Data Scientist

Data Science Lead (12-Month FTC) | Bristol | £55,000–£65,000 I'm currently recruiting a Data Science Lead on a 12-month fixed-term contract for a market-leading Bristol business where data science genuinely drives the big decisions, not just the reporting. This isn't a company that talks a good game on data and does little with it. It's a listed operator that's grown from a Bristol start-up into a national name, and it backs that scale with real investment in tech. They run a proprietary customer platform that already uses AI and data models to predict occupancy and optimise building energy, they're on a genuine pathway to net zero powered by dedicated clean energy, and they put their money where their values are, donating a share of annual profits to charity and funding housing scholarships for students who'd otherwise struggle to access higher education. It's also a role with real visibility. The exec team are fully bought into a data-led lens and lean on it to shape commercial strategy, so you'd be working on high-profile projects that land in front of senior leadership. The Commercial team are your main customer, with ad hoc work flowing in from Ops, Marketing, Investment, Asset Management and Customer Experience whenever something needs more advanced analysis. It's a hands-on seat first and foremost. There's a small team of analysts to mentor and lead, but they're far more interested in someone brilliant at the doing than a career manager, so there's genuine room here for a strong analyst ready to step up. What you'd be doing: * Building advanced forecasting models and AI-driven tools to better understand customers, optimise revenue and inform commercial decisions * Applying an objective, analysis-led lens to the business questions that actually matter, and turning them into clear recommendations * Partnering directly with senior stakeholders and the exec team, and bringing a small analyst team along with you What they're after: * A strong, hands-on Python coder who's built forecasting models and has a solid grasp of core statistical principles * Someone who can talk to senior, non-technical stakeholders and pitch findings at the right level of detail * The pace and instinct to turn complex data into high-impact, decision-ready analysis A nice-to-have rather than a dealbreaker is experience presenting outputs visually in a BI tool like Power BI or Tableau, along with a numerical degree and exposure to commercial, marketing, customer or property data. On the FTC: it's a genuine 12 months, but the team have a strong track record of holding on to good people. Of the last four roles like this, two have been extended well beyond their original end dates and another was made permanent. Nothing's ever guaranteed a year out, but if you're good, they'll fight to keep you. £55,000 to £65,000, Bristol based, and a rare chance to do data science somewhere the leadership actually acts on it.