About us
CF is a leading consultancy dedicated to making a lasting impact on health and healthcare. We work with leaders and frontline teams to improve health, transform healthcare, embed life science innovation and boost growth through investment.
Our consultancy serves the entire healthcare sector, from healthcare systems and life sciences to health tech and sector suppliers. CF’s multi-disciplinary team provides end-to-end services, spanning strategy, finance, performance, organisational improvement, data and digital. We also create optimal policy conditions for healthcare advancements through evidence-based thought leadership, taking a proactive stance on key issues.
As an inclusive and values-driven organisation, we are committed to excellence and are honoured to have received multiple industry awards. With unmatched access to UK healthcare data and specialist data science expertise, our consultants are a driving force for delivering positive and meaningful change.
About the role
The Data Scientist at CF is a key contributor within the Data Innovation team, responsible for implementing data-driven solutions that support our consulting services, internal operations, and the strategic goals of our clients. You will work closely with consultants, other data professionals, and external stakeholders to deliver impactful analytics and innovative tools that enhance decision-making, improve outcomes, and drive efficiencies.
You will bring technical expertise in data science and a collaborative mindset to help solve complex problems using data. You’ll be involved in the full project lifecycle — from understanding business challenges, through to data exploration, model development, and communication of insights.
This role offers the opportunity to apply and grow your technical skills in a supportive, high-impact environment while contributing to real-world change in health and life sciences.
Being adaptable and open to learning is essential, as is bringing curiosity, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to everything you do.
Requirements
Responsibilities
The responsibilities and duties of the role will include, but are not limited to:
Technical development and deployment
- Develop analytical models and tools using Python and statistical or machine learning techniques to address business challenges.
- Collaborate with consultants to understand client needs and design appropriate data solutions.
- Create effective data visualisations and dashboards that communicate insights clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Contribute to the development and deployment of scalable data solutions, working alongside data engineers as required.
- Ensure solutions are robust, interpretable, and reproducible, following best practices in coding and model development.
Data exploration and insight generation
- Source, clean, and analyse data to extract actionable insights.
- Work with healthcare and/or public sector data sets to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities.
- Summarise findings in clear, compelling ways that support strategic decision-making.
Collaboration and Communication
- Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to integrate data science into wider project work.
- Present work to internal and external stakeholders in a structured and confident way.
- Contribute to a culture of continuous learning and collaboration by sharing technical knowledge and approaches with colleagues.
Operational support
- Ensure your work aligns with data governance standards and policies, including privacy and security requirements.
- Follow internal processes for documentation, version control, and knowledge sharing.
Development and support
- Stay up to date with advances in data science, analytics, and health sector trends.
- Take ownership of your personal and professional development with support from mentors and peers.
Requirements
To be successful in this role, you should have a combination of the following skills and experiences:
Mandatory
- Experience developing and deploying models or tools using Python.
- Proficiency with standard statistical and machine learning techniques.
- Strong understanding of data wrangling, feature engineering, and visualisation techniques.
- Experience with relational databases and proficiency in SQL.
- Good communication skills — able to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team.
- Awareness of data privacy requirements and safe data handling practices.
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to manage your own workload and seek help when needed.
Preferred
- Experience working with healthcare or life sciences data.
- Knowledge of UK healthcare data sets, standards, or regulatory environments.
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g. Azure, AWS) and containerisation tools (e.g. Docker).
- Exposure to natural language processing or AI/ML techniques.
- Experience contributing to technical aspects of proposals or client pitches.
Flexible Working
We embrace a hybrid working model, combining the best of remote and in-person collaboration. Our DI team are together in person at least four days a week with flexibility to be in the office between our core hours of 10-4pm. Our default approach is to be in-person with our clients.
In addition, up to four weeks a year each member of staff can work entirely virtually.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to building an inclusive and supportive culture where diversity thrives, and all our people can excel. We only recruit, promote, and reward our people based on their skills and contributions, without regard to gender, race, disability, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or other characteristics.
We are Disability Confident Accredited, and we want you to feel comfortable and able to perform at your best during the recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know.
Benefits
- Holiday entitlement: 25 days/year for staff and 30 days/ year for leadership increasing by 1 day for every year of service up to a maximum of 35 days of holiday per year
- We contribute 7% of your salary into your pension, while you contribute 3% (or more if you like)
- Access to a flexible benefits programme giving you the chance to increase pension contributions, gain access to a cash plan or benefit from a ClassPass subscription
- Annual leave purchase: employees with less than 35 days annual leave entitlement are able to purchase additional annual leave days
- Income protection: in the event of long-term incapacity and a qualifying claim, 75% of salary will be paid
- Enhanced sick pay benefit beyond Statutory Sick Pay for up to a total 12 weeks in any 12-month period
- Life insurance covering four times your basic salary in a tax-free lump sum payable to your beneficiaries in the event of your death whilst in service
- Enhanced family leave policies: additional pay for parents who have a baby or adopt
- Access to an interest free loan of up to £10,000
- Access to an interest-free season ticket loan, repayable by 12 monthly instalments
- Workplace nursery scheme: access to a scheme to help working parents save tax and NI on the cost of the nursery care
- Flexible working policy: including the ability to work fully remotely for up to 4 weeks a year
- An employee assistance and wellness Program: including access to telephone counselling, life coaching, interactive tools online and digital content downloadable from Lifeworks
- Seasonal flu jabs: provided by Boots annually
- Eye care tests: vouchers and discounts at Vision Express
- Ride to work scheme, saving up to 42% on bikes and cycling accessories at Evans Cycles
- Membership to the Health Service Journal (HSJ)
