Senior Data Science & Analytics Lead

Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis.

Location: Flexible – with some travel to our Swindon office where the UK Life team are based 

Closing date for applications: 19th June 2026

The opportunity: 

As Senior Data Science & Analytics Lead, you will play a pivotal role in evolving our data function from strong management information delivery to a data science-led, AI-enabled capability that drives measurable improvements in decision-making, operational efficiency and risk management.

You will be accountable for developing and deploying predictive and statistical models across complex datasets, embedding advanced analytics and AI into core business processes to move from insight generation to automated, data-driven decisioning. This includes ensuring solutions transition effectively from experimentation into robust, controlled and scalable production use.

Combining strong people leadership with technical credibility, this role will build sustainable data science capability within the team, ensuring experimentation, modelling and AI adoption aligned to business priorities and governance expectations.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys turning ambiguity into delivery, balancing people leadership with technical credibility, and innovation leadership – setting direction, coaching others, and acting as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders.

Many of our employees work flexibly in a variety of different ways, including part-time, flexible hours, job share, an element of working from home or compressed hours. This is because we want the best people for our roles, and we recognise that sometimes those people aren’t available full-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may need.

What will you be doing? 

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead a team of analysts, supporting performance, development plans, and day‑to‑day prioritisation.
• Act as a role model for modern analytics practices, curiosity, and outcome‑focused delivery.
• Build and mature analytical and AI capability within the team, coaching analysts toward more advanced analytics, automation, and AI techniques using learning from apprenticeships and hands‑on delivery.

Insight & Business Partnership

• Partner with senior stakeholders across the UK Life Business and supporting functions to identify opportunities for deeper insight, automation, or improved decision‑making that deliver clear, actionable outcomes.
• Translate complex business questions into analytical approaches that deliver clear, actionable outputs.
• Own a prioritised insight and automation development pipeline aligned to business value and capacity.

Analytics, Automation & AI Leadership

• Lead the design and delivery of advanced analytics and data science-driven solutions, including predictive insight, trend analysis, and decision-support models.
• Shape and oversee the responsible use of AI and GenAI to automate insight generation, controls and repeatable MI processes.
• Act as the accountable lead for exploratory AI and advanced analytics use cases, ensuring appropriate governance, ethics, and risk considerations are met.
• Guide the transition from pilot and proof-of-concept into robust, scalable BAU solutions in partnership with Data Engineering, Governance and Architecture.
• Embed model lifecycle thinking, including documentation, validation, monitoring, and ongoing performance management where applicable.

Ways of Working

• Embed standards for documentation, validation, and handover into BAU.
• Champion efficient tooling (e.g. Power BI, Power Platform, SQL, Python) and automation‑first thinking.
• Promote reuse, simplification, and scalability across the reporting estate.
• Embed experimentation frameworks (e.g. controlled testing, monitoring, feedback loops) to safely trial and scale advanced analytics and AI‑enabled solutions.

What are we looking for?

Essential

• Strong experience applying advanced analytics or data science-led approaches to ambiguous business problems within Financial Services or similarly regulated environments.
• Proven ability to lead and develop analysts while remaining technically credible.
• Hands-on experience building and deploying predictive or statistical models in a business environment
• Strong working knowledge of Python (or equivalent) for data analysis and modelling
• Experience designing and applying experimentation techniques (e.g. A/B testing, hypothesis testing)
• Advanced skills in SQL and Power BI, including automation of data and MI workflows
• Experience delivering analytical solutions from prototype into production environments
• Confident communicator, able to influence stakeholders without relying on hierarchy.
• Experience working within structured delivery practices (e.g. agile/iterative delivery) including backlog and governance management using Azure DevOps or equivalent.

Desirable

• Experience scaling data science or analytics capability within a team or function
• Exposure to cloud-based data platforms or modern data ecosystems (e.g. Snowflake, AWS, Azure)
• Experience applying AI/GenAI techniques in a business context, including automation of insight generation or decisioning
• Strong understanding of data governance, controls and regulatory considerations within Financial Services
• Experience working in cross-functional delivery models with Data Engineering, Architecture and Governance teams

Qualifications & Learning

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a numerate or analytical discipline such as mathematics, statistics, data science, computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• Professional qualifications, certifications, or structured learning in analytics, data science, automation, or AI (e.g. cloud data platforms, analytics engineering, machine learning, or responsible AI) are desirable.
• Commitment to continuous professional development, including keeping pace with emerging analytics, automation, and AI practices, and supporting the learning of others through coaching, apprenticeships, or structured development pathways.

What will you get in return?

Everyone’s different. That’s why at Zurich, we offer a wide range of employee benefits so our people can choose what fits them and their life. Our benefits provide real flexibility so our people can make considered choices and tailor their benefits throughout the year. Our benefits include 12% defined non-contributory pension scheme, annual company bonus, private medical insurance and the option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday, alongside a range of other flexible benefits

You can find out more about our wide range of employee benefits on our website.

Who we are:

At Zurich we aspire to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. Together, we’re creating a brighter future for our customers, our people and our planet.

With over 65,000 employees, you’ll feel the support of being part of a strong and stable company that is a long-standing player in the insurance industry.

We’ve made a promise to each other and every employee: to focus on sustainable impact, to care about each other’s wellbeing, to use our diverse expertise to be curious and optimistic and to develop the skills needed for our future.

If you’re interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment where your creativity, ideas and contributions are recognised and rewarded, Zurich could be just the place for you. Be part of something great.

Our culture:

At Zurich, our strength comes from the diverse experiences, perspectives and talents of our people. Our goal is to create a workplace where every employee can flourish and where everyone feels valued, heard and respected.

Over a quarter of our employees are members of at least one of our inclusion communities (Employee Resource Groups), with groups focused on areas such as social mobility and cultural awareness. We’re proud to have received numerous industry awards recognising our diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives.

We’ve created an environment that places real importance on our people’s wellbeing from a physical, mental, social and financial perspective. We work with our wellbeing partners and industry experts to provide practical advice and access to a wide range of lifestyle support, alongside opportunities to learn, grow and develop the skills needed for the future.

We actively support our employees to give back to their communities through volunteering and charitable activity. Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, is one of the longest‑established corporate trusts in the UK. Together, we’ve supported causes across the UK through grants and volunteering, contributing over £100 million in funding and volunteered time.

Your application:

We’re committed to treating all applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected characteristic.

As an inclusive employer we also want to ensure that all candidates feel comfortable and are able to perform at their best during the interview. You’ll have the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustment or practical support needed when you apply.

We’d love it if you could submit your application online. If you require an alternative method of applying, please send an email to recruitment@uk.zurich.com

So, make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.