Job Description
Are you a data scientist who wants to take ideas out of notebooks and into the real world?
This is a rare chance to join a £1.2bn-turnover, not-for-profit organisation at the exact moment it builds its AI and advanced analytics capability.
The data function is brand new. The mandate is clear. The backing is real. And you’ll be working directly with a CDO who has spent her career building serious data teams.
You’re not inheriting someone else’s mess. You’re stepping into a blank slate.
What makes this role genuinely interesting...
This organisation operates across student accommodation, social housing and care homes. That means your work doesn’t just end in dashboards, it affects buildings, services, partners and people’s day-to-day lives.
Right now, the focus is on:
* Understanding historic data properly
* Using it to predict what’s coming next
* Turning quick, “down and dirty” proofs of concept into real operational change
Think predictive maintenance, service downtime reduction, smarter contracts, and potentially light-touch IoT-style use cases. If you’ve ever wanted to do the kind of work, innovation teams or physical-world data science groups do, this is it!
What you’ll actually be doing
* Acting as the hands-on AI / advanced analytics lead within a newly formed data function
* Building proof-of-concept models using historic and live operational data
* Exploring predictive analytics and machine learning use cases that drive tangible outcomes
* Working closely with BI Managers and SQL Developers who handle the core reporting layer
* Translating analytical insight into something senior stakeholders can actually act on
* Helping shape the future tech stack rather than being forced into an existing one
This is not a people-management role. You’re not inheriting a team. You’re expected to do the work, influence others, and help define what “good” looks like.
The tech (deliberately flexible)
They’re currently working across:
* Azure
* SAP Datasphere
* SAP Analytics Cloud
* BI and SQL-heavy environments
But they are not wedded to a fixed stack. Strong fundamentals matter more than specific tools. If you can justify the approach and prove the value quickly, you’ll be listened to.
This will suit you if you…
* Are a data scientist or advanced analytics specialist with real, applied experience
* Have delivered models that influenced decisions in the physical or operational world
* Are comfortable working closely with BI teams rather than sitting in isolation
* Enjoy ambiguity, quick wins and building something from nothing
* Don’t want to manage people yet, but want your work to matter
They’re deliberately not looking for someone overly senior or heavily managerial.
Practical details (no surprises)
* Salary: £75,000–£80,000
* Bonus: None
* Benefits: Strong pension and healthcare
* Working pattern: 3 days per week in the office – non-negotiable
* Location: Candidates must be within ~50 miles of WR1