Group Head of Data Science
Hybrid - London (occasional travel to European offices)
Up to £180,000 + benefits
About the Role
We are working with a global lottery/gambling provider on a 'Group Head of Data Science' role - you’ll be responsible for building and scaling their global Machine Learning and AI function that drives commercial performance, enhances player engagement, and enables smarter, real-time decisioning across lottery, iGaming, and adjacent ventures.
You’ll set the strategic vision, while building a high-performing team of data scientists.
Key Responsibilities
* Own and execute the group-wide ML/AI strategy, aligning with key commercial priorities.
* Lead development and deployment of high-impact models (personalisation, churn, demand forecasting, pricing, etc.) into production.
* Establish governance and standards for model quality, explainability, and bias mitigation across jurisdictions.
* Drive adoption of MLOps best practices - CI/CD, automated testing, monitoring, feature stores.
* Partner with Marketing, Digital, Technology, Innovation and local business units to embed intelligence into customer and operational workflows.
* Champion advanced analytics techniques such as reinforcement learning, causal inference, and generative AI.
* Build, mentor, and retain a diverse team of data science talent, fostering a culture of experimentation and excellence.
* Track and report on ROI and business value delivered from predictive initiatives to senior leadership.
What We’re Looking For
* 8+ years’ experience in data science and ML, with at least 2 years in a senior leadership capacity.
* Proven success delivering ML solutions that drive measurable commercial outcomes at scale.
* Hands-on expertise across the ML lifecycle, in modern cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure).
* Strong communication skills and ability to influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
* Deep knowledge of ethical AI governance and experience implementing controls for compliance.
* Background in consumer-facing sectors like gaming, e-commerce, fintech or digital media is desirable.
* Growth mindset, commercial acumen and a passion for unlocking value through data.
Please note - this role cannot offer VISA sponsorship.