Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist

Location: Warrington (Hybrid, 3 days per week onsite)
Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits Package
Team Leadership: Managing a team of 2 Data Scientists
Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we may be unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

The Role

As a Senior Data Scientist, you will work closely with strategy, operational, and technology teams to identify opportunities where advanced analytics and machine learning can unlock business value. You'll lead the design, development, deployment, and continuous improvement of analytical models that support critical decisions across the organisation.

You will combine deep technical expertise with strong stakeholder engagement skills, helping to bridge the gap between business challenges and innovative data-driven solutions. Alongside hands-on data science delivery, you'll mentor and support a team of two Data Scientists while helping shape best practices across the wider analytics function.

The role

As a Senior Data Scientist, you will work closely with strategy, operational, and technology teams to identify opportunities where advanced analytics and machine learning can unlock business value. You'll lead the design, development, deployment, and continuous improvement of analytical models that support critical decisions across the organisation.

You will combine deep technical expertise with strong stakeholder engagement skills, helping to bridge the gap between business challenges and innovative data-driven solutions. Alongside hands-on data science delivery, you'll mentor and support a team of two Data Scientists while helping shape best practices across the wider analytics function.

What You'll Be Doing

• Partner with business stakeholders to identify opportunities where data science can deliver strategic and operational value.
• Design, build, deploy and maintain advanced analytical and machine learning models.
• Develop compelling data visualisations and insights for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Lead the implementation of robust software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices for analytics solutions.
• Engineer, transform and optimise large-scale datasets with varying levels of volume, velocity and complexity.
• Evaluate and apply the most appropriate statistical, machine learning and deep learning techniques for business problems.
• Collaborate closely with Data Engineers, Data Architects and Data Managers to build reliable analytics pipelines.
• Ensure all analytical products are secure, scalable, automated and compliant with governance standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in analytical methodologies, coding standards and model performance.
• Conduct peer reviews of code, models and visualisations to maintain high quality standards.
• Support, mentor and develop a team of 2 Data Scientists.
• Act as a subject matter expert, providing guidance across wider analytics initiatives.

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• Significant commercial experience in Machine Learning.
• Significant commercial experience in Advanced Analytics.
• Proven experience developing and deploying predictive and statistical models in production environments.
• Experience leading or mentoring data science professionals.
• Extensive experience working with large, complex datasets.
• Strong understanding of data engineering concepts and analytics pipelines.
• Experience translating complex business challenges into practical analytical solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of advanced analytics techniques including:
• Machine Learning
• Statistical Modelling
• Predictive Analytics
• Strong programming skills in one or more of:
• Python
• SQL
• Experience with modern analytics platforms and technologies such as:
• Databricks
• Relational Databases
• NoSQL Databases
• Power BI
• Strong understanding of coding best practices, model governance and reproducibility.

Personal Attributes

• Naturally curious with a passion for solving complex problems.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Able to build trust and credibility with stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaborative and team-oriented approach.
• Excellent listening, communication and influencing skills.
• Passionate about mentoring others and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Why Join United Utilities?

At United Utilities, you'll have the opportunity to apply cutting-edge data science techniques to real-world challenges that directly impact millions of customers and the environment. You'll work with modern technologies, talented colleagues, and complex datasets while helping shape the future of analytics across our business.

What You'll Get

• Competitive salary
• Up to 10.5% annual bonus
• Excellent pension scheme with up to 21% combined contribution
• Private healthcare
• Share buy scheme
• Comprehensive wellbeing support and benefits
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Career progression within a growing analytics community

Diversity & Inclusion

United Utilities is committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences and believe that diversity of thought, perspective and experience makes us stronger. If you're passionate about using data to solve meaningful problems and want to be part of a team making a difference, we'd love to hear from you.