Lead Data Scientist; Sel & Swl

Can you turn advanced Data Science into measurable improvements in healthcare?

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Data Scientist who combines deep technical expertise and methodological rigour with strategic thinking, collaboration and a strong focus on measurable impact.

This is a senior technical Data Science leadership role, rather than a conventional analytical post. We are looking for someone who can identify where Data Science can make a meaningful difference, select and challenge the appropriate methodology, develop technically rigorous solutions and help take them through to operational use.

You will work across Data Science, Data Engineering and Analytics, applying advanced statistical, Machine Learning and AI approaches to complex healthcare and organisational problems and ensuring that successful solutions are reproducible, scalable and capable of delivering measurable value. This reflects the JD's requirement for technical leadership, methodological authority, advanced modelling and translation of strategic and operational challenges into Data Science problems.

The Opportunity

You will have the opportunity to help shape and mature Data Science across South East and South West London, applying advanced methods to challenges spanning Population Health Management, strategic commissioning, inequalities, planning and service improvement.

The opportunity goes beyond developing sophisticated models. You will influence how Data Science is ope rationalised--strengthening methodological standards, Reproducible Analytical Pipelines, automation, model validation and assurance, and the integration of Data Science with Data Engineering and Analytics.

You will have scope to identify high-value problems, determine the appropriate analytical methodologies and help take successful solutions from experimentation through to deployment, monitoring and evaluation.

Working across technical, analytical and healthcare teams, you will help turn advanced Data Science into reproducible, scalable and sustainable analytical products with demonstrable organisational and healthcare value.

In 2025, the boards of NHS South East London ICB and NHS South West London ICB entered into a clustering arrangement, meaning that we share a chair, chief executive officer and an executive team, but we remain as separate, statutory organisations.

This also means that the ICBs will share some teams, who will be working across both organisations. Some teams will also be working across both geographical areas and integrated care systems.

ICBs are also changing, with a clear focus on strategic commissioning and delivering neighbourhood working.

This is an exciting time to work within our ICBs. We currently have the opportunity both to shape the future of our clustered organisations, and to be part of a radical transformation of care for the local people and communities across south London.

And while our two ICBs are different in some ways, improving lives for the people we serve is at the core of what we are both here to do.

Please note as you can only be employed by one ICB, this job description refers to 'the 'ICB', but your role may cover both ICB organisations, and / or geographical areas.

The ICB is committed to providing services and employment to a community with an increasing variety of backgrounds. To do this effectively it is essential that we promote equality and embrace diversity and treat everyone with dignity and respect. This includes a focus on building a just culture

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an accomplished Data Scientist with substantial experience in advanced statistics, predictive modelling and Machine Learning, together with strong technical capability in Python and SQL.

You will understand how to translate complex problems into clearly defined analytical questions, determine whether Data Science is the appropriate solution, select the right methodology and ensure models are appropriately designed, tested, validated and evaluated.

You will combine technical depth with strategic and analytical judgement. You will be comfortable challenging assumptions and methodologies, working through ambiguity and explaining complex technical concepts, including uncertainty and limitations, to senior and non-technical audiences.

You will also be highly collaborative, working across Data Science, Data Engineering and Analytics, as well as with clinicians,…