Senior Data Scientist - Media Optimisation London, England

Group M Worldwide Inc.; London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP Media seeks a Senior Data Scientist to enhance proprietary algorithms within an AI-driven optimization platform. This key role in a dynamic team focuses on improving campaign performance for global clients, leveraging cutting-edge data science techniques. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in data science, optimization, and effective communication skills.

Benefits

Competitive medical and dental insurance

Group retirement plans

Significant paid time off

Employee mental health awareness days

Qualifications

• Experience in optimization algorithms or related disciplines.
• Hands-on experience with real-world data and practical problem-solving.
• Experience in model deployment and software development is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Improve existing algorithms and develop new features for data science.
• Participate in the end-to-end machine learning pipeline.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and conduct model testing.

Skills

Python

Statistics

Machine Learning

Cloud Technologies

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics

Tools

Airflow

AWS

GCP

Job description

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

About Choreograph: A Leading WPP Media Brand

Choreograph is WPP’s global data products and technology company. We’re on a mission to transform marketing by building the fastest, most connected data platform that bridges marketing strategy to scaled activation.

We work with agencies and clients to transform the value of data by bringing together technology, data and analytics capabilities. We deliver this through the Open Media Studio, an AI-enabled media and data platform for the next era of advertising.

We’re endlessly curious. Our team of thinkers, builders, creators and problem solvers are over 1,000 strong, across 20 markets around the world.

Role Summary and Impact

TheMediaOptimisationproductis anAI-powered optimization platform that enables media traders to deploy complex buying strategies and deliver better outcomes for our clients, at scale.

This is no start-up. We’re already trusted by our clients to manage hundreds of millions of media spend.

At the heart of the product is our proprietary algorithms,developed in-house and refined by the team over time.These algorithms enable the platform to makebudget and targeting adjustments thatimprovecampaign performance,everyday,foreveryoneofour clients across the globe.

Our ambitionas a Data Science teamis to further extendsuchcompetitive advantagebyinnovating ouralgorithmsand expandinginto more digital advertising platforms.

We are on the lookout for aSeniorData Scientisttojoin our team tofurther improve our proprietary algorithms, as well as to innovatethe product with latest advances in ML / AI.

The role will report to VP DataScience andbe part ofasmall (but growing!) team of Data Scientists.

The ideal candidate willhave a backgroundin optimisation (algorithms, or related ML disciplines),strong statistical knowledge andhands-on cloud technology experience.

As our algorithms are all proprietaryand built on in-house team, the candidateneeds to betruly, technically competent, to be able to quickly learn a complex system, customise source code, add in new features and code from scratch.

Whilst model deployment/ software developmentexperience isvery,highly desirable,we do have a team of engineers to support so exposurein thisspacewill be sufficient.

Culture-wise,we’re looking for a great team playerwho ispassionate about applying Data Science techniques to solve complex problems and drive innovation.

In return, you will get the opportunity tosolvecutting-edgeproblems,anddrive measurable performance improvement for our clients.Not tomention, working witha team ofsupportive,seasoneddeverlopers, productmanagersand datascientistswho have successfully builtand deployedscalable, global products.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Further improveexisting algorithms and develop net new DS features
• Design andcontribute tothe end-to-end machine learning pipeline from data collection, reprocessing to model training,simulation,evaluation, deploymentand experimentation / testing
• Implement and interpret explainability frameworks to provide clear insights into model decisions, ensuring transparency and compliance withWPPstandards
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify business needs and translate these requirements into technical solutions that are scalable and impactful
• Conduct rigorous model testing and validation to ensure robustness and accuracy
• Prepare detailed documentation and reports that communicate complex model behaviours, predictions, and insights in a manner accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Stay abreast ofacademic researchandindustry advancements inoptimisation, plusAI/ML in general.
• Knowledge-share and support the wider team and Data Science community todriveinnovationsbased onyour work

Essential qualifications:

• Bachelor's ormaster's degree inDataScience, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related quantitative field
• Hands-on experience inoptimisation algorithms(or a relateddisplicine).Pleasenote:

-Wihlstwe’d consider candidates with relevant academic background, we’d prefer those with hands-on, commercial experiencesolving practical problems withreal-world data.

-Completing a module/ thesis on this topic as part of bachelor’s degree is notconsidered assufficientacademic experience.We’re primarily thinkingaboutthe experience of conducting an original piece of research as part of anMRes, PhD, fellowship, etc

• Proficiency in Python(and key ML frameworks)andSQL
• Experience of usingcloud technologies.

-We’re AWS-based but migrating to GCP soon.Experience in any of thesetwo, or another mainstream service is fine.

• Experienceof/exposuretomodel deploymentand/orsoftware development
• Strong, demonstratablestatisticalandmachine learningknowledge
• Effective communication skills toworkwith different stakeholders / team members with varying degrees of knowledge in Data Science
• A collaborative team player

Highly Desirable qualifications:

• Hands-on experience in Airflow
• Commercial experience in softwaredevelopment
• CommercialML Opsexperience

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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