At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain advanced models to forecast visitor trends and improve decision-making.
- Company: VisitScotland, the National Tourism Organisation promoting Scotland's incredible features.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, family-friendly policies, competitive salary, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team in a dynamic environment with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on Scotland's tourism industry with innovative data insights.
- Qualifications: Experience in data science, statistical modelling, and machine learning techniques.
The predicted salary is between 45297 - 50694 £ per year.
Description
VisitScotland is Scotland’s National Tourism Organisation, and we’re proud to promote the wealth of incredible features our country has to offer. Our aim is to benefit Scotland by growing its tourism industry and giving it a renowned presence in the global marketplace.
The Data & Insight team at VisitScotland helps turn data, research, and evidence into insights that support decision-making and deliver value for Scotland’s visitor economy. Bringing together expertise in data platforms, visitor and market research, economic and policy analysis, and insight communication, the team provides trusted evidence to inform strategy, measure impact, and support organisational priorities.
The team comprises four specialist areas: Data Products & Platforms, Visitor, Market & Experience Insight, Strategic Measurement & Policy Insight, and Insight Activation & Partnerships. Together, they develop and manage data products and platforms, deliver research and analysis on visitors and markets, assess economic impact and policy outcomes, and ensure insights are communicated effectively and adopted across VisitScotland and its partner network.
Responsibilities:
- Own the design, build, and maintain advanced statistical, econometric, and machine-learning models to forecast demand, dispersal, seasonality, visitor flows, spend, and capacity pressures across the visitor ecosystem.
- Apply AI and modern ML techniques to improve forecasting accuracy, automate modelling processes, and enable new analytical capabilities, ensuring models remain innovative, explainable, and future-ready.
- Develop scenario-planning and optimisation tools that allow users to test interventions under alternative assumptions, evaluate trade-offs, and understand sensitivity and uncertainty.
- Support quantitative research and experimentation, identifying causal drivers of behaviour, designing uplift tests, and integrating insights into product roadmaps and policy recommendations.
- Partner with Strategic Measurement & Policy Insight to integrate the Tourism Economy Model, ROI frameworks ensuring coherence and methodological rigour.
This role can be based out of any VisitScotland office locations across Scotland. VisitScotland operates a hybrid working culture, partially office and partially home based. With family-friendly and flexible working policies, we offer an impressive range of benefits and professional development. We are an equal opportunities employer, and value diversity in all its forms.
Data Scientist employer: VisitScotland
VisitScotland is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that champions flexibility and family-friendly policies. With opportunities for professional development and a commitment to diversity, employees can thrive in a supportive culture while contributing to the growth of Scotland's tourism industry. The hybrid working model allows for a balanced lifestyle, making it an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful employment in a vibrant location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Scientist
✨Tap into Online Data Science Communities
Join online communities focused on data science like Kaggle, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit threads. These are goldmines for temporary gigs, as you can network with professionals and potentially hear about opportunities at companies like VisitScotland before they're even advertised!
✨Show Off Your Skills With Projects
Got some cool data science projects? Showcase them on platforms like GitHub or create a personal portfolio website. This visibility is crucial for landing temporary roles—let recruiters see your actual skills in action, which can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Check Out Specialist Job Boards
For temp roles, hit up job boards dedicated to tech and data science, like Stack Overflow Jobs or DataJobs. These platforms often feature openings that you won’t find on general job sites, including contracts with companies like VisitScotland.
✨Leverage University Resources
If you're currently at uni or recently graduated, tap into your school's career services. They often have connections with companies looking for temporary data science interns or contract workers, and they might even host job fairs with employers like VisitScotland.
We think you need these skills to ace Data Scientist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at VisitScotland, make sure to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on. Whether it's a personal project, an academic undertaking, or contributions to an open-source initiative, detailing these experiences can really set you apart and demonstrate your practical skills.
Emphasise Your Analytical Skills:In your CV and cover letter, focus on the specific analytical skills that are key to data science. Mention any experience with statistical tools, programming languages like Python or R, and data visualisation software. Don't forget to include any certifications that may bolster your expertise!
Show Your Flexibility:Since this is a temporary role, it's important to convey your adaptability and willingness to learn. In your cover letter to VisitScotland, emphasise how quickly you can get up to speed with new tools or projects. Highlight any previous experiences where you've had to adjust to new environments or challenges.
Craft a Unique Data-Driven Cover Letter:Instead of the usual generic cover letter, spice it up with some data! Maybe you’ve improved a process by 20% in a past role or cleaned a dataset with over a million entries. Use these stats to your advantage to grab VisitScotland’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at VisitScotland
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
For a data science gig, it's crucial to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Be ready to discuss previous projects and the methodologies you used. Think about how you can quantify your impact—did your analysis improve efficiency or save costs? These are the stories that will stick with interviewers at VisitScotland.
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
You might face technical questions on tools relevant to data science, like Python, R, or SQL. Prepare to solve a problem live—perhaps they'll ask you to write a simple query or code snippet. It’s cool to talk about them, but we need to show we can do it in practice, especially in a temporary role where quick results matter.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools or workflows. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments before, and how you can hit the ground running at VisitScotland.
✨Prepare a Portfolio of Your Work
Bring your portfolio to the table—showcase projects where you've leveraged data science techniques to solve problems. Whether it’s a GitHub repository or a set of case studies, having tangible examples of your work will help you stand out and show what you bring to the team at VisitScotland.
