Senior Data Scientist

SMG; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% discretionary bonus

£1,800 yearly wellbeing fund (on top</

Free Headspace subscription

£500 yearly “Uni Fund” for learning

4 extra Wellbeing Days off per year

Annual Summer conference + year‑round@

4pm finishes every Friday

Flexible and hybrid working

Job summary

SMG is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to lead the technical development of measurement and analytics across Retail Media Networks, creating robust methodologies and production-ready solutions.

You will be a hands-on technical authority, guiding a small team and collaborating with Data Engineering, Platform and Product to turn innovative methodologies into scalable outcomes. The role offers hybrid working with Leeds presence preferred and a strong compensation package.

Qualifications

• Experience in marketing effectiveness or advanced analytics with expertise across attribution, experimental design, causal inference, regression, forecasting, segmentation and machine learning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of advanced retail media measurement methodologies using customer, transaction, campaign and exposure data.
• Develop capabilities in attribution, incrementality and causal inference, deduplicated reach and frequency, customer lifetime value, optimisation and dynamic impression modelling.
• Identify gaps in measurement capability and explore emerging statistical and machine-learning techniques from feasibility to validated prototypes.
• Partner with Data Engineering, Platform and Product to turn methodologies into scalable, production-ready solutions.
• Improve existing analytical solutions through reusable code, robust QA and documentation.
• Act as a technical authority on advanced measurement and mentor a small team of analysts and data scientists.

Skills

Advanced Python

SQL

Marketing analytics

Machine learning

Statistical modelling

Tools

Snowflake

Databricks

Abacus

Job description

Location: London or Nottingham, Hybrid (two days per week in office)

Salary: From £70k+ & 10% discretionary bonus

Level: Senior-level technical leadership role, with responsibility for advanced analytics capability and management of a small team of analysts and data scientists.

Who are we?

We’re the original pioneers in connected commerce marketing. Since 2008, we’ve been partnering with major retailers, powering global brands, and building meaningful connections with shoppers.

We simplify the mind-boggling complexity of today’s retail media landscape. We deliver impactful campaigns that connect with people where it matters. We create seamless and personalised shopping experiences. Above all, we deliver amazing results for our partners, driven by our unshakeable desire for growth. Time after time, we change the game. SMG is home to a world-class suite of commerce advertising capabilities powered by data and cutting-edge technology. We constantly push ourselves, our tech and our industry to discover innovative new ways to connect, sell and grow.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist to join SMG. In this role, you will lead the technical development of our measurement and advanced analytics capability, creating robust methodologies and models that improve how retail media is measured across our Retail Media Networks.

You’ll be a hands‑on technical authority, designing, coding, testing and validating analytical solutions, while developing a small team and partnering with Data Engineering, Platform and Product to turn great methodologies into scalable, production‑ready solutions.

What you’ll do

Your days will be dynamic. You might find yourself:

• Leading the design and development of advanced retail media measurement methodologies using customer, transaction, campaign and exposure data.
• Developing our capabilities across areas including attribution, incrementality and causal inference, deduplicated reach and frequency, customer lifetime value, optimisation and dynamic impression modelling.
• Identifying gaps in our measurement capability and exploring emerging statistical and machine‑learning techniques, taking promising ideas from feasibility through to validated prototypes.
• Partnering with Data Engineering, Platform and Product teams to turn proven methodologies into scalable, production‑ready solutions.
• Making existing analytical solutions more efficient and reliable through reusable code, robust QA, clear documentation and reduced manual intervention.
• Acting as a technical authority on advanced measurement, advising teams on complex analytical challenges and ensuring approaches are rigorous and commercially useful.
• Leading and developing a small team of data analysts and data scientists, setting priorities, reviewing methodology and code, and supporting their professional growth.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in marketing effectiveness or advanced analytics, with expertise across areas such as attribution, experimental design, causal inference, regression, forecasting, segmentation and machine learning.
• Advanced Python and SQL skills, with experience building modular, well‑tested and maintainable analytical code.
• Practical experience with cloud data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks and/or Abacus.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to make complex methodologies and findings clear and meaningful to non‑technical audiences and senior stakeholders.
• Ideally, experience leading or mentoring analysts or data scientists and reviewing methodology, code and output quality.
• Ideally, experience working with large‑scale customer, transaction, campaign and first‑party datasets, particularly within retail media or marketing measurement.
• Familiarity with digital advertising and measurement platforms, such as Google Analytics, Criteo, ad servers or retail media platforms, would be a plus.

We're looking for people who enjoy the buzz of change, the satisfaction of building something better, and the joy of working with a close‑knit, values‑driven team. If you love variety, thrive in a fast‑paced environment, and embrace change with energy, this could be your right role.

Don’t meet every single requirement? We still want to hear from you. If you believe you’d thrive in this role, your unique perspective might be just what we’re looking for.

Why SMG?

At SMG, we hire for the future, which is fast‑moving and changing shape. Do you have the potential to help shape our business? We’re looking for brilliant, diverse talent who want to grow with us - people who are curious, ambitious, and eager to learn, whether as specialists or across teams.

We value those who take ownership of their growth and bring fresh perspectives. That’s why we’re committed to equity, inclusion, and building a place where everyone feels empowered to grow. At SMG, it’s not just about filling a role but building the future together.

• 10% discretionary bonus
• £1,800 yearly wellbeing fund (on top of your salary!)
• Free Headspace subscription
• £500 yearly “Uni Fund” for learning
• 4 extra Wellbeing Days off per year
• Annual Summer conference + year‑round celebrations
• 4pm finishes every Friday
• Flexible and hybrid working

Explore all our benefits here

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