M+C Saatchi UK
Applied Data Science Lead
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M+C Saatchi's Consulting Division Builds RoCP
M+C Saatchi's Consulting division is building RoCP (Return on Cultural Power) - a proprietary platform that proves the commercial return on cultural investment for brands.
This role is the analytical and technical engine of that build. You'll work directly with the Head of Effectiveness Solutions and alongside the Head of AI & Product and the Chief Delivery Officer to turn methodology into working data products - models, scorecards, and insight tools - using AI-assisted development as a core workflow, not an afterthought.
You'll also be client-facing. RoCP products are built for brands and delivered to brand teams, so you need to be comfortable presenting data outputs, walking clients through methodology in plain language, and fielding questions with confidence.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the applied data science work behind RoCP, turning the methodology into robust models, scorecards and insight tools that can be used confidently by internal teams and clients.
- Work with the Head of Effectiveness Solutions, Head of AI & Product and Chief Delivery Officer to translate strategic questions into clear analytical approaches, product requirements and delivery plans.
- Identify, structure and interrogate relevant data sources across culture, brand, audience, media and commercial performance, ensuring the inputs are credible, usable and fit for purpose.
- Build, test and improve statistical and machine learning models, applying sound judgement on methodology, validation, limitations and how outputs should be interpreted.
- Develop practical data pipelines and analytical workflows in Python and SQL, including API pulls, data cleaning, feature creation and repeatable model runs.
- Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, prototyping and documentation while maintaining quality, security and technical accountability.
- Translate analytical outputs into clear, compelling client-facing narratives, explaining what the data shows, why it matters and what action a brand should take next.
- Partner with strategists, consultants, product and delivery teams to embed RoCP outputs into client work, pitches and ongoing product development.
- Present work confidently to internal stakeholders and client teams, handling questions on methodology, assumptions and interpretation in plain language.
- Create documentation, guardrails and reusable assets that help the wider team understand, use and evolve the RoCP platform over time
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What You'll Bring
Statistical Foundation + Data Science (must-have)
- Strong grounding in statistics and applied modelling - inference, regression, classification, clustering and model validation. You know how to frame a problem, choose an appropriate method, and interrogate whether the output is trustworthy or an artefact. Comfortable working with large, messy real-world datasets.
Internal Stakeholder Confidence (must-have)
- Experience presenting analytical work to internal stakeholders strategists, or senior leadership. You can hold a room, translate a model into plain language, and push back politely when a question is based on a misreading of the data.
Engineering Enough to be Self-Sufficient (must-have)
- 3+ years working with data in Python and SQL. You can pull from APIs (REST, OAuth), clean and structure messy data, and stand up a working pipeline end-to-end without hand-holding. You don't need to be a platform engineer - but you shouldn't need one to get your models fed and running.
AI-Assisted Development (strong plus)
- Demonstrable experience shipping working code using AI coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or equivalent). You should have opinions about when agentic coding works and when it doesn't.
Data Modelling (nice-to-have)
- Experience with dbt, dimensional modelling, or building analytical data layers.
Adtech / Martech Exposure (nice-to-have)
- Familiarity with marketing data ecosystems - ad platform APIs, brand tracking, audience data.
What We’re Not Looking For
- A pure infrastructure engineer who wants to optimise Kubernetes clusters - this is applied, product-oriented work with real clients.
- A best-in-class data scientist who tweaks hyperparameters in their sleep. You need to understand foundational statistics, marketing data and how to build models pragmatically and collaboratively.
- A "prompt engineer" we need someone who writes and understands code, with AI as an accelerant.
- Someone who's uncomfortable in a big internal meeting, you will be expected to explain your thinking.
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What You'll Get
For the right candidate, we will offer a competitive salary and benefits package which includes 27 days annual holiday, private healthcare, employer contributory pension, life assurance and income protection. We also offer a host of benefits that support wellbeing including subsidised gym membership, whilst our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion sees us offer learning opportunities around D&I, mentoring programmes and the opportunity for all to participate in a number of active Employee Led Networks and associated events. Finally, this role will be supported with all the necessary personal development required to set someone up for success.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday 02 August 2026.
We will review candidates on a rolling-basis and reserve the right to close the job early should we receive a high volume of applications - early application is therefore encouraged.
ABOUT M+C SAATCHI GROUP
M+C Saatchi Group is a creative solutions company that connects specialist expertise, fuelled by data, technology, and culture, to help clients navigate, create, and lead meaningful change. The Group operates across five core divisions: Connected Creativity; Passion Marketing; Global & Social Issues; Brand, Experience & Innovation; and Performance Media. Headquartered in London, operations span 23 countries with major hubs in the UK, Europe, US, Middle East & Africa, Asia and Australia. M+C Saatchi Group’s two principles, Diversity of Thought and Brutal Simplicity of Thought, guide how they build teams and solve problems.
M+C Saatchi Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on talent and capability, without regard for any personal characteristics.
All employee information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
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