Senior Football Data Scientist | Manchester United FC
Senior Football Data Scientist | Manchester United FC

Senior Football Data Scientist | Manchester United FC

Manchester Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Develop data-driven solutions to enhance football performance across all teams.
  • Company: Join the iconic Manchester United FC and be part of a transformative data team.
  • Benefits: Wellness support, exclusive discounts, gym facilities, and enhanced career development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in football analytics and work with cutting-edge data science techniques.
  • Qualifications: Strong mathematical skills and experience in sports data analysis required.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent growth opportunities.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

You’ll be part of the Data & AI Team, a key role in the club’s transformation into a fully data-driven organisation. This role delivers powerful insights, builds trusted data products, and operates modern data platforms that enable better decisions and success on and off the pitch. We’re looking for a Senior Football Data Scientist to play a key part in this transformation. In this role, you’ll help build, develop and maintain models that generate value from football data. If you’re passionate about building the quantitative models to enable our football experts to make data-driven decisions, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop solutions using Data Science methods which contribute to solving football-related questions, across all of our teams: Men’s, Women’s and Academy, applied to recruitment, performance analysis, player development and football strategy.
  • Apply a range of Data Science techniques as appropriate including:
  • Machine learning algorithms
  • Statistical and mathematical methods
  • Spatio-temporal modelling
  • Build foundational football models and metrics (e.g. to capture a team’s underlying performance or a player’s skill, to predict future performance or understand how a player or team may behave under a different context).
  • Collaborate with football experts to identify high-impact performance questions, translate them into a clear analytical framework and communicate insights to enable data-informed decision making.
  • Work closely in a multi-disciplinary data team to build and deploy well-documented models into an easily interpretable interface where scientific integrity is ensured.
  • Execute, review and improve existing data pipelines and ML models.
  • Own the full modelling workflow from data preparation and training to deployment and analysis.
  • Work with cloud-based tools (Azure and Databricks) to support model development and deployment.
  • The Person

    • Excellent mathematical and statistical knowledge, gained from a degree in a quantitative discipline, equivalent courses or demonstrable practical equivalent.
    • Experience using programming languages to process and model large datasets.
    • Demonstrable experience of applying data science techniques to sports data, such as Bayesian modelling, machine learning, predictive modelling and model validation and evaluation.
    • Understanding of database technologies and software engineering principles including test-driven development, CI/CD, version control and working in a cloud-based infrastructure with data at scale.
    • Ability to draw on knowledge of the tactical and technical aspects of football to explain outcomes and nuances of models to non-technical stakeholders.
    • A growth mindset to actively seek feedback and continuous self-development as well as to positively impact the work of people around you.
    • Diligent work ethic with flexibility to perform under pressure when needed.
    • A proactive mindset to come up with new ideas and solutions with a drive to innovate and continuously push our football analytics capabilities beyond the current state of the art.
    • Experience researching and working with football data, including tracking data, event data, pose data.

    What We Offer

    • Wellness Support with access to mental health resources, digital health checks, and nutritionists through Aviva Digicare+
    • Workplace Exclusive Discounts through our United Rewards platform, giving you access to exclusive deals from the club and partners
    • Gym Facilities in our onsite locations and opportunities for regular social events and team-building activities
    • Enhanced family Leave Benefits and an opportunity to purchase additional holiday days
    • Enhanced Career Development with access to professional learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning, and internal training programs
    • A Supportive Work Environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion, and individual growth

    Our Commitment to You

    At Manchester United, we believe that a diverse and inclusive environment makes us stronger. We are committed to building a team where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of our recruitment strategy, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

    Senior Football Data Scientist | Manchester United FC employer: TheASPA

    At Manchester United FC, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration within our Data & AI Team. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through enhanced career development opportunities, wellness support, and a culture that values diversity and inclusion, making it an ideal place for passionate individuals to thrive in the world of sports analytics.
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    Contact Detail:

    TheASPA Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Senior Football Data Scientist | Manchester United FC

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the football data science field, especially those connected to Manchester United. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your data models and analyses related to football. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can turn data into actionable insights, which is exactly what they’re looking for.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your football knowledge. Understand the club's current strategies and challenges. Being able to discuss how your skills can directly impact their goals will set you apart from the crowd.

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Manchester United team.

    We think you need these skills to ace Senior Football Data Scientist | Manchester United FC

    Data Science Methods
    Machine Learning Algorithms
    Statistical and Mathematical Methods
    Spatio-Temporal Modelling
    Model Development
    Predictive Modelling
    Bayesian Modelling
    Data Pipeline Management
    Cloud-Based Tools (Azure, Databricks)
    Programming Languages for Data Processing
    Database Technologies
    Software Engineering Principles
    Test-Driven Development
    CI/CD
    Version Control

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Football Data Scientist role. Highlight your experience with data science techniques, especially in sports, and showcase any relevant projects that demonstrate your skills in building models and generating insights.

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about football data science and how your background aligns with Manchester United's goals. Be sure to mention specific experiences that relate to the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.

    Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your technical skills! Mention your proficiency in programming languages, cloud-based tools, and any experience with machine learning algorithms. This will show us that you’re ready to hit the ground running in our data-driven environment.

    Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!

    How to prepare for a job interview at TheASPA

    ✨Know Your Football Data

    Make sure you brush up on your football data knowledge. Understand the key metrics and models used in performance analysis, recruitment, and player development. Being able to discuss specific examples of how you've applied data science techniques to sports data will show your passion and expertise.

    ✨Showcase Your Technical Skills

    Be prepared to talk about your experience with programming languages and data science methods. Highlight any projects where you've used machine learning algorithms or statistical methods to solve real-world problems. If you’ve worked with cloud-based tools like Azure or Databricks, make sure to mention that too!

    ✨Communicate Clearly

    Since you'll be collaborating with non-technical stakeholders, practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. Think of ways to translate your technical insights into actionable strategies for the football experts. This will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between data science and football.

    ✨Emphasise Your Growth Mindset

    During the interview, share examples of how you've sought feedback and improved your skills. Talk about your proactive approach to problem-solving and innovation in football analytics. Showing that you're eager to learn and adapt will resonate well with the club's commitment to continuous improvement.

    Senior Football Data Scientist | Manchester United FC
    TheASPA
    Location: Manchester

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