Rate: £500-600/day Outside IR35
Duration: Initial 6-Month Contract (Extension Likely)
Location: London (Hybrid)
Office Attendance: 2 days per week in the London office.
The Opportunity
We're supporting a major UK retailer on a large-scale supply chain optimisation programme and are looking for a Senior Data Scientist with a strong background in Operational Research and optimisation.
This is not a Generative AI, NLP, or customer analytics role. Instead, you'll be working on highly complex optimisation challenges that drive real-world operational decisions across a large supply chain network.
The programme has been running for several years and is viewed as a long-term strategic initiative, with further investment already secured.
The Role
You'll be responsible for designing, developing and enhancing optimisation models that support large-scale supply chain decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Architecting and designing optimisation models for complex logistics and supply chain challenges
- Improving and scaling existing optimisation solutions
- Working closely with stakeholders to translate business problems into mathematical models
- Delivering solutions capable of handling billions of potential decision combinations
- Supporting the ongoing development of a critical optimisation platform used across the organisation
Required Experience
We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:
- Strong experience in optimisation, Operational Research, or mathematical modelling
- Experience solving real-world supply chain, logistics, inventory, transportation, or network optimisation problems
- Hands-on experience with optimisation platforms such as AIMMS, AMPL, Gurobi, CPLEX, FICO Xpress, or similar
- Strong Python skills
- Experience working with large-scale optimisation problems where solution quality and performance are critical
- A strong academic background in Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline
Ideal Background
Suitable candidates may come from:
- Retail
- Logistics
- Transportation
- Manufacturing
- Supply Chain Technology
- Warehousing & Distribution
- Airline Operations
- E-commerce Fulfilment
A PhD is not essential, but candidates will typically possess strong mathematical and analytical depth. Those with PhD research linked to real-world optimisation problems are highly encouraged to apply.
What They're Looking For
Beyond technical expertise, the team values individuals who are:
- Naturally curious
- Proactive problem solvers
- Comfortable challenging assumptions
- Strong communicators who ask the right questions
- Passionate about solving complex operational problems
Interview Process
- 1-2 stage interview process
- Quick turnaround on feedback
- Immediate requirement
Senior Data Scientist - Supply Chain Optimization (Contract) in London employer: Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment Careers
As a leading consumer retail organisation based in London, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that champions innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and the opportunity to lead transformative digital initiatives, all while enjoying a competitive salary and bonus structure. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values your contributions and empowers you to drive meaningful change in a rapidly evolving market.
Contact Details:
Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment Careers Recruitment Team
