Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Location: London EC2R 7HJ, Salford M50 3SP, Staines TW18 3DZ

Hybrid working options – ideally 1–2 days per week in office

Permanent

Salary range: £60,000 - £80,000 (depending on experience & location) + 10% bonus.

Full time: Scheduled 37.5 hours per week

We make health happen

At Bupa, we’re passionate about using technology to make a meaningful difference. With our colleagues, customers, patients, and residents at the heart of everything we do, you’ll have the opportunity to lead innovative, high-impact projects that span our entire organisation.

As part of our ambitious 2027 strategy, you’ll join a growing Data Science team focused on implementing modern data science and MLOps standards while upholding ethical and responsible practices.

In this leadership role, you’ll be responsible for delivering AI and ML solutions that drive measurable business outcomes, while mentoring others and helping shape the future of data science at Bupa.

How you’ll help us make health happen

• Lead the design, development, and delivery of AI and machine learning solutions that support commercial growth and improve customer outcomes across Bupa’s businesses.
• Manage and mentor a team of data scientists, fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment focused on innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Own the delivery of end-to-end AI and GenAI projects—from business case development and stakeholder engagement to model deployment and monitoring.
• Drive the adoption of cloud-native tools and scalable ML infrastructure, ensuring solutions are robust, secure, and production-ready.
• Own the relationship and work in close proximity with business units in order to identify opportunities, shape project roadmaps, and ensure high quality outcomes which align with business priorities and Bupa’s Responsible AI Framework.
• Work with multi-modal data sources (e.g. electronic health records, clinical notes, imaging data, wearable sensor data) to develop impactful, ethical AI solutions.
• Act as a thought leader and data evangelist, sharing knowledge across Bupa’s global data science community and promoting best practices in AI, MLOps, and responsible innovation.
• Ensuring full compliance with regulatory frameworks and standards relevant to the health insurance sector (e.g., GDPR, DPA) as well as proactively aligning Bupa’s Responsible AI Framework.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Data Science function, helping to define goals, measure impact, and support the growth of the team.

Key Skills / Qualifications Needed for This Role

• Extensive experience leading with a strong track record of delivering impactful machine learning solutions in a healthcare, clinical, insurance, or dental setting.
• Deep technical expertise in AI/ML, including hands-on experience with SQL, Python, and cloud platforms such as Azure, GCP, or Snowflake.
• Demonstrated experience delivering end-to-end AI and GenAI projects, including model design, development, deployment, and monitoring in production environments.
• Strong understanding of cloud-native ML infrastructure, MLOps practices, and scalable architecture design.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across technical and non-technical teams.
• Experience working in an agile environment, preferably with familiarity using Azure DevOps tools such as Boards, Repos, and Pipelines to manage workflows and collaborate effectively.
• Passion for ethical AI, with a commitment to applying Bupa’s Responsible AI Framework in all aspects of solution development and delivery.

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to make health happen for our people. Viva is our global wellbeing programme and includes all aspects of our health – from mental and physical, to financial, social and environmental wellbeing. We support flexible working and have a range of family friendly benefits.

Joining Bupa in this role you will receive the following benefits and more:

• 25 days holiday, increasing through length of service, with option to buy or sell

• Bupa health insurance as a benefit in kind

• An enhanced pension plan and life insurance

• Annual performance-based bonus

• Onsite gyms or local discounts where no onsite gym available

• Various other benefits and online discounts

Why Bupa?

We’re a health insurer and provider. With no shareholders, our customers are our focus. Our people are all driven by the same purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We make health happen by being brave, caring and responsible in everything we do.

We encourage all of our people to “Be you at Bupa”, we champion diversity, and we understand the importance of our people representing the communities and customers we serve. That’s why we especially encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Bupa is a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. This means we aim to offer an interview/assessment to every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the role. We’ll make sure you are treated fairly and offer reasonable adjustments as part of our recruitment process to anyone that needs them.