Head of Applied Research; Data Science​/Machine Learning – Online Consumer Business

About the Role

This well-known household brand is looking for an exceptional Head of Applied Research (Data Science) to drive innovation across the business. This role involves developing new ways of working, utilising extensive data, introducing new products, and harnessing the power of machine learning to foster efficiency and delight customers.

The organisation is mission-driven with a strong customer-centric focus. You will support this by developing innovative new products and technologies, and fine-tuning data capabilities. You will build a team to provide expertise on the overall data strategy and best practices for a high-growth environment. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical knowledge and impeccable leadership skills, gained in both corporate and high-growth businesses.

• Define and own the overall data strategy, with a constant focus on products and their improvement.
• Own the extraction of data insights to support each department in the company.
• Nurture your team’s growth and development, inspiring them to drive automation efficiency and ensure the success of the operating model transformation.
• Provide leadership on the most effective use of data, both present and future.
• Be responsible for building and owning the overall automation vision to advance algorithmic methods and unlock their business impact.
• Create synergy across the organisation to solve problems and demonstrate research solutions and prototypes, aiming to turn these into products with quantifiable benefits.
• Manage, recruit, and motivate a high-performing team.

• Bachelor’s degree with strong academic performance – a PhD is a plus, but not required if experience combined with curiosity/drive compensates.
• Data leadership experience gained in a data-led consumer or service industry.
• Strong capability to implement data-led thinking into all aspects of the organisation.
• Excellent experience and knowledge of AI and machine learning and their ability to deliver significant business benefits. Active interest in learning how the latest innovations can be applied.
• Hands‑on data engineering and analytics background with an innovative and forward‑thinking approach.
• Understanding of how to delve deep into a business model, enable maximised data effectiveness, and align with a company’s mission.
• Proven delivery focus, ensuring the data product is fit‑for‑purpose by working closely with stakeholders, applying a multi‑disciplinary skillset coupled with subject matter expertise.
• Ideally from a background of companies that move fast, change and evolve quickly to meet evolving customer needs.