This role offers a competitive salary, hybrid working, 28 days holiday a year plus Bank Holidays and a fantastic pension scheme.

Salary £43,000 - £50,000 per annum

Location: London / Hybrid (5-8 office days per month)

Application process: To be considered, please upload your CV and a short cover letter outlining your interest in the role. 

***Application closing date Monday 6th May 2024***

We're looking for a driven and passionate individual to join us at Which? As a Data Scientist.

• New technologies have the ability to radically change the consumer landscape. As the UK's consumer champion, Which? is committed to having a lived understanding of these technologies, and our data science team enables us to map this changing territory. The team is instrumental in helping Which? anticipate where new technologies might cause people harm, while employing them in conducting research to make life in the UK simpler, fairer and safer.
• Which? is the UK's consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. Our research gets to the heart of consumer issues, our advice is impartial, and our rigorous product tests lead to expert recommendations. We're the independent consumer voice that influences politicians and lawmakers, investigates, holds businesses to account and makes change happen. As an organisation we're not for profit and all for making consumers more powerful.
• As a Data Scientist in the Which? Advocacy team you will join an established data science programme, delivering benefit for UK consumers by helping Which? to advocate for ambitious change in business practices, government policy and regulation in digital markets to tackle the harm that consumers face. You will sit alongside economists, data analysts, policy experts, social researchers, and campaigners, working for an organisation with a proven track record for driving change.
• We are looking for a candidate who is excited by the potential of new technologies to change the world and is motivated by the mission of making sure this change happens fairly. We're looking for someone with the technical ability to help us experiment with AI and other cutting-edge technologies, understand where consumers are being harmed, and develop innovative solutions to keep people safe. If this sounds like you, please do apply.

About the role

As a Data Scientist at Which? Advocacy Group you will deliver benefits for UK consumers by helping Which? to advocate for ambitious change in business practices and government policy and regulation in digital markets to tackle the harm that consumers face online. 

As a key member of our data science team, you will help us identify the harm consumers are facing, and shape innovative solutions. Working alongside the broader team, you will be responsible for identifying and delivering innovative projects using techniques in data science, including building experimental research tools, using machine learning and AI models to classify, generate and process data, and helping us to identify and tackle new sources of consumer harm. You will develop effective relationships with external experts in the field, and identify possible opportunities for collaboration to deliver our purpose.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Identify and generate relevant datasets, and implement appropriate analysis methodologies while maintaining high standards of rigour and clear documentation to allow replication.
• Build innovative, experimental tools to study and reveal new insights into complex data
• Work with the rest of the advocacy team to identify possible technological solutions to tackle consumer detriment and improve consumer outcomes in key sectors of the economy.
• Communicate our analysis and solutions to non-technical internal and external audiences, including senior stakeholders, in a clear and persuasive way.
• Work with the data science team to  deliver a wide range of high-quality consumer and policy research projects
• Keep abreast of new developments in machine learning and data science techniques and approaches used in the private sector to bring this know-how into Which? to influence our policy and advocacy work.

About you:

• A Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in a mathematical or computer science subject, or equivalent experience working with data. 
• Experience conducting policy research, for example using data and evidence to understand social phenomena, develop new solutions to issues affecting people, or advocate for a cause. 
• Strong knowledge of data science techniques including, but not limited to, data acquisition and cleaning (e.g. web scraping), statistical methods, network analysis and data visualisation and experience in applying those in research. 
• Experience of coding in Python, specifically to collect, process, analyse or visualise data, and an understanding of version control systems (e.g. Git) and use of the UNIX command line.
• Experience in developing constructive and collaborative working relationships with experts in other disciplines to deliver successful projects.
• Clear verbal and written communication including to non-technical audiences

 We also have these benefits for you to consider: 

• 35 hour working week (no weekends)
• Generous 28 days holiday a year plus Bank Holidays 
• Award winning pension scheme – when you pay in 3%, Which? pays in 6% (rising to 11% after one year of service.) 
• Discount site Sodexo which offers large %% off every day shopping and holidays 
• Annual Reward (depending on employee and company performance)
• Healthcare insurance & Private medical insurance and opportunity to participate in Vitality rewards programme (at 6 months)
• A discretionary death in service benefit provision equivalent to six times your annual salary
• Free access to Which? member content and free access to Which? money and legal helplines 
• Work from (almost) anywhere” for 4 weeks of the year policy

The interview process for this role involves:-

• An interview on Google Meet (approximately 45-90 minutes) consisting of values and experience-based competency questions and Data Scientist Test that will be completed on a laptop.
• Final video call with the department lead.

About Which?

We promote a great work-life balance (all our roles are now hybrid), offering flexible working options in addition to a full time working week (35 hours) e.g. part time or job shares where possible. If you wish to discuss any of these options, please contact the Resourcing team at resourcing@which.co.uk

Which? is the UK's consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. Read all about us on our website.

At Which? we value diversity and we're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone is able to be themselves and to reach their full potential. We are proud that we are in the ‘Top 25 Inclusive Employers' List and currently ranking 16th.

 We want to receive applications from everyone. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us to understand and create a positive impact for consumers.  

As a Disability Confident Leader, we ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post), email recruitment@which.co.uk.  Find out more about the Disability Confident Interview Scheme here.

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed and we reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received

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