Senior Data Scientist

Job Title: Senior Data Scientist

Salary: £48,100 -  £64,375 

Location: Cambridge, Coventry, or Gateshead, UK – Hybrid (2 - 3 days per week in the office)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time (35 hours per week)

 

Help shape the future of data, AI and learning

At Cambridge University Press & Assessment, our products and qualifications support millions of learners and thousands of schools around the world. We're bringing together data, assessment and technology to create richer, more meaningful understanding of learner progress and potential.

We're bringing together data, assessment and technology to create richer, more meaningful understanding of learner progress and potential. We're looking for a Senior Data Scientist to play a leading role in that transformation.

This is an opportunity to apply advanced data science to complex, real-world challenges that matter. You'll work with rich longitudinal datasets that offer rare opportunities to explore progression, attainment and educational outcomes over time. You'll develop innovative analytical models and help create the next generation of trusted insight products used by educators around the world.

You don't need previous experience in education. We're equally interested in candidates from sectors such as technology, finance, healthcare, research, government or consulting who are excited by the opportunity to apply their expertise in a mission-driven environment. This role is about bringing strong data science capability and curiosity to meaningful problems.

 

About the Role

You'll help define how data science, machine learning and AI are applied across the next generation of Cambridge products, influencing both product direction and long-term capability.

Working alongside product managers, engineers, assessment specialists and researchers, you'll:

• Design and deploy robust analytical and predictive models.
• Turn complex datasets into insights that support products, decisions and customer outcomes.
• Help shape how AI and analytics are used responsibly and effectively within our products.
• Translate business and customer challenges into scalable data science solutions.
• Champion high standards in modelling, validation, reproducibility and explainability.
• Mentor colleagues and help grow data science capability across the product team.

 

This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition. 

About you

We're looking for someone who combines technical excellence with curiosity, creativity and a desire to make a real impact.

You'll bring:

• Strong experience in applied data science, machine learning or advanced analytics.
• A track record of delivering solutions that have moved beyond analysis into real-world use.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary teams to solve complex problems.
• Experience leading, supporting or developing people to move through change and adopt new ways of working.
• The ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to different audiences.
• A commitment to building solutions that are trusted, explainable and useful.
• A passion for learning and exploring how emerging AI capabilities can create value responsibly.

 

Desirable experience might include working with longitudinal datasets, predictive models, AI-enabled products or analytics in environments where trust, explainability and responsible use really matter. Experience in education, assessment, learning analytics or research would be an advantage, but it is not a requirement. We are just as interested in candidates who can bring strong data science practice from another sector and apply it with curiosity and care to educational challenges.

 

For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.

We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, and disclose a disability or a long-term health condition, and who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable and/or appropriate, we prioritise those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.  

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to the gov.uk website for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.

Rewards and benefits 

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including: 

 

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays 
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance  
• Discretionary annual bonus  
• Group personal pension scheme 
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary  
• Green travel schemes  

 

Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.

We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications is 28thAugust. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and some interviews will take place while the advert is still live. We therefore reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this opportunity.

 

If you are shortlisted and progressed through the stages, you can expect:

• First stage virtual interview via MS Teams. 
• Final stage virtual interview via MS Teams. There may be a role-related task to complete, which you may be asked to present during the interview.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. 

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.

 

We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. As such, applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter. 

 

Why join us  

 

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background. 

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.