Principal Data Scientist

Job Introduction

BBC Studios has recently developed the ‘Studios Data Platform’ which connects data from across our business. This includes data relating to the performance of our online products, information about our marketing performance and even details about how our content is doing globally. If you’re interested in helping BBC Studios to make world-leading content by generating insights and building models using this data then keep reading.

We’re looking for a Principal Data Scientist to help us make the most of our new Data Platform and to help us develop a culture of impactful, data informed decision making. We’d like you to work closely with domain experts, data engineers, analysts and other data scientists to deliver insight and to help put algorithmically-driven processes into production.

We’d like you to be responsible for leading the delivery of technical data science projects and for owning relationships with other data folk across the organisation. You're likely to do things such as developing customer segmentations, optimising the use of advertising space, developing propensity models and even exploring the potential of image recognition and automated video tagging.

Experience with or the ability to empathise with data consumers (analysts and scientists) and the business is a huge part of this role.

Individuals within the Data Scientist role are responsible for modelling complex problems, discovering insights and identifying opportunities through the use of statistical, algorithmic, mining and visualisation techniques. In addition to having advanced analytic skills we expect our team members to be proficient at integrating and preparing large, varied datasets, architecting specialised database and computing environments, and communicating results.

We're looking for someone who is a subject matter expert in their field with specialist domain expertise in at least one technology, software, infrastructure, application or subject matter domain. You will provide knowledge and guidance to multiple stakeholders. You will have an appreciation of how the complete range of data science specialisms impact your area and you will use this knowledge to ensure you deliver data-driven change, improve decision making and creative reuse of assets across the area that you support.

Main Responsibilities

• Conducts advanced data analysis and leverages statistics and algorithms to generate insight.
• Designs experiments, test hypotheses, and build models.
• Identifies and analyses patterns in the volume of data supporting the initiative, the type of data (e.g., images, audio, video, text, clickstream etc.) and the speed or sudden variations in data collection
• Recommends ongoing improvements to methods and algorithms that lead to findings, including new information
• Presents and depicts the rationale of their findings in easy to understand terms for the business.
• Presents back results that contradict common belief, if needed
• Communicates and works with business subject matter experts
• Works with data engineers to ensure that the information used is in compliance with the regulatory and security policies in place
• Educates the organisation both from technology and the business perspectives on new approaches, such as testing hypotheses and statistical validation of results. Helps the organisation understand the principles and the math behind the process to drive organisational buy-in
• Provides business metrics for the overall project to show improvements (contribution to the improvement should be monitored initially and over multiple iterations)
• Demonstrates the following scientist qualities: clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance, and fairness
• Provides on-going tracking and monitoring of performance of decision systems and statistical models

Are you the right candidate?

Ideal

• Bachelor degree in mathematics, statistics or computer science or related field; Master degree preferred OR similar knowledge gained through relevant experience.
• Significant and broad relevant quantitative and qualitative research and analytics experience.
• Solid knowledge of statistical techniques.
• The ability to come up with solutions to loosely defined business problems by leveraging pattern detection over potentially large datasets.
• Strong programming skills and statistical modeling experience (like Python or R).
• Demonstrated experience using machine learning algorithms.
• Proficiency in the use of statistical packages.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis, quantitative analytics, forecasting/predictive analytics, multivariate testing, and optimization algorithms.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of one or more business/functional areas.

Desirable

• Broadcast, production, start-up or media experience
• A mix of public sector and commercial experience
• Participation in published documents within your area of specialism
• Successful academic background in your specialist discipline
• A track record of telling the data science story internally and externally

About the BBC

The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from under represented groups. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background. We strive to be the best British content company in the world, attracting the best creative talents in the business, so that we can bring premium quality award-winning programmes, content and brands to the viewer no matter where they are.

The BBC Group has set out the first in a new series of bold steps to transform our programming and better represent the public we serve. We have the biggest financial investment to on-air inclusion in the industry, together with our existing commissioning budget, we are committed to throwing open our doors more widely than ever to diverse stories and diverse storytellers. Together with a diverse workforce we will accelerate the pace of change in increasing diversity and inclusion both on and off air

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please visit our website.

Package Description

Band: D
Contract Type: Full time/ Perm
Location: London TVC

Working Pattern: Hybrid Working (Home-based plus two/three days a week in the office)

We are really proud to share that we are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and so if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please do contact us at resourcing@bbc.co.uk with the job reference in the subject. We advertise all our roles on Evenbreak, the specialist job board for disabled candidates

• Flexible/agile working - opportunities across the business. We’re happy to discuss a formal flexible working pattern. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at the offer stage.
• Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certifications.
• Benefits - We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (plus an additional day which is a Corporation Day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.