Data Scientist

Nesta; London; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading innovation agency in London is seeking a Data Scientist for its Healthy Life Mission. The role involves leading data-driven projects, and requires a strong background in data analysis and programming in Python. Candidates should have relevant experience and a passion for using data science to improve health outcomes. This full-time position offers a hybrid working model and a salary between £49,200 - £65,800, alongside various benefits.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Dental insurance

Annual leave buy/sell options

Eyecare vouchers

Qualifications

• Strong background working with data and a motivation for deploying creative data science solutions.
• Ability to choose and apply techniques for data-driven tasks.
• Experience delivering data science or analytics projects at pace.

Responsibilities

• Deliver data-driven projects that advance Nesta's missions.
• Design and scope projects in collaboration with experts.
• Communicate outputs to a range of internal and external audiences.

Skills

Python programming

Data analysis

Machine learning

Statistical methods

Project management

Git and GitHub

R programming

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in a quantitative discipline

Three years of relevant experience

Job description

Join to apply for the Data Scientist role at Nesta

This range is provided by Nesta. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Direct message the job poster from Nesta

We are recruiting a Data Scientist to be embedded in our Healthy Life Mission.

About Nesta

We are Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet.

For over 20 years, we have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. We work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early stage businesses, and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation.

Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better. Find out more at Nesta.org.uk.

The role

Nesta’s Data Science Practice is looking for a Data Scientist to lead projects that bring the best approaches from data science and analytics to impact our Healthy Life Mission. Our work is highly varied, and could include training machine learning models, building web applications, or using a range of analytical techniques to answer questions and generate solutions to tough policy challenges. In health, it often means getting to grips with large scale commercial and public health datasets and turning them into actionable insights for policy makers, corporations, and individuals. This is an opportunity to play a role in designing and delivering data science projects. If you have a strong background working with data and are motivated by deploying creative data science solutions, as well as contributing to real-world outcomes for public benefit, then this role is for you.

The team

We are seeking a Data Scientist to work in Nesta’s Healthy Life mission. We aim to increase the number of years lived in good health for all, and particularly those most affected by health inequalities. Our current focus is on improving food environments—making healthy food more available, accessible, affordable, appealing and convenient for all. We work across sectors with businesses, national policymakers, local government, academics and other charities to drive the changes needed to improve health.

The person

We are a team of analytical and technical experts bound by the drive to use our expertise to have social impact. A strong candidate will be interested in applying analytical and data science skills to achieve impact in public sector or industry. The successful candidate will have the ability to choose and apply a range of techniques for the task, and to work flexibly, quickly, and adapt to new domain and project contexts. This role requires strong project delivery skills – the ability to start projects quickly and deliver to a high standard while collaborating with others across the team and organisation.

As a Data Scientist at Nesta you will:

• Deliver data-driven projects that advance Nesta’s missions, ranging from research and analysis to model development
• Design and scope projects in collaboration with technical colleagues, domain experts and practitioners from other disciplines
• Communicate outputs of your work to a wide range of internal and external audiences
• Ensure that all work takes advantage of data science to be reproducible, sustainable, and ethically considered
• Help the team stay at the cutting edge by keeping abreast of new techniques and developments in the field and seeking ways to use them

Skills and Qualifications

• A Bachelor or Masters qualification in a relevant quantitative discipline and relevant experience in academia, industry or public/third sector
• Or at least three years of relevant experience in academia, industry or public/third sector
• Experience programming in Python
• Experience using data and evidence to drive better outcomes or business improvement
• Strong data analysis skills, including machine learning, statistical methods, causal inference or other techniques
• Willingness to be an active team member who collaborates with others and strengthens team connections
• Ability to design data science approaches that solve problems and answer questions
• Ability to communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders, with clear and structured outputs
• Experience using Git and GitHub (or equivalent) for version control
• Domain knowledge in a field relevant to Nesta’s mission
• Proven project management experience, including leading projects and prioritising tasks to keep outputs high quality
• Experience delivering data science or analytics projects at pace
• Experience communicating findings with a range of stakeholders
• Experience with data engineering methods such as scalable data collection, data pipelines, or database management systems
• Experience programming in R
• Line management or mentorship experience

What we offer

Salary: £49,200 - £65,800 (offers are expected to be made towards the bottom of the band) plus a range of benefits, including private medical and dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more

Location: This role is based in London, hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days in the office

Term: Permanent

Hours: This is a full-time role but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.

Reports to: Principal Data Scientist

Flexibility: This role is available to be a job-share.

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit your application before September 16th at 8.00am.

The next stage of the application process will be a technical task completed by end of September with interviews taking place the week commencing 6th October (exact dates to be confirmed).

Equity, inclusion and flexible working: Nesta believes that a diverse workforce leads to better results and we actively seek a diverse pool of candidates. We are committed to reasonable adjustments for potential employees as needed, and support flexible working arrangements including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, and job sharing. Please let us know in your application if these options are important to you.

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Analyst
• Industries: Non-profit Organization Management

This description is intended for applicants and may include general information about Nesta and its opportunities.