Data Science Lead

Salary: £70,000 - 110,000 per year

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in a quantitative area.
• 8-10+ years of experience applying predictive modeling techniques such as machine learning, decision trees, ensemble learning, neural networks, and data transformation such as data cleansing, integration, and fuzzy matching.
• 8-10+ years of experience developing program and project plans and leading programs and projects from initiation to implementation.
• At least 8 years of experience working with real world data such as claims data, EMR, IQVIA, and omics data.
• 8-10+ years of experience with programming and application development using Python or R preferred.
• Masters or Doctors degree in a quantitative area preferred.
• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, ideally specialty pharma and biologic treatments.
• Deep expertise in leveraging data science methodologies within research and development and clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Expertise in analyzing large secondary transactional databases, unstructured data, or other computationally difficult challenges.
• Structured problem-solving approach.
• 80/20 mindset to support fast model iterations.
• Ability to interpret model results and identify potential model errors such as overfitting, model bias, and correlation versus causation.
• Willingness and flexibility to work across geographies and time zones, sometimes outside of core hours.

Responsibilities:

• Help inform the commercial viability of various assets in development.
• Deliver exceptional business impact through secondary data and insights development using advanced analytics methods.
• Increase the use of data and, where applicable, reduce the need for primary data.
• Manage and implement advanced analytics and AI projects to ensure successful delivery.
• Oversee the ongoing operations of advanced analytics solutions so models continue to work and scale with additional demand and applications.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for advanced analytics and AI capabilities in support of business needs within Patient Solutions and Patient Evidence.
• Provide clear expertise on opportunities to leverage advanced analytics, especially where they reduce the need for primary data or have high marginal impact.
• Deliver impactful data and analytics projects that address compelling business questions and identify new opportunities through effective visual displays of quantitative and qualitative information.
• Partner with functional stakeholders to co-create plans and priorities for data and advanced analytics.
• Maintain tight relationships and collaboration with IT, Data Office, and other analytics teams using relevant data sources.
• Mentor and guide more junior data scientists and translators in applying cutting-edge analytics, communicating insights, and implementing recommendations.
• Drive execution of regional and local data-driven insights research and data analytics plans and priorities.
• Foster a strong data science community across Hubs and Engine.
• Supervise advanced analytics studies in a collaborative manner to ensure appropriate methodology and reliable results.
• Improve partnership with key internal and external stakeholders by developing and executing communication and collaboration plans.
• Increase knowledge of the business by ensuring direct interaction with patients and other external stakeholders.
• Attract, retain, motivate, and develop key talent for the Advanced Analytics team.
• Coach and develop team members.
• Drive deep partnership with the Hub insights team and other related insights-generating functions.
• Champion a data-driven decision-making culture.

Technologies:

• AI
• Support
• Machine Learning
• Python

More:

We are UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on neurology and immunology, with more than 9,000 people around the world inspired by patients and driven by science. This hybrid role is based at our headquarters in Slough, United Kingdom, with 40% onsite presence and 5-10% international or domestic travel. We offer a caring, supportive, inclusive culture where we create value, collaborate, and innovate with a human focus. We have embraced a hybrid-first approach, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity, and roles are generally hybrid with 40% of time spent in the office unless stated otherwise.

last updated 34 week of 2026