Junior Data Scientist — Hybrid, 9‑Month Contract

Data Science is central to how we decide the right messages to send to our customers to help them with their financial needs at the moments that matter most. As a Data Scientist within the Group Customer & Communications function, you'll be at the start of your data science journey, working alongside experienced team members to develop models, analyse data, and build impactful solutions. You'll gain hands-on experience in real-world challenges while contributing to meaningful projects.

With the proliferation of data and the increased use of AI, automation and transformation are changing the way that marketing operates. In such a fast-paced environment, we are continuously looking to improve how we engage with our customers to provide value to them. We do this by being more data-led and using new and innovative techniques.

We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best. The working hours (per week) for this role can be between 28 and 35 hours. This is a 9-month Fixed Term Contract opportunity. At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our London or Swindon office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

The extras you’ll get include:

• Private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance-related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us. At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

What you’ll be doing:

Reporting to a Data Science Manager, you will be supporting data science projects covering the end-to-end model lifecycle. This will include cleaning, analysing and visualising data to uncover insights. You’ll be assisting in building and deploying predictive models to enhance customer experience whilst learning best practices in machine learning, statistics and big data processing. Furthermore, you’ll present your work back to key stakeholders and be part of how to put models into production for Nationwide to benefit from your work.

About you:

As a minimum you’ll have:

• A bachelor's degree in data science, mathematics, statistics, computer science or a related field, or equivalent relevant qualification/work experience
• Good working knowledge of developing machine learning models using advanced analytical techniques
• Experience working with structured data sets and experience in programming languages, SAS preferred
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills to understand and interpret business data in a variety of areas
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with team members across the business
• Good knowledge of mathematical modelling and advanced analytics techniques, with experience applying these to solve business problems
• Proven experience of using innovative and resourceful approaches to develop data science solutions and deliver business value

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.