Data Science Lead - 12 month FTC

The Role

This is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity to lead the Data Science team within the Data & Insight function. The role focuses on delivering high-impact advanced analytics, supporting business decision-making, and managing a team of analysts to implement data science initiatives.

Reporting to the Senior Analytics Manager, this hands-on role combines technical expertise with team leadership to deliver actionable insights aligned with key business priorities.

What You`ll Be Doing

Apply an analytical, evidence-based approach to solving key business problems and identifying opportunities to improve business performance.

Lead, coach and develop a team of Data Scientists and Analysts, fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture and driving excellence in delivery.

Design, develop and implement advanced analytics, machine learning models and AI-powered solutions to enhance customer understanding, optimise revenue, automate processes and support strategic decision-making.

Identify and prioritise new opportunities for data science across strategic initiatives and business-as-usual activities.

Ensure AI and data science solutions are practical, scalable and deliver measurable business value.

Stay at the forefront of emerging trends in data science and AI, championing innovation and embedding best practice across the business.

Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and subject matter experts, translating business challenges into data-driven solutions.

Partner with Data Engineering and Business Intelligence teams to productionise models and embed analytics into operational processes.

Provide leadership and expertise across forecasting, machine learning, AI, clustering, benchmarking and advanced analytics, while mentoring analysts across the wider business.

What We`re Looking For

Strong experience using data science, advanced analytics and statistical techniques to solve business problems and deliver measurable business value.

Expertise in modern data and analytics tools such as Databricks, Python, R, SQL, Tableau and Power BI.

Experience leading, coaching and developing analysts, building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify trends, patterns and actionable insights from complex data.

The ability to translate business challenges into analytical approaches by identifying relevant data, conducting robust analysis and presenting clear, evidence-based recommendations.

Experience working with and integrating data from multiple sources, including data warehouses, data lakes and cloud-based platforms.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to present technical concepts and insights to non-technical audiences, including senior leaders and executive teams.

Strong organisational skills, with the ability to work autonomously, prioritise workloads and deliver high-quality outputs to agreed deadlines.

A passion for continuous learning, sharing knowledge with others and staying current with emerging trends in data science and AI.

Experience analysing sales, marketing, customer, higher education or property-related data, and a degree in a numerate discipline such as Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics or a related subject would be advantageous.

What You`ll Get in Return

A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success

25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service

A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save

Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends

Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents

Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!

About Unite Students

Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.

Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.

People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.

Room for Everyone

We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.

We are US.