Generative AI

LLM applications

Tools

Azure

Databricks

XGBoost

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Hugging Face

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

Senior Data Scientist

Location: London
Department: Group Data & Analytics
Reporting to: Senior Data Science Manager

About the Role

Howden Group Holdings, a leading international insurance broker operating in over 100 countries,is seeking an experienced Lead Data Scientist to join our Group Data Science team.

This is a senior individual contributor role for a highly capable practitioner who has successfully delivered machine learning and AI products from concept through to production within large, complex organisations. The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen, helping shape and deliver scalable AI and machine learning solutions that drive measurable business outcomes across Howden’s global operations.

Working closely with business stakeholders, data engineers, and platform teams, you will lead the technical delivery of high‑value data science and AI initiatives, ensuring solutions are production‑ready, scalable, and adopted by the business. You will act as a technical leader and trusted advisor, helping to establish best practices while contributing directly to hands‑on delivery.

RoleResponsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of machine learning and AI solutions, from discovery through to production deployment and ongoing optimisation

• Partner with business stakeholders to identify opportunities, define use cases, and prioritise work based on commercial value

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable machine learning, predictive analytics, and AI applications

• Drive technical best practices across data science, experimentation, model development,MLOps, and software engineering

• Collaborate closely with Data Engineering,Platform, and Product teams to deliver production‑grade solutions

• Contribute to the evolution of Howden’s AI and data science capabilities, standards, and ways of working

• Support agile delivery teams, providing technical leadership and guidance throughout the product lifecycle

• Stay current with developments inData Science, AI, and cloud technologies, helping bring innovative approaches into the organisation.

Your Skills

• Proven track record of building and deploying production‑grade AI/ML applications that generate measurable business value

• Experience working with Data Engineering,MLOpsand Product teams to bringing Machine Learning systems from research all the way to deployment and maintenance

• Excellent Python programming skills and hands on experience with libraries such asXGBoost,PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Hugging Face

• Experience working with cloud‑based data and AI platforms, particularly Azure and Databricks

• Strong stakeholder engagement and storytelling capabilities; able to translate technical complexity into executive‑level narratives

• Experience working within agile, cross‑functional productanddelivery teams

• Strong problem‑solving skills and a commercial mindset, with a focus on outcomes rather than models alone

• Insurance, reinsurance, financial services, or other regulated industry experienceis desirable

• Experience with Generative AI, LLM applications, agentic systems

• Exposure to mentoring or coaching other data scientists and technical practitioners

Why Join Howden?

At Howden, we are building data and AI capabilities that directly support our growth ambitions across the Group. As a Lead Data Scientist, you will have the opportunity to work on meaningful business challenges, develop innovative AI products, and help shape the future of data‑driven decision making across an employee‑owned global organisation.

You will join a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment where technical excellence, innovation, and commercial impact are valued equally. Working alongside talented colleagues from across the business, you will play a key role in turning advanced analytics and AI into measurable outcomes for Howden and its clients.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent