Lead Decision Science Analyst

Lead Decision Science Analyst

Full-Time 40500 - 49500 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Marks and Spencer

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead analytical projects, translating complex questions into actionable insights for better decision-making.
  • Company: Join M&S, a dynamic and inclusive retail leader transforming the industry.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, bonuses, and extensive wellbeing support.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and positive change.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex problems and driving strategic decisions.
  • Qualifications: Strong statistical skills, experience with data programming languages, and excellent communication abilities.

The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.

Summary

Our Advanced Analytics team helps M&S make better decisions by combining commercial insight, decision science and analytical engineering.

We work across product squads and the wider business to deliver trusted, high-impact analytical solutions.

As a Lead Data Analyst, you will partner with business and product teams to tackle complex commercial challenges, translating their questions into robust analytical approaches and generating evidence that drives confident decision-making.

You'll apply statistical modelling, experimentation and analytical reasoning to evaluate opportunities, measure impact and support strategic decisions across M&S.

We're looking for someone who combines strong statistical expertise with commercial curiosity, enjoys solving ambiguous problems, and can communicate complex analytical findings in a way that stakeholders understand, trust and act upon.

Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

All the details

What you'll do

  • Your key accountabilities will include
  • Lead analytical work on high-value opportunities, collaborating with product teams, business stakeholders and data scientists to deliver evidence that supports better decisions.
  • Translate complex or ambiguous business questions into clear analytical objectives, success measures and decision-focused analysis plans.
  • Conduct deep exploratory and diagnostic analysis to understand performance, identify drivers and uncover opportunities to create measurable business value.
  • Design and apply appropriate approaches, including statistical modelling, experimentation and quasi-experimental methods, to test hypotheses, evaluate initiatives and quantify their impact.
  • Coach and develop analysts while helping shape analytical standards, best practice and capability across M&S.

Who you are

  • Your skills and experience will include
  • Commercially curious, with strong analytical problem-solving skills and the ability to focus analysis on the questions and decisions that create business value.
  • Strong statistical expertise, with experience selecting, applying and interpreting appropriate methods to draw robust conclusions from complex, imperfect real-world data.
  • Sound analytical judgement, including the ability to assess the strength of evidence, recognise uncertainty and potential bias, and communicate appropriate limitations.
  • A clear and persuasive communicator who can translate complex analysis into practical recommendations for senior and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Experience using at least one data-focused programming or analytical language, such as Python, R, Py Spark or similar.
  • What's in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that - playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day.

We're an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special

  • After completing your probationary period, you'll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
  • Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
  • Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
  • A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
  • A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
  • Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
  • Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
  • Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
  • A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
  • Everyone's welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail.

We're disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era.

We're transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet.

Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers.

Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best.

We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know when completing your application.

This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

  • #hybridrole #LI-hybrid #LI-HB1
  • #J-18808-Ljbffr

Lead Decision Science Analyst employer: Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencer is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, particularly within the Corporate HR technology team. Employees benefit from a supportive environment that prioritises professional growth and development, alongside competitive remuneration and benefits. Working in a dynamic location, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful projects that enhance the colleague experience throughout their journey with the company.

Marks and Spencer

Contact Details:

Marks and Spencer Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Decision Science Analyst

Get Involved in Data Science Meetups

Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Marks and Spencer!

Show Off Your Projects

Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Lead Decision Science Analyst at Marks and Spencer.

Leverage Professional Networks

Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Marks and Spencer.

Apply Directly through Our Website

When you find a suitable opening like Lead Decision Science Analyst at Marks and Spencer, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Decision Science Analyst

Statistical Expertise
Analytical Problem-Solving Skills
Data Analysis
Statistical Modelling
Experimentation
Quasi-Experimental Methods
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!

Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!

Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Marks and Spencer, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.

Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Marks and Spencer. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!

How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer

Brush Up on Your Statistics

For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!

Showcase Your Projects

Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!

Get Comfortable with Python and R

Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Marks and Spencer!

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.