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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data science strategy and mentor a high-performing team to drive impactful insights.
- Company: Smart Data Foundry unlocks financial data to improve lives and inform policy change.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative culture, innovative projects, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real social impact while working with cutting-edge technology in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in data science, excellent communication skills, and experience in product-focused organisations.
- Other info: Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to ethical data use and societal improvement.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 100000 £ per year.
About Smart Data Foundry
Smart Data Foundry has a purpose to unlock the power of financial data as a force to improve people’s lives. We enable the research ecosystem to flourish through the provision of research-ready real financial data. We create data-driven insights based on real financial data, that identify areas to inform policy change and enhance regulation.
Role Purpose
The Chief Data Scientist (CDS) is a pivotal leadership role at Smart Data Foundry (SDF), serving as a key external ambassador who builds trusted relationships with clients, data partners, policymakers, and industry leaders. They will drive responsible data sharing and data product development to unlock the full potential of financial data to create meaningful social impact. Internally, the CDS will lead SDF’s data science strategy, ensuring advanced analytics are seamlessly integrated into products and services, translating research into actionable, real-world insights. They will champion innovation, harness emerging technologies, and foster a collaborative, forward-thinking culture. As a hands-on leader, the CDS will mentor and develop a high-performing team, strengthening their technical, commercial, and communication skills while ensuring SDF remains at the forefront of using financial data to address societal challenges.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy: Lead the development and execution of data science strategy at SDF, driving insights and research that promote financial well-being, economic resilience, and policy innovation, with a strong external focus on client value in a fast-paced start-up.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Develop trusted relationships with data partners and external stakeholders to drive responsible data sharing, unlock new sources, and maximise the impact of financial services data. Communicate complex data concepts to specialist and non-specialist audiences, ensuring data science informs key decisions. Represent SDF’s data capabilities with credibility, engaging financial institutions, regulators, public sector bodies, NGOs, and researchers to strengthen partnerships. Lead knowledge-sharing initiatives to showcase SDF’s impact and foster collaboration across data science, research, and policy communities.
- Data Science & Analytics: Oversee and participate in data curation, analysis, and visualisation, ensuring high-quality outputs that maximise the value of financial data. Drive SDF’s vision for AI and machine learning by leading data science initiatives that develop ethical, transparent, and innovative AI/ML models.
- Product: Collaborate with the CEO and Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer to shape the product roadmap, ensuring alignment with business goals. Work directly with clients and partners to understand the problems they need to solve and deliver data-driven solutions. Foster cross-functional collaboration to seamlessly integrate data science into products, dashboards, and insights.
- Service Delivery: Partner with Data Operations/Engineering, Delivery and Platform teams to seamlessly integrate data science solutions into a secure, scalable, and efficient technical ecosystem. Ensure a user-centric approach, delivering actionable, valuable, and accessible data science insights.
- Leadership & Talent Development: Lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary data science team, fostering collaboration, innovation, and cross-functional integration. Promote a growth mindset, encouraging continuous learning and professional development.
- Innovation and Improvement: Drive R&D initiatives to push the boundaries of data science, ensuring SDF’s capabilities evolve with emerging challenges and opportunities. Stay on top of industry trends, academic research requirements, and technological shifts.
- Governance & Compliance: Collaborate with Information Governance to ensure ethical, legal, and secure use of data, strengthening compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
- Data Evangelism & Advocacy: Represent SDF as a data expert in public forums, industry conferences, and media, advocating for the transformative power of financial data in driving societal and economic change.
Essential skills
- Experienced Data Science leader with a demonstrable track record of operating at a leadership team level and influencing at board level.
- Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written, with experience of liaising with and managing numerous internal and external stakeholders.
- Evidence of ability to quickly grasp and manage complex issues / risks and of managing and engaging a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience in a product or services focused organisation, Agile development and continuous and process improvement.
- Strong hands-on, demonstrable data science expertise.
- Good understanding of GDPR regulations and data sharing processes and legal requirements.
- Ability to deal with ambiguity and react quickly in an evolving and fast paced environment.
- Proven ability of working under pressure and with conflicting and changing priorities.
Chief Data Scientist employer: ZipRecruiter
Contact Detail:
ZipRecruiter Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Data Scientist
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the financial data sector. Attend industry conferences, webinars, and workshops to connect with potential colleagues and stakeholders. Building relationships with key players can give you insights into the role and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Stay updated on the latest trends in data science and financial technology. Follow relevant blogs, podcasts, and publications to understand the current landscape and challenges in the industry. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past. Prepare specific anecdotes that highlight your ability to drive innovation and foster collaboration, as these are crucial for the Chief Data Scientist role.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with Smart Data Foundry's mission and values. Tailor your discussions to reflect how your experience aligns with their goals of using financial data for social impact. Showing genuine interest in their work can set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Data Scientist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in data science leadership, stakeholder engagement, and product development. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive insights and manage teams effectively.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for using financial data to create social impact. Discuss how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Chief Data Scientist role and provide examples of past successes in similar positions.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since the role requires excellent communication skills, consider including a section in your application that highlights your experience in presenting complex data concepts to diverse audiences. This could be through workshops, webinars, or publications.
Demonstrate Innovation and R&D Experience: Highlight any experience you have in driving research and development initiatives within data science. Provide examples of how you've adopted new technologies or methodologies to improve processes and outcomes in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at ZipRecruiter
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a Chief Data Scientist, you'll be expected to lead a high-performing team. Be prepared to discuss your previous leadership roles, how you've mentored teams, and the strategies you've used to foster collaboration and innovation.
✨Communicate Complex Ideas Simply
You'll need to articulate complex data concepts to various stakeholders. Practice explaining your past projects in simple terms, focusing on the impact and value they brought to clients or the organisation.
✨Demonstrate Your Technical Expertise
Be ready to dive deep into your technical skills. Discuss specific data science methodologies you've employed, any AI/ML models you've developed, and how you've ensured ethical practices in your work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world situations. Think of examples where you've had to navigate ambiguity or manage conflicting priorities, and how you delivered results under pressure.
