Senior Data Scientist

BBC Group and Public Services; London, Salford, North East, Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The BBC is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to enhance its content delivery through machine learning. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to build scalable AI products and providing insights to impact millions of users. Join a dynamic work environment that values innovation, inclusion, and personal growth while contributing to the BBC's mission.

Benefits

Flexible working options

25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days

Defined pension scheme

Discounted dental and health care

Career and professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrated skills in machine learning techniques and their production application.
• Ability to communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in working effectively within a cross-functional team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement recommender systems to enhance user experiences.
• Collaborate in a cross-functional team to deliver machine learning products.
• Communicate insights and progress effectively to diverse audiences.

Skills

Machine Learning

Data Science

Programming

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Relevant degree in Data Science or related field

Tools

Python

R

Job description

Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link

DEPARTMENT: Chief Operating Group, Product Group

LOCATION: London, Salford, Newcastle, Glasgow – Hybrid.

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Up to £70,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

BBC EXTEND

We are committed to making the process of applying for this role as accessible as possible. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the application process, or have any questions about our BBC Extend programme for disabled people, please [e-mail] .

The BBC are fully committed to providing workplace adjustments to help eliminate barriers in the workface that disabled people face. To do this, we have our own dedicated BBC Access and Disability Service that provides assessments and support throughout employment with us. If you are successful in applying for this role and require workplace adjustments, we will work with you to get your adjustments in place.

If you’d like more information on BBC Extend, please visit the BBC Extend webpage . (EXTEND code: EX2324).

Job Introduction

The BBC has been serving audiences online for decades, across key products such as BBC iPlayer. As we evolve to deliver more personalised content and experiences, Data Science is at the heart of that transformation.

As a team, we use ML / AI to enrich our content and power personalised experiences for millions of audience members. We’re looking for a Senior Data Scientist to join the Recommendations team in the Product Group.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

As Senior Data Scientist you’ll play a hands-on role in building machine learning products at BBC scale. Working as part of a highly cross-functional team, you’ll help overcome the challenges of deploying ML in production.

You’ll have the opportunity to get involved with the wider data science community, both at the BBC and externally. We hope you’ll be enthusiastic about sharing your knowledge and growing others.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• You’ll use your technical skills to deliver value to BBC audiences, blending a breadth and depth of data science expertise.
• You’ll have impact within your immediate team and beyond, across the wider BBC, instrumental in developing scalable ML products.
• You’ll bring experience of being an effective contributor in a cross-functional team, working with others to overcome the challenges of delivering ML in production.
• You’ll develop and implement recommender systems, which combine technical expertise with business and editorial insights to surface BBC content for millions of users.
• You’ll join the wider BBC Data Science community, with internal and external opportunities to get involved and share your knowledge.

There is a 2-stage process:

• Hiring manager introductory call covering role background and candidate motivations for applying (external applicants only).
• 1.5 hour panel interview including a technical presentation from the candidate and role relevant competency-based questions.

Main Responsibilities

• A strong understanding of data science and machine learning techniques, including recent advances and their applications for implementation in a production environment.
• Good general programming skills, including knowledge of code management and deployment.
• The ability to contribute effectively in a cross-functional team, including the ability to prioritise and work in a structured manner.
• The ability to communicate to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Practical and/or theoretical knowledge of Information Retrieval techniques (Recommendations, Search).

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Experience developing and deploying recommender systems.
• Experience with model lifecycle management and MLOps, including model deployment, versioning and monitoring.
• Mentorship of other team members.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

Please do not think you have to tick all boxes: you will be working in a supportive and collaborative team, where we aim to put everyone in the condition to contribute at their best and feel that their work is useful and valued. You will find great development and learning opportunities to support your professional growth. We value diversity and are committed to be truly inclusive and a place where everyone belongs.

About the BBC

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC for different reasons and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviourshere .

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please clickhere .

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about the BBC

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pensionscheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Candidate pack

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.