The Financial Times is hiring a Lead Data Scientist to head a team dedicated to growing our subscriber base and supporting our award-winning journalism. You will collaborate across departments to shape and deliver impactful projects, from content personalization to churn prediction.
What You'll Do
- Manage and develop a team of 5+ data scientists.
- Work closely with external vendors and contractors.
- Champion best practices in data science delivery through clear frameworks and guidance.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure models, products, and services meet business needs.
- Lead strategic projects that embed data science into business decision-making.
- Maintain and monitor ML models, ensuring they remain effective over time.
- Scope and prioritise high-value projects, balancing deadlines and quality.
- Communicate project outcomes clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Promote the visibility and impact of data science across the FT.
What We're Looking For
- Recent experience working with large datasets to solve complex problems.
- Proven success delivering data science solutions within business environments.
- Proficiency in R or Python.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience managing and mentoring data scientists.
- Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas through writing, visualisations, or presentations.
- Strong organisational skills with experience in balancing multiple projects.
Nice to Have
- Familiarity with Posit Connect, workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow), AWS services (e.g., SageMaker, Redshift), or distributed computing tools (e.g., Spark, Kafka).
- Experience in a media or newsroom environment.
- Agile team experience.
- Advanced degree in Maths, Statistics, or a related field.
Technical Stack
- Languages: R, Python
- Tools: Posit Connect, Airflow
- Cloud: AWS SageMaker, AWS Redshift
- Distributed Computing: Spark, Kafka
Team & Environment
You will head a team of 5+ data scientists focused on subscriber growth and journalism support, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams.
Benefits & Compensation
- Generous annual leave
- Medical cover
- Inclusive parental leave packages
- Subsidised gym memberships
- Opportunities to give back to the community
Work Mode
This is a hybrid role based in London.
We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.
