Senior Principal Data Scientist

ZipRecruiter; Dalkeith; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the medical field seeks a Senior Principal Data Scientist to apply data science methodologies to enhance drug development processes. The role involves managing projects, collaborating with partners, and utilizing advanced statistical methods to support decision-making. This position offers a hybrid working model, requiring presence in the London office three days a week.

Qualifications

• Over 3 years of experience in clinical drug development.
• Strong knowledge of statistical methods and machine learning.

Responsibilities

• Apply data science methodologies to patient-level data.
• Manage budgets and coordinate projects within the area.

Skills

Data Science

Machine Learning

Statistical Methods

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in Data Science

Tools

R

Python

Job description

Job Description

This job is with Novartis, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

Summary

Understand complex and critical business problems, formulate integrated analytical approaches to mine data sources, employ statistical methods and machine learning algorithms to help solve unmet medical needs, discover actionable insights, and automate processes to reduce effort and time for repeated use. Manage the implementation and adherence to the data lifecycle of enterprise data—from acquisition or creation through enrichment, consumption, retention, and retirement—ensuring the availability of clean, accurate data throughout its useful lifecycle. Demonstrate high agility to work across various business domains. Integrate business presentations, visualization tools, and storytelling to translate findings into impactful insights for business users. Independently manage budgets, ensure appropriate staffing, and coordinate projects within the area. If managing a team, empower team members, provide guidance and coaching, with initial supervision from senior leaders. This is typically the first managerial role.

About the Role

Our Development Team is guided by our purpose: to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We are optimizing processes, investing in new technologies, and building capabilities in specific therapeutic areas to bring medicines to patients faster. We seek talented individuals like you to join us and help give people with diseases and their families a brighter future.

The Role

As a Senior Principal Data Scientist in the Medical Affairs Advanced Quantitative Sciences group, you will be responsible for applying data science methodologies to patient-level data—including clinical, real-world, and biomarker data—across clinical development. You will combine your data science, AI skills, and scientific knowledge in biology or medicine to support drug development decisions in collaboration with internal and external partners.

This role offers a hybrid working model, requiring 3 days per week or 12 days per month in our London Office.

Key Accountabilities

• Contribute to planning, execution, interpretation, validation, and communication of innovative analyses and algorithms to support decision-making.
• Provide expertise in data science and machine learning/AI to identify opportunities influencing internal decisions and regulatory discussions.
• Perform hands-on analysis of integrated data from trials and real-world sources to generate evidence for drug development decisions.

Your Experience

• Ph.D. in data science, biostatistics, or a related quantitative field (or equivalent).
• Over 3 years of experience in clinical drug development with extensive exposure to clinical trials.
• Strong knowledge of statistical methods such as survival analysis, machine learning, meta-analysis, mixed-effects modeling, Bayesian methods, and variable selection techniques.
• Proficiency in R and Python, with experience in data visualization, exploratory analysis, and predictive modeling.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to develop clear presentations for decision-making meetings.

Why Novartis

Helping people with diseases and their families requires more than science; it requires a community of passionate, collaborative individuals. Join us to create breakthroughs that change lives. Learn more about our culture and people: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people

Commitment to Diversity

Novartis is committed to building an inclusive, diverse work environment that reflects the communities we serve.

Join Our Talent Network

Not the right role? Sign up to stay connected and learn about future opportunities: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Benefits and Rewards

Learn about our support for your personal and professional growth: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits