Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist - London with travel to Banbury: £75,000 - £80,000pa plus Performance Bonus & Benefits.

Bibby Financial Services are growing, and we’re looking for an Lead Data Scientist to join our team. The Lead Data Scientist will establish and develop the organisation's Data Science capability, delivering predictive models and advanced analytics solutions that drive strategic and operational decision-making. As the first dedicated Data Science role within the organisation, the role will lead the application of machine learning and statistical modelling to solve business challenges, while defining the tools, standards and best practices required to build a scalable Data Science function within the Azure Databricks Lakehouse environment.

At Bibby Financial Services (BFS), we’ve been helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive and grow since 1982. Working across 9 countries, we provide the funding and support that give our clients the confidence to take their next step, whether that’s expanding, innovating or breaking into new markets. We’re proud to be part of Bibby Line Group, a long-standing family business and one of the UK’s oldest independent companies

What you’ll be doing:
Design, develop and deploy predictive and statistical models to support strategic and operational decision-making.
Deliver Data Science solutions across a range of use cases including customer attrition, credit risk, likelihood-to-pay and pricing optimisation.
Apply machine learning, statistical and analytical techniques to solve complex business challenges and generate measurable business value.
Evaluate and continuously improve model performance through testing, monitoring and refinement.
Ensure models are scalable, reliable and suitable for operational use.
Explore and analyse large and complex datasets to identify trends, patterns and opportunities.
Translate business problems into analytical approaches and Data Science solutions.
Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Partner with stakeholders to define success measures and assess the impact of Data Science initiatives.
Establish standards, frameworks and best practices for Data Science and machine learning across the organisation.
Define approaches for model development, validation, deployment and lifecycle management.
Develop scalable and repeatable Data Science and MLOps processes within the Azure Databricks Lakehouse environment.
Collaborate with Data Engineering, Data Architecture and Data Governance teams to ensure Data Science solutions align with wider data standards and platform capabilities.
Support the implementation of tooling and processes for model versioning, deployment, monitoring and performance management.
Ability to explain models to non-technical business stakeholders and to understand and explain the impacts of models on the business 
Act as the organisation's subject matter expert for Data Science, predictive analytics and machine learning.
Work closely with stakeholders across departments to identify and prioritise opportunities for advanced analytics.
Mentor data scientists and other data professionals in advanced analytical techniques where appropriate.
Support the Head of Data in defining the Data Science roadmap and the future growth of the capability.

Who are we looking for?
Significant experience in Data Science, machine learning or advanced analytics roles. 
Proven experience developing and deploying predictive models that deliver measurable business outcomes. 
Knowledge of statistical modelling, machine learning techniques and model evaluation approaches. 
Advanced skills in Python and SQL for Data Science, analytics and model development. 
Exposure in developing Data Science solutions within Azure Databricks or similar cloud-based analytics platforms. 
Proficiency in implementing or working with MLOps practices, including model deployment, version control, monitoring and lifecycle management. 
Know-how of translating business challenges into practical Data Science solutions and communicating insights to non-technical stakeholders. 
Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work independently and lead complex initiatives from inception to delivery.

What you’ll get in return:
25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, increasing with service, with buy/sell options
Hybrid working
Private healthcare for you and your family
Company pension scheme
Flexible benefits (gym membership, tech, health assessments and more)
Access to an online wellbeing centre
Discounts with a wide range of retailers
Plus, much more!

There’s no place quite like BFS and we’re proud of that. And it’s all down to you - you make us the people with which every ambitious business loves to work which is highlighted through our values: We partner with customers for long term success, We redefine what’s possible, We deliver what matters, when it matters and We support each other to be our best.

If you would like to join us, please click ‘apply’ today to be considered as our Lead Data Scientist – we would love to hear from you!

Please note: the closing date for this role is Monday 26th October 2026

We're absolutely committed to being a truly inclusive place to work, where everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their true potential. Let us know if you need adjustments to support you through any stage of the Recruitment

We're absolutely committed to being a truly inclusive place to work, where everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their true potential. Let us know if you need adjustments to support you through any stage of the recruitment process.

WORK TOGETHER - TRUST EACH OTHER - DO THE RIGHT THING - BE INNOVATIVE - BE BETTER