Job Description

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Head of Data Science

Job Requisition ID: 32857
Job Closing Date: 14th January 2026
London, GBR, W12 7FA
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: F
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: CRM, Data & Insights
LOCATION: London, TVC
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: 116,000 - 137,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. Plus London Weighting Allowance of 5,441 plus 25% bonus. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application - though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
WE ARE BBC STUDIOS
A globally renowned media company borne of the BBC. We make and distribute the world's most sought-after TV, audio and digital content.
Our ambition is to be the home of the most powerful, entertaining, and inspiring stories for people all around the world.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
We have built a successful data science team and are looking for a new Head of Data Science to take it to the next stage. You'll be working across all of BBC Studios' lines of business to understand where data science can make a difference. As data remains a developing capability within BBC Studios, this role will be central to driving data education and supporting the organisation's cultural evolution. This role will play a critical role in the education and culture change we are bringing to the business and act as a champion for the Data Science team, promoting its work and building understanding of the value data driven insights can bring to BBC Studio.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
This role sits centrally in a warm and welcoming wider team with a strong senior leadership team. We have regular team meetings and away days where we share learnings and support each other's work. We have a vibrant social committee and participate actively in the departmental diversity & inclusion initiatives.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Lead, manage and develop a high performing team of data scientists, including recruiting, coaching and supporting career progression across BBC Studios.
• Support the development & delivery of the BBC Studios' data strategy, working collaboratively with senior leaders across Data, Technology, Product, Marketing, Privacy and Commercial.
• Champion data science across the organisation, driving engagement, fostering cross team collaboration and communicating the impact of high value data science initiatives.
• Provide deep technical leadership, shaping the data science capability by designing, scaling and operationalising robust, modern data science solutions in partnership with cross functional teams.
• Play a key role within the senior Data leadership team, partnering with leaders in analytics, data engineering, data product and data management to steer strategic direction and technical standards.
• Own the delivery of impactful, production grade data science applications, including content development optimisation, automated decision making for monetisation, personalisation, metadata enrichment and other high value use cases.
• Work closely with Data Platform teams to build and evolve the infrastructure and tooling required to support Data Science at scale across BBC Studios.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Professional experience working as a data scientist, with hands on delivery of analytical or machine learning solutions.
• Degree in Data Science or a closely related quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics).
• Proven management experience within a data science function, guiding technical delivery.
• Experience hiring and retaining data scientists at all levels
• Strong technical knowledge to guide teams and assess the feasibility and suitability of proposed solutions
• Demonstrated experience in managing and shaping the technological foundation needed to deliver high quality and rapid Data Science solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence a broad range of stakeholders at varying levels of the organisation.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Experience within media is desireable not essential.
• Demonstrated ability to deploy positive ROI impact through Data science projects in other organisations (media industry is a bonus).
• Masters or PHD in mathematics, statistics or computer science or related field; OR equivalent experience.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we'd love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.
NEXT STEPS
We appreciate your interest in this position and understand how important this opportunity is to you. Due to the high volume of interest we may need to close the application period earlier than anticipated. This step is necessary to ensure we can provide a high level of attention and service to all applicants. Thank you for your understanding.
#BBCSTUDIOS
Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
Redeployment
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.
Information at a Glance
This is your BBC
At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world's best loved content, and the BBC's mission to inform, educate and entertain.
Life at BBC Studios

• A flexible 35-hour working week with 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy an extra five days.
• Defined pension (up to 10% employer contributions).
• Caring and parenting support, 24/7 remote GP access, life assurance and accident benefit.
• BBC Studios is a world leader in operating sustainably both on and off screen. Find out more about BBC Group's science-based Net Zero targets .
• Career development in a values-led purpose-driven culture.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.
Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
You belong
We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
Disability confident
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we'd be happy to discuss:
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#BBCSTUDIOS
BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.
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Skills Required