Head of Data Science (12m fixed-term contract)
Role Summary
Join Marshmallow as the Head of Data Science in London on a 12-month fixed-term contract, leading a dynamic team in the insurtech/fintech sector.
About the Organisation
The Data Science team operates as a primary commercial engine for Marshmallow, using data and machine learning to drive tangible business outcomes, from pricing strategy to operational efficiency. The team works closely with senior stakeholders and partners across data, engineering, product and commercial functions to identify the right opportunities and make thoughtful technical trade-offs. We operate with a flat structure, so leaders stay close to the people doing the work and support colleagues at different levels of experience. Our ambition is to keep raising the bar for how data science delivers impact across the business.
Minimum Requirements
- You bring an inherently commercial-first mindset: you don’t just build models, you build solutions that directly influence the P&L, and you constantly evaluate every technical trade-off through a rigorous lens of business value.
- You make confident decisions even when the picture is still forming, and you're comfortable operating across more than one domain at once.
- You have a track record of driving visible improvements to team culture, ways of working, and technical standards.
- You build trust quickly with a team, and coach others to challenge and disagree constructively, to drive decisions that deliver the highest-impact outcomes
- You thrive in a fast paced and ever-evolving environment; you adapt to change well (and in fact relish it!).
- You like to take real ownership of your work, drive yourself forward, and work well both autonomously but also collaboratively with the team and your stakeholders.
- Excellent leadership and team management skills.
- A strong background as a senior data science individual contributor, with commercial experience delivering ML solutions end to end
- Proven ability to influence technical direction across Data Science and Engineering, including shaping scalable model/service integration patterns and challenging proposals to drive robust, long-term solutions.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with confidence communicating trade-offs and pushing back constructively to C-suite and senior stakeholders across different functions to ensure high-quality outcomes.
- Experience in insurance, fraud, or another regulated decisioning domain.
- Experience of contributing towards the strategy for Gen AI within an organisation, and leading data scientists to deliver Gen AI solutions that drove measurable business value
Working Conditions
- Bonus scheme designed to reward high performance
- Private medical insurance with Vitality, mental health support with Oliva
- Personal learning budget and 2 dedicated L&D days a year
- Monthly flexible benefits budget to spend as you choose
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- 4 weeks Work From Anywhere per year
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for applicants outside the UK is unclear, with no specific mention of visa sponsorship.
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