Transformation Director (Data Science)

Description

The Data Science function is running a large transformation across several workstreams, and this role manages that portfolio.

You provide the governance that keeps the change on track, keeps the portfolio joined up, and gives senior leaders a clear and reliable view of progress, risk and value.

You also help sharpen new business cases so that future investment rests on solid ground.

The company is an information and analytics business that serves researchers and healthcare professionals. You would help secure access to its products and influence how customers take up its identity platform.

Responsibilities

• Set and maintain the standards for programme and project management across the transformation, covering planning, RAID logs, dependencies, change control and benefits tracking.
• Review the discipline of each workstream, challenge anything that falls short, and help programme and project leads close gaps early.
• Give independent views on delivery confidence, raising slippage and emerging risk well before they escalate.
• Use your understanding of data science, ML and AI engineering, including model building and deployment, model registries, LLM optimisation and production code, to test plans, estimates, dependencies and risk ratings, and to spot when reported progress does not match technical reality.
• Run the governance cycle from start to finish for the operating and steering committees: agendas, papers, decisions, actions and follow-up.
• Own reporting for senior leadership, producing short, accurate, decision-focused packs, dashboards and written updates.
• Build one trusted source for status, milestones, risks and benefits, and make sure the data behind it is sound.
• Keep a joined-up view of the full change portfolio, spotting overlaps, clashes, dependencies and gaps between workstreams.
• Help decide priorities and sequencing by weighing capacity, risk and strategic value.
• Align portfolio governance with the Data Science OKRs and planning cycles.
• Help leads build sound business cases covering the problem, options, costs, benefits and risks.
• Work with Finance to test assumptions and track realised benefits against the original case.
• Help build the pipeline of future initiatives so that new proposals fit the portfolio and strategy.

Requirements

• Essential: a background in data science, ML or AI engineering, gained through hands-on practice or through leading or governing data science delivery, enough to follow the technical work and explain it to non-technical senior audiences.
• Essential: substantial experience governing portfolios, programmes or transformations in a complex, technical organisation, with a record of tightening delivery.
• Essential: proven experience preparing and presenting reports to senior and executive audiences, and holding your ground with them.
• Essential: solid grounding in programme methods such as MSP, PRINCE2, P3O or Agile/SAFe, or equivalents, applied with judgement rather than rigidly.
• Essential: experience building or contributing to business cases, including benefits and financial modelling.
• Essential: sharp analytical and written skills, able to reduce complexity to a clear message.
• Essential: a confident challenger who can build influence without relying on formal authority.
• Desirable: exposure to AI governance and regulation, such as the EU AI Act.
• Desirable: professional accreditation such as MSP, PfMP, P3O or PMP.
• Desirable: experience in publishing, information services or another data-rich business.

Conditions

Flexible working is offered, including the option to flex the times of day you work.

Benefits vary by country, and location-specific benefits are available for each location.

The company is committed to a fair and accessible hiring process and will make adjustments on request.

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to buy additional days.
• Health screening, eye care vouchers and private medical benefits.
• Wellbeing programmes.
• Life assurance.
• Competitive contributory pension scheme.
• Save As You Earn share option scheme.
• Season ticket travel loan.
• Electric vehicle scheme.
• Optional dental insurance.
• Family, maternity, paternity and shared parental leave.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Emergency care access for both elderly people and children.
• RECARES days to support the charities and causes you care about.
• Employee resource groups, with dedicated time to volunteer.
• Learning and development resources.
• Study assistance and sabbaticals.
• Long-service recognition.
• Employee discounts through Perks at Work.