Science jobs in United Kingdom

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the "red thread" that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity.

Introduction

The Economist is seeking an experienced Data Scientist to join our Data Science Team. Our Data Science Team is a central source of data skills working across all commercial teams in the business. Reporting to the Head of Data Science you will be leading the application of data science across the business including predictive modelling, NLP and content recommendation.

We believe that data science can bring us a better understanding of our customers' needs, opportunities to improve their experience and a clearer view of what is driving our business performance. In this role you will help advance The Economist's data science capability, bringing projects to production and cementing the role of data science in the way our business operates. You will be doing hands-on data science work with a variety of datasets. You will be directly speaking to stakeholders across the business to understand their needs and explain your work, while collaborating with data engineers, insight analysts and researchers to deliver projects cross-functionally.

We believe data science is essential to the success of our business. This role is an opportunity to apply data science to make a real difference to The Economist's business.

Accountabilities

How will you contribute?

• Identify and lead high-impact data science projects aligned with business goals
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define project scope, success metrics and delivery plans
• Design and implement advanced models using machine learning and statistical methods
• Guide the team in delivering production-grade solutions in partnership with data engineering
• Champion best practices in model development, evaluation and deployment (MLOps)
• Communicate results and recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders across the business
• Mentor junior members of the team and contribute to team development and technical standards
• Help shape the roadmap for data science at The Economist

Experience, skills and professional attributes

The ideal skills for this role are:

• Extensive experience as a data scientist, with a track record of delivering projects in digital customer-facing environments
• Deep understanding of statistical modelling, machine learning and natural language processing
• Expertise in applying Generative AI to enhance traditional natural language processing tasks, prompt engineering, integrating LLMs into machine learning workflows
• Strong Python skills and familiarity with libraries such as scikit-learn, pandas, NumPy, PyTorch or TensorFlow
• Advanced SQL skills and experience working with complex, high-volume datasets
• Practical experience with MLOps tools and practices for deploying and maintaining models
• Experience leading projects and collaborating across cross-functional teams
• Ability to influence stakeholders and communicate complex ideas clearly to non-technical audiences
• A rigorous, detail-oriented approach to scientific and technical work
• Comfort working independently in fast-paced, ambiguous situations, with a proactive mindset
• A passion for using data to make a measurable difference to business performance

#LI-Hybrid

What we offer

Benefits
We offer excellent benefits including an incentive programme, generous annual and parental leave policies, volunteering days and well-being support throughout the year, as well as free access to all Economist content. Country specific benefits are also offered.

Our Values
Our values are a collective set of beliefs and behaviours that strengthen The Economist Group's purpose and demonstrate where we want to be as an organisation. They reflect on our mission to pursue progress for individuals, organisations and the world.

Independence
We are not bound to any party or interest and encourage exploration and free-thinking. We champion freedom, both within our organisation and around the world.

Integrity
We are bold in our efforts to uncover the truth and stand up for what we believe in. We inspire trust through our rigour, fact-checking and transparency.

Excellence
We aspire to the highest standards in all we do. We are ambitious and inquisitive in our pursuit of continuous progress and innovation.

Inclusivity
We value diversity in thought and background and encourage healthy debate with a breadth of perspectives. We treat our colleagues and customers fairly and respectfully.

Openness
We foster a collaborative and empathetic culture conducive to the interests, wit and initiative of our colleagues. New ideas are our lifeblood.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and potential colleagues regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any other status.