Optima Partners
Senior Data Scientist
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Senior Data Scientist
Senior Data Scientist
We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist to lead the design and delivery of machine learning, statistical modelling, and experimentation solutions that solve complex business problems and drive measurable outcomes across our client base. You will combine hands-on technical expertise with strong consulting and stakeholder skills, shaping analytical approaches, guiding delivery, and translating data into clear, actionable insight.
The role focuses on:
- Developing scalable data science solutions
- Validating performance through robust experimentation
- Leading technical decision-making
- Partnering with senior stakeholders to ensure analytical outputs deliver real commercial impact
About Us
Optima Partners is a fast-growing professional services firm helping leading organisations transform customer engagement at the intersection of marketing, technology, and data. We work with major brands including Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Nationwide, Aviva, Virgin Media O2, BT, Centrica, and GSK. As we scale from 80 to 200 people, we’re growing our Advanced Data team.
We are collaborative, curious, and focused on delivering practical insight that helps organisations make better decisions and grow sustainably. You will join a practitioner-led business with a strong data science community, working alongside people passionate about applying analytical thinking to real-world business problems.
About The Role
As a Senior Data Scientist, you will be a technical lead responsible for shaping, developing, and implementing machine learning and statistical solutions that deliver meaningful value for our clients. You will:
- Work closely with senior stakeholders to understand business challenges, define analytical strategies, oversee delivery, and translate complex outputs into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Play a key role in growing and developing our data science practice.
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This is a great opportunity for an experienced data scientist to:
- Take ownership of high-impact work across multiple commercial sectors.
- Contribute to multi-disciplinary project teams.
- Drive visibly impactful client solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Lead the development and implementation of machine learning and statistical models to solve practical, high-value business problems.
- Partner with senior stakeholders to define objectives, shape analytical approaches, influence decisions, and communicate findings effectively.
- Translate complex technical outputs into clear, transparent, actionable recommendations supporting strategic decision-making.
Data-Driven Problem Solving
- Explore data, test hypotheses, and identify value-creating opportunities in customer, operational, and commercial domains.
Collaboration & Mentorship
- Collaborate with teams across data science, engineering, strategy, and design to deliver high-quality outcomes.
- Champion emerging data science techniques, including Large Language Model (LLM) applications, and adapt them for client solutions.
- Mentor junior colleagues, reviewing analytical work, and contributing to best practice development in the Advanced Data team.
Requirements
Technical Expertise
- Strong academic background in mathematics, statistics, science, engineering, or another numerate discipline.
- Minimum 2:1 degree in a STEM subject, with a postgraduate qualification in a quantitative field considered beneficial.
- Deep expertise in statistics, including:
- Experimental design
- Uncertainty quantification
- Causal inference
- Predictive modelling
- Significant experience applying:
- Supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques
- Machine learning in commercial or client-facing environments
- Advanced proficiency in Python and/or R, including:
- Operationalising data science solutions
- Experience with modern data science tooling
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Soft Skills
- Excellent communication skills—able to explain complex analysis clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong problem-solving and commercial curiosity.
- Lead work independently while supporting others in small, high-performing teams.
- Deep understanding of commercial value drivers, such as:
- Revenue
- Cost
- Profitability
- Customer behaviour
- Operational performance
Mentorship & Leadership
- Experience mentoring junior data scientists.
- Ability to review analytical approaches and contribute to technical standards/reusable assets.
Why Join Us?
At Optima, you will:
- Work on varied, meaningful projects for well-known organisations while deepening your technical expertise and leadership.
- Join a supportive data science community with a culture of:
- Continuous learning
- Knowledge-sharing
- Collaboration
- Shape analytical solutions across multiple sectors.
- Mentor others, learn from experienced practitioners, and build a career with clear progression opportunities.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary + bonus (up to 15%)
- 37 days holiday (including Christmas shutdown)
- Private medical insurance, life & income protection
- Pension scheme
- 1,000+ employee perks
- Dedicated learning, training, and certification support
If you’re ready to take a senior role in a practitioner-led consultancy where data science solves real-world business problems, we’d love to hear from you.
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