About the role
This section tells you all you need to know about the position and its responsibilities, outlining everything we hope to see in a successful candidate.
To stay close to our customers and colleagues, our support teams are in the office for at least three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.
Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to join our Enterprise Data Science team, leading the design, development, and evaluation of end-to-end machine learning systems that drive quantifiable business impact across the retail value chain. You will apply advanced statistical modelling, machine learning, and optimisation techniques to solve complex, high-value problems while helping to shape a high-impact data science capability that underpins M&S’s digital transformation.
Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.
All the details
What you will do
- Problem Solving: Apply statistical, machine learning, and optimisation methods to address ambiguous, high-impact business problems across the retail value chain (e.g., inventory optimisation, demand forecasting, clustering, pricing)
- ML System Design & Productionisation: Lead the design, development, testing, evaluation, and monitoring of predictive models in a production environment
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Data Engineers, MLOps, Product Managers, and business partners to align data science initiatives with the organisation’s commercial strategy and priorities
- Technical Leadership: Drive the adoption of best practices in coding standards (e.g., code reviews, testing, documentation), exploratory analysis, model development, evaluation, and monitoring
- Partner Management: Collaborate closely with business partners to align on project scope, prioritisation, and manage expectations regarding technical constraints, trade-offs, and delivery timelines
Who you are
- Technical: Strong hands-on experience and expertise in Python data science ecosystem. Experience with distributed computing frameworks like Apache Spark (PySpark) or similar is preferred
- Data Science/ML: Strong experience in exploratory data analysis, machine learning algorithms, statistical inference, and experimental design, with desirable experience in optimisation techniques (e.g., linear/non-linear programming, or heuristics)
- Ownership: Proven track record of successfully leading and shipping end-to-end data science products with a measurable business value in a production environment
- Communication Skills: Strong ability to communicate complex technical concepts and findings into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences
- Software Engineering: Good understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including version control, modular design, testing, and CI/CD, applied to the delivery of clean, scalable, and maintainable code
What’s in it for you
Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.
Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special…
- After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
- Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
- Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
- A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
- A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
- Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
- Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
- Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
- A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
Everyone's welcome
We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re redefining, innovating and leading the industry into a more diligent, inspiring digital era. We’re reconsidering how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.
We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.
If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.
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