Lead Data Scientist — Drive Safer Journeys with Data

National Highways; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

National Highways is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to guide a multidisciplinary team within Digital Services, using data science to solve public-interest problems and deliver measurable business value. This hybrid role requires two days per week in the office and regular travel to Birmingham for team meetings.

You will lead end-to-end data science product delivery, establish standards, and provide technical leadership while advancing responsible AI, ethics and sustainability across the

Qualifications

• Strong data science knowledge to solve complex problems and guide others.
• Builds data science capability using ML, NLP, modelling and dashboards.
• Maintains high‑quality data science solutions with code quality and reproducibility practices.
• Creates data science products delivering clear business value with governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of end-to-end data science products and manage priorities.
• Set data science standards, methodologies and quality frameworks across the team.
• Provide technical leadership on complex analytical initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement in data science practices and ways of working.
• Promote adoption of data science and AI capability across the organisation.

Skills

Data science

Leadership

Machine learning

NLP

Data visualization

Tools

Python

SQL

Analytics tools

Job description

National Highways is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to guide a multidisciplinary team within Digital Services, using data science to solve public-interest problems and deliver measurable business value. This hybrid role requires two days per week in the office and regular travel to Birmingham for team meetings.

You will lead end-to-end data science product delivery, establish standards, and provide technical leadership while advancing responsible AI, ethics and sustainability across the