Insight Data Scientist - Football Analytics (Hybrid)

The FA is excited to recruit for two Data Scientist roles across our Chief Football Office and Men's Technical divisions.

Insight Data Scientist (Elite Coaching Development)

This role will implement advanced analytical models to provide actionable insights, helping drive evidence-based processes and decisions around elite coach development. Leveraging expertise in data science to design, train, and optimise models, working closely with various stakeholders to ensure cutting-edge data-driven insights are effectively communicated and utilised. The successful candidate will also collaborate with the Game Insights team to strengthen resources across the entire learning landscape, with primary focus on Elite Coaching and professional game qualifications. Reporting directly to the Elite Coach Developer, this role will support the progression of English home-grown coaches. The role may also periodically support additional responsibilities in player selection, development and performance.

Insight Data Scientist (England Men's)

The England Men’s Insight Data Scientist will play a key role in the Insights department, driving evidence-based insight across multiple performance functions at the FA. The role will implement advanced analytical models to provide actionable insights, helping drive evidence-based processes and decisions around coach development with additional responsibilities in player selection, development and performance. Leveraging expertise in data science to design, train, and optimise models, working closely with various stakeholders to ensure cutting-edge data-driven insights are effectively communicated and utilised. This position will report to our Head of Insights, Men’s Technical.

What will you be doing?

The Insights Data Scientists will play a pivotal role in creating and implementing advanced analytical models to provide actionable insights and empower informed decision-making.

• Data Science Skillset: Play a leading role in the implementation of advanced statistical techniques and various modelling approaches to derive insights from football datasets, including event data, optical and broadcast tracking data, and GPS/performance data. Optimise machine learning models, including both supervised and unsupervised learning methods. Conduct rigorous hypothesis testing and validation to ensure the robustness of analytical findings. Provide technical guidance and support to stakeholders to enhance their understanding and utilisation of data science tools. Work closely with the Senior Data Architect and Development Team to ensure seamless integration of analytics reporting and models.
• Data Wrangling, EDA & Feature Engineering: Ensure the quality of data used for model development through meticulous data checking and cleaning practices. Process and transform raw, unstructured data into usable formats for model training and analysis. Develop and refine features from raw data to enhance the performance of predictive models. Design and develop advanced statistical and machine learning models to analyse a broad set of football data, including event data, tracking data, and performance data. Select appropriate algorithms and model architectures based on the problem context and data characteristics. Train, validate, and tune models to achieve optimal performance. Monitor and refine model performance over time to ensure continued accuracy and relevance. Collaborate with key stakeholders to translate complex model outputs into actionable insights through impactful data visualisations.

Other: Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA’s changing priorities. Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained. As part of the FA’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• A bachelor's or master's degree or equivalent in a quantitative field (mathematics, statistics, computer/data science, etc.) or in sports science, sport management or related field with demonstrable data science experience.
• Experience in the fundamentals of data science, including but not limited to: Exploratory Data Analysis.
• Experience in utilising data to drive insights related to football-specific questions.
• Highly skilled in advanced statistical and modelling techniques.
• Experience with football-specific datasets, including but not limited to event data, optical tracking data, broadcast tracking data, and GPS data.
• Experience managing complex uncleansed datasets.
• Advanced proficiency in statistical programming languages, especially Python and/or R, for data analysis.
• Experience using cloud-based computing environments (Google Cloud Platform / Google Big Query is advantageous), demonstrating proficiency in utilising cloud resources for data analytics and ensuring seamless integration of data pipelines and analytics platforms.
• Demonstrable experience collaborating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders on analytics projects.
• Ability to be physically present at St. George's Park.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Beneficial to have:

• Experience in a similar role in a professional football environment.
• Experience with Time-Series Analysis & Forecasting.
• Experience with Bayesian inference/MCMC.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles. To achieve this, we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders. We pride ourselves on offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encourages you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional "Thank You" day’s leave, volunteering days, as well as 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract).
• A hybrid working model offering greater flexibility.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application. As part of the FA’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role, and in line with legislation and government guidance.