Data Science Manager

Location: Haywards Heath, Home Office (Remote) or Manchester

Salary: From £80,000 depending on experience

Department: Underwriting

We’re First Central Insurance & Technology Group (First Central for short), an innovative, market-leading insurance company. We protect the things customers love so they can get on with what matters to them in life.

Data drives us. It fuels our outstanding distribution, finance, technology and legal services. Our underwriting skills are built on data expertise; it creates the insights we need to give the right cover to the right customers at the right price. But, it’s the people inside and outside our business that power us. They make us stand out, help us succeed. We’re ambitious. We’re growing. We’ve won awards.

Are you an expert in the insurance industry with a strong background in data science? Do you have proven leadership experience and the ability to guide teams to success? If so, we want to hear from you!

We’re looking for a Data Science Manager to join our Underwriting team either working remotely or based in our Salford Quays, Manchester or Haywards Heath, West Sussex offices.

As our Data Science Manager you’ll work as part of a team of Data Scientists and other specialists to help deliver a portfolio of innovative services, discovering and creating value from the Company’s vast array of information assets. Your main focus will be to manage the delivery of value through the team, balancing proposed projects with explorative research to push the company forward.

You’ll develop initiatives designed to deliver value through data science, planning these into delivery plans and wider books of work. You will be an advocate of continuous improvement, and be keen to promote education and development opportunities, both within the Data Science team, and with wider stakeholders.

Recognising the dependencies Group companies have on technology provided in-house, you will work collaboratively and seamlessly with the Group’s in-house technology provider along with data presentation/delivery teams located in multiple locations.

Core skills we’re looking for to succeed in the role:

• Knowledge of the Insurance space
• Data Science Expertise
• Experience in a leadership role

Nice to have skills, but optional:

• Knowledge of Python
• Experience using Agile/Change methodologies

What’s involved:

• Find opportunities for, scope out and develop data services, including deep learning, predictive analytics and machine learning, that help to solve business problems
• Manage a team of Data Scientists, reviewing outputs, planning delivery timelines, developing talent and internal capability
• Develop data assets that assist with the ongoing ambitions of the team, with defined guidelines for both internal and external data utilization
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders from around the business, keeping abreast of upcoming change, or areas for improvement
• Grow the impact of Data Science across the Group, increase the number of deployed solutions, identify previously unexplored areas of modelling or analysis
• Role model best practice, with focuses on efficiency and long term success
• Monitor the latest techniques and solutions being utilised in the wider industry
• Maintain departmental risk registers providing evidence and commentary for controls, updates for Mitigation Actions and maintaining control matrices and attestations.
• Comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times
• Ensure compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times.
• Any other reasonable duties

Experience & knowledge

• Extensive hands-on experience applying data science techniques to general insurance predictive modelling problems
• Strong track record of stakeholder management, modelling projects and successful deployment
• Deep understanding and familiarity with a variety of statistical models (eg GBMs, GLMs, clustering techniques, etc)
• Familiarity with UK open source data and datasets valuable to personal lines insurance pricing
• Experienced people manager
• Familiarity of risks associated with unstructured data, model deployment infrastructure and live deployment of data science solutions
• Appreciation of policy and claims processes and conduct risks
• Knowledge of data science toolkits and languages, such as R, Python, Scala
• High performing experience in data science and data analysis
• Experience of utilising system integration techniques such as APIs, web services
• Understanding of a service based approach to professional services.
• Experience delivering through Agile change framework
• Strong technical leader, able to recruit and develop a strong team
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written
• Good time management and organisation skills
• Proven analytical and statistical modelling skills
• Degree in Data Science or other quantitative field

Behaviours

• Self-motivated and enthusiastic with the desire to meet or exceed targets
• Determined and passionate, particularly regarding data and technology
• Supports development of peers and wider team capability
• A decision maker with an ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team
• Takes accountability and ownership of problems and solutions
• A flexible approach and positive attitude
• Strives to drive business improvements contributing to the success of the business
• An organised and proactive approach
• Role model for other team members

So, if you’re up for the challenge and would like to join our vibrant and busy team, we want to hear from you today.

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive.

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