Head of Data Science

The purpose of this role is to set the strategic direction for the team, taking ownership of the overall vision and outcomes, liaising with other channels to ensure an integrated approach/roadmap., We empower brands to make confident media investment decisions-driven by evidence, not opinion. This is a pivotal senior leadership role at the forefront of marketing science transformation. As Head of Data Science, you will architect and lead a world-class Data Science Centre of Excellence, integrating analytics, econometrics, and data science into a unified, high-impact capability. You will modernise measurement methodologies, productise advanced techniques (agile MMM, incrementality, causal inference, brand equity analytics), and operationalise insight at scale to drive client growth and business performance. You will be a strategic partner to Carat, iProspect, and dentsu X-shaping pitches, influencing client decisioning, and setting the gold standard for media effectiveness across UK&I. As a member of the Marketing Science Executive Team, you will play a critical role in defining the strategic direction of the discipline, cultivating a high-performance culture, and delivering measurable commercial outcomes.

Strategic Leadership & Operating Model

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• Define and create the UK&I Data Science strategy, aligned to the broader Data & Analytics vision and media growth priorities.
  
• Establish a scalable, future-ready Centre of Excellence: governance, delivery models, talent strategy (onshore/offshore), and operational standards.
  
• Influence cross-functional alignment across media, strategy, data, and technology.
  

Innovation, Methodology & Product Development

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• Own the end-to-end data science innovation roadmap to merit powerhouse status: evolve MMM into a digital-first, agile, automated solution; scale incrementality and causal inference; embed experimentation across the full funnel. Develop scalable advanced analytics solutions that incorporate behavioural science and creative analytics (pre and post).
  
• Set the benchmark for modelling excellence, experimentation design (lift/RCTs, synthetic controls), forecasting, and brand-performance integration.
  
• Drive the development of proprietary tools, frameworks, and IP.
  

Data Infrastructure & Strategic Partnerships

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• Collaborate with Data & Tech to build robust data pipelines, automation, and deployment infrastructure leveraging dentsu.Connect and other platforms.
  
• Partner with Amplifi and external data providers to unlock strategic value and commercial upside.
  

Commercial Growth & Market Impact

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• Lead Measurement & Effectiveness strategy in new business pitches-crafting compelling narratives, proof points, and pricing strategies, delivered in the room and on paper with high impact, contributing to an overall Media increased win rate of +40% and measurement revenue of +£5m.
  
• Drive revenue growth through outcome-linked learning agendas and strategic account expansion.
  
• Influence client C-suite decisioning through data-driven storytelling and strategic advisory.
  
• Industry leadership and representation of dentsu in external forums: produce thought leadership, increase visibility and promote dentsu capability at key events and with senior stakeholders from both clients and our media partners (Google, Meta, industry bodies).
  

Delivery Excellence & Governance

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• Oversee delivery across Measurement & Effectiveness scopes: staffing, QA, SLAs, and insight-to-value workflows.
  
• Institutionalise repeatable excellence through playbooks, case studies, and scalable frameworks.
  
• Champion data ethics, privacy, and methodological integrity.
  

Talent, Culture & Global Collaboration

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• Inspire and develop a multidisciplinary team of 40+ analysts, econometricians, data scientists and engineers fostering a culture of innovation, learning, and inclusion.
  
• Shape succession planning and capability development across critical roles.
  
• Contribute to global hubs and multi-market initiatives.
  

External Influence & Thought Leadership

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• Represent dentsu in industry forums and thought leadership platforms.
  
• Articulate a bold, future-facing POV on modern measurement and the strategic role of data science in media.
  

Success Measures

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• Adoption of a unified, standardised measurement toolkit across priority accounts.
  
• Demonstrable growth impact via pitch wins, account expansion, and value tracking.
  
• Scaled automation and platform leverage reducing manual effort and increasing insight velocity.
  
• High team engagement, retention, and succession in key roles.
  

Qualifications

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• 15+ years in senior leadership roles across analytics, data science, econometrics or measurement, ideally within agency or marketing-led environments.
  
• Deep expertise in MMM, experimentation, causal inference, forecasting, and brand-performance integration.
  
• Proven track record in pitch leadership, senior client engagement, and commercial storytelling.
  
• Strong cross-functional collaboration across media, strategy, engineering, and commercial teams.
  
• Demonstrated experience in AI/automation integration within analytics workflows.
  

Soft skills

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• Client‑centric, commercially astute and intellectually curious – consistently translates complex data into actionable strategies that drive business outcomes and client growth.
  
• Strategic influencer across disciplines – builds alignment and momentum across media, strategy, data, and technology functions, even without formal authority.
  
• Executive presence and trusted advisor – engages credibly with senior stakeholders, shaping decisions through clear, evidence‑led narratives.
  
• High integrity and analytical rigour – sets the standard for transparency, auditability, and ethical use of data in decision‑making.
  
• Culture builder and talent magnet – fosters an inclusive, high‑performance environment that attracts, retains and develops top‑tier talent.