Lead Data Scientist

The Company

Christie’s, the world’s largest Art Business, is an incredibly exciting & enriching place to start or continue your career. Whether you work within one of our Specialist Art Departments, or in one of our more Operational teams, we are all working together with one common goal in mind: to continue the success of this 250 year old company, steeped in history, bringing fresh ideas whilst not forgetting our shared values; Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, Responsibility & Relationships. Colleagues across all departments are truly passionate about what they do and it is inspiring to work with industry leaders across our business. 
 

Why This Role Matters

The Data Scientist Lead will be responsible for leading a team of Data Analysts/ Data Scientists, they will work in conjunction with Business Stakeholders to identify issues and then use data to propose solutions for effective decision making.

This role will be the key full time position responsible for the leadership of Christies Data Science function. This role will work closely with other members of the Architecture, Data Strategy and Transformation Team and will play an important part in the Companies wider Information Strategy Programme.

This Role will work closely with the Data and Insights Stakeholders to fulfil  the Companies Data Strategy, advising on new and emerging technologies in the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence space and help to identify ways to improve the use of data in the Company. Ability to share expertise and knowledge with others and take a Technical Leadership Role is a key part of this Role.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Selecting features, building and optimizing classifiers using machine learning techniques

• Building and monitoring robust data cleansing / training/ ML application pipelines

• Data mining using state-of-the-art methods

• Enhancing data collection procedures to include information that is relevant for building analytic systems

• Processing, cleansing, and verifying the integrity of data used for analysis

• Doing ad-hoc analysis and presenting results in a clear manner

• Clarify/explain results to senior business stakeholders in business friendly terms

• Collaborate with other teams to expose/include AI/ML models in business scenarios such as workflows and apps that consume the Models

What you’ll bring to the team

• Highly passionate, self-motivated and driven individual who has a strong understanding of all aspects of Data Science and is happy to be hands on working with the Team

• A strong desire to improve existing solutions and to innovate and introduce new and exciting ways to improve the current way that Data solutions are implemented at Christie’s

• They will be good communicators that have an open and transparent style of working that can influence and operate with both technical and business stakeholders effectively. They will have strong interpersonal skills, can demonstrate facilitation skills and the ability to set technical direction when appropriate

Key Competencies

• Able to provide accurate estimates and meet deadlines.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong abilities to develop and enhance relationships with stakeholders and peers

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to produce clear, concise, detailed documentation

• Flexible, pragmatic and professional approach, with ability to anticipate problems and work with incomplete information

• Able to perform under pressure

• Understanding of business drivers

• Good problem-solving skills

Experience/ Skills Required

• 6+ years of IS/IT experience with at least 2 years in a Data Science related role.

• Excellent understanding of machine learning techniques and algorithms, such as k-NN, Naive Bayes, SVM, Decision Forests, etc

• Strong Expertise with Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence technologies with coding experience in Python, Pandas, Databricks and experience with using Azure Platform an advantage

• Data Preparation (SQL, ETL, Azure DataBricks)

• Experience in Reporting and Visualisation (Tableau, Power BI) to convey model output and insights

• A good understanding of Infrastructure (hardware, software, data, networking)

• Educated to Degree Level preferably in Computer Science or related subject

• Masters Degree in Data Science is an advantage

What’s great about working for us

• 25 days annual leave + 1 day Birthday leave  

• Christie’s Christmas office closure (guaranteed between 25th Dec – 2nd Jan) – in additional to annual leave: almost two weeks to fully switch off and spend time with friends and family

• Additional 1 week’s annual leave within the year of a 5-year anniversary i.e. 5th, 10th, 15th and so on

• Volunteering day: Take an additional day of annual leave to volunteer for a charitable organisation that’s important to you

• Donation matching of up to £500 per annum to help you support the organisations you care about

• Flexible Fitness Fund - £400 per year expense allowance for health and wellness related activity (taxable)

• Access to world-renowned art: with regular exhibitions in our galleries to wander around and exclusive guided tours hosted by specialist colleagues

• Discretionary Bonus (dependent on the business and employee performance payable in March each year)     

• Generous retirement plan: We will double match your pension contribution up to 5% of your basic salary (Max 10% contribution from Christie’s)

• Private Health Insurance – no employee contribution needed, subsidised for other family members

• Dental Insurance – (may be extended at personal cost)

• Generous Income Protection Insurance in the event of accident, sickness or injury after 12 months

• Competitive Life Insurance policy from first day 

• Employee Assistance Programme – access to personal advice and support services including counselling

• Eyecare vouchers (once a year)

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Christie’s Extras – discounts on over 800 retailers, holiday packages, dinners and weekly shops

• Robust family first policy:

Ø  16 weeks full pay on Maternity Leave  

Ø  Four-day week, for eight weeks, at full pay on return from Maternity Leave

Ø  Dependent back-up care: 10 sessions/ days of childcare or eldercare per year

Ø  The Stork Club: Our community of parents who meet regularly over breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea…

              *Christie’s reserves the right to change company benefits at any time

Closing Date: Sunday 26th January

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