Senior Data Scientist

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

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + car allowance

Flexible hybrid working

Annual performance bonus

Private medical insurance

Pension with employer match

Wellbeing programs

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Job summary

Hastings Direct is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to lead market modelling initiatives and deliver pricing analytics that improve competitiveness and profitability. The role involves end-to-end project ownership, mentoring junior staff, and collaborating with Market Pricing, Retail Pricing and Underwriting teams.

The ideal candidate will have strong ML, Python, SQL and data science platform experience, with a focus on turning insights into actionable pricing strategies in a hybrid work

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering commercial value using supervised machine learning.
• Advanced Python programming skills.
• Proficient in SQL and Git.
• Experience developing and implementing predictive models.
• Ability to drive projects from initiation to completion.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact strategic projects across Market Modelling from discovery to implementation.
• Provide specialist modelling support across Market Pricing teams.
• Develop and implement market models into live pricing.
• Collaborate with Market Pricing, Retail Pricing and Underwriting teams.
• Coach junior colleagues and contribute to team capability.

Skills

Supervised ML

Python programming

SQL

Git

Predictive modeling

Data science platforms

Communication

Problem solving

Opportunity identification

Cloud deployments

Tools

Git

SQL

Job description

Senior Data Scientist London / Bexhill / Leicester – Hybrid

We’re a digital insurance provider with bold ambitions to become the best and biggest in the UK market. Over recent years, we’ve made huge investments in our digital capabilities, underpinned by our strong 4Cs culture, to ensure we continue to deliver market leading experiences for our customers. Supporting over four million customers, every interaction with us is shaped by thoughtful design, data-led decision making and a deep understanding of customer needs. Our Commercial, Digital and Marketing teams sit at the heart of this journey – combining entrepreneurial thinking, analytical insight and creativity to build market leading customer experience. From pricing and proposition design to intuitive digital journeys and compelling tone of voice, our teams are passionate about creating experiences that are not only effective, but genuinely enjoyable. As we continue to grow as an increasingly digitised business, our colleagues play a critical role in driving change, shaping the future and making a meaningful difference for our customers every day.

Role Purpose

The Senior Data Scientist will lead high-impact strategic projects across Market Modelling from discovery to implementation. The role will provide specialist resource across the Market Pricing teams, accelerating delivery and addressing priority challenges. The role will build and implement market models that improve price competitiveness, profitability and growth. This is a senior individual contributor role with ownership of complex modelling work and its delivery into live pricing. A key part of this role will be autonomous project management. Alongside this will be coaching and mentorship of junior colleagues and contribution to overall team capability.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Projects: Leading high-impact projects from discovery to implementation.

Taking ownership of complex analytical problems and driving them through to delivery.

Providing specialist modelling support across Market Pricing teams where it can have the greatest impact.

Lead on identifying new opportunities within Market Pricing, maintaining our rate of improvement of model accuracy.

Market Model Development: Developing, analysing and implementing advanced statistical and machine learning models into live pricing.

Critically reviewing market models to ensure they are robust and relevant for use across pricing teams.

Improving existing models through new features, data sources and analytical techniques.

Determining how market models should be combined to strengthen competitiveness whilst maintaining feasibility.

Technical Standards & Governance: Advocating for data science and software development best practice.

Ensuring appropriate governance of market models and tools, including documentation, code control and peer review.

Ensure fair and transparent customer outcomes in all model development.

Collaboration: Working closely with Market Pricing, Retail Pricing and Underwriting teams to ensure projects are focussed on the right aims.

Working with Data and ML Engineering teams to deploy models and analytical solutions.

Help develop best practice and new capability across Market Pricing.

Explaining complex modelling work clearly and making practical recommendations.

Customer Outcomes: Ensuring models and pricing actions support fair customer outcomes and align with regulatory expectations.

Knowledge and Skills

• Proven track record of delivering commercial value using supervised machine learning techniques.
• Advanced Python programming skills.
• Proficient in SQL and Git.
• Advanced knowledge of data science technologies and platforms.
• Experience developing and implementing predictive models.
• Ability to drive projects from initiation to completion.
• Strong numerical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to explain complex topics clearly to varied audiences.
• Curious and proactive approach to identifying opportunities and improving existing methods.
• Desirable: General insurance or personal lines pricing experience.
• Experience with market models, PCW data or competitive insight tools.
• Desirable: Experience with Cloud deployments (e.g. Azure/AWS/GCP)

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

• Reward Salary – Attractive salary based on experience + car allowance (pay reviews also completed each year)
• Flexible Working – We champion a flexible and hybrid working approach so please speak to your recruiter to discuss in more detail, including days in the office and at home.
• Competitive Bonus Scheme- All colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus, which is usually paid in March. The scheme is based on Hastings’ performance against our business goals and your own personal performance.
• Physical Wellbeing – as a Band 4 colleague, Hastings pay for you to receive private medical Insurance (also known as PMI) This gives you flexibility and convenience to see a specialist or consultant and allows you to decide when and where you will be seen.
• Financial Wellbeing – As well as providing you with 4x your salary with our life assurance cover and income protection at no extra cost, pension contribution match up to 10%, we are proud to provide you with an AWARD-WINNING package which includes – discounts and cashback at everyday retailers and on our own products, fee free independent mortgage advice, and free access to financial wellbeing support.
• Mental Wellbeing programme – At Hastings Direct we understand that mental health cannot not be scheduled, that’s why we have a range of support to help you keep yourself well. We have the thrive mental health app, our colleague assistance programme available 24/7, our own, in-house mental health first aiders, support groups and a dedicated team to make sure we are covering your needs
• There's more! – 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your contracted weeks, access to our health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to work and tech schemes, discounted and free onsite facilities, social events throughout the year and much more ….

We deliver good outcomes for our customers every time by providing great products at the right price with our simple and straightforward service. Wetreat customerslike we want to be treated - fairly, respectfully and with their best interests at heart

Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status.

Please also note that we have a thorough referencing process, which includes credit and criminal record checks.

At Hastings Direct, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us.

Job posting end date: 28/10/2026

Hastings Direct is a fast growing, agile, digitally focused general insurance provider of products and services to over 4 million customers in the UK, employing over 4,600 colleagues. Our vision – to be the best and biggest digital insurance provider in the market. Our attitude and the way we run our business that makes us different. We focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. It's a dynamic, flexible, fun and constantly changing environment. You'll enjoy the scope to make a real difference for our customers, influence our company, benefit the communities we work in and have fun along the way. If you enjoyed the video and would like to learn more about #LifatHD, check out our colleague stories