Lead Data Scientist — Hybrid ML Leadership & Strategy

Hastings Direct; Bexhill-on-Sea; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Job summary

Hastings Direct is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to shape and deliver advanced data science solutions across the business. You will lead a team of data scientists, oversee projects from exploration to deployment, and collaborate with stakeholders to turn data into actionable insights across telematics, claims and customer behaviour.

You will drive ML models end-to-end, ensure governance and monitoring, and work with Data Engineering to build scalable pipelines.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading, mentoring and developing Data Scientists.
• Strong Python and SQL skills, with experience developing DS solutions in commercial environments.
• Experience taking machine learning models through the full lifecycle: from development to deployment and monitoring.
• Experience working with large, complex datasets.
• Experience with modern cloud and DS technologies such as AWS, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, Spark or similar.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to explain complex concepts and influence decisions.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to connect DS work to business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of Data Scientists, fostering innovation and technical excellence.
• Shape and deliver the DS strategy within your area, aligned to wider business priorities.
• Lead the development of advanced ML and statistical models to solve complex business problems.
• Take ownership of DS projects from initial concept to production deployment and monitoring.
• Work with senior stakeholders to identify opportunities where DS can drive better decisions.
• Explore and evaluate new data sources, techniques and technologies to improve modeling.
• Ensure models are robust, scalable and well-governed with validation and monitoring.
• Partner with Data Engineering and Tech teams to develop data pipelines and production deployment.
• Translate complex outputs into clear insights for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Champion best practice and drive innovation across the DS function.

Job description

Hastings Direct is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to shape and deliver advanced data science solutions across the business. You will lead a team of data scientists, oversee projects from exploration to deployment, and collaborate with stakeholders to turn data into actionable insights across telematics, claims and customer behaviour.

You will drive ML models end-to-end, ensure governance and monitoring, and work with Data Engineering to build scalable pipelines.