Senior Data Scientist - Media Optimisation

GROUPM
Greater London
1 week ago
Create job alert

Description
Position at Choreograph

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com



About Choreograph: A Leading WPP Media Brand

Choreograph is WPP’s global data products and technology company. We’re on a mission to transform marketing by building the fastest, most connected data platform that bridges marketing strategy to scaled activation.

We work with agencies and clients to transform the value of data by bringing together technology, data and analytics capabilities. We deliver this through the Open Media Studio, an AI-enabled media and data platform for the next era of advertising.

We’re endlessly curious. Our team of thinkers, builders, creators and problem solvers are over 1,000 strong, across 20 markets around the world.





Role Summary and Impact

The Media Optimisation product is an AI-powered optimization platform that enables media traders to deploy complex buying strategies and deliver better outcomes for our clients, at scale.

This is no start-up. We’re already trusted by our clients to manage hundreds of millions of media spend.

At the heart of the product is our proprietary algorithms, developed in-house and refined by the team over time. These algorithms enable the platform to make budget and targeting adjustments that improve campaign performance, everyday, for everyone of our clients across the globe.

Our ambition as a Data Science team is to further extend such competitive advantage by innovating our algorithms and expanding into more digital advertising platforms.

We are on the lookout for a Senior Data Scientist to join our team to further improve our proprietary algorithms, as well as to innovate the product with latest advances in ML / AI.

The role will report to VP Data Science and be part of a small (but growing!) team of Data Scientists.

The ideal candidate will have a background in optimisation (algorithms, or related ML disciplines), strong statistical knowledge and hands-on cloud technology experience.

As our algorithms are all proprietary and built on in-house team, the candidate needs to be truly, technically competent, to be able to quickly learn a complex system, customise source code, add in new features and code from scratch.

Whilst model deployment / software development experience is very, highly desirable, we do have a team of engineers to support so exposure in this space will be sufficient.

Culture-wise, we’re looking for a great team player who is passionate about applying Data Science techniques to solve complex problems and drive innovation.

In return, you will get the opportunity to solve cutting-edge problems, and drive measurable performance improvement for our clients. Not to mention, working with a team of supportive, seasoned deverlopers, product managers and data scientists who have successfully built and deployed scalable, global products.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

  • BeExtraordinarybyLeading CollectivelytoInspire transformational Creativity.
  • Create anOpenenvironment byBalancing People and Client ExperiencesbyCultivating Trust.
  • LeadOptimisticallybyChampioning Growthand DevelopmenttoMobilize the Enterprise.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Further improve existing algorithms and develop net new DS features
  • Design and contribute to the end-to-end machine learning pipeline from data collection, reprocessing to model training, simulation, evaluation, deployment and experimentation / testing
  • Implement and interpret explainability frameworks to provide clear insights into model decisions, ensuring transparency and compliance with WPP standards
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to identify business needs and translate these requirements into technical solutions that are scalable and impactful
  • Conduct rigorous model testing and validation to ensure robustness and accuracy
  • Prepare detailed documentation and reports that communicate complex model behaviours, predictions, and insights in a manner accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Stay abreast of academic research and industry advancements in optimisation, plus AI/ML in general.
  • Knowledge-share and support the wider team and Data Science community to drive innovations based on your work


Essential qualifications:

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related quantitative field
  • Hands-on experience in optimisation algorithms (or a related displicine). Please note:


- Wihlst we’d consider candidates with relevant academic background, we’d prefer those with hands-on, commercial experience solving practical problems with real-world data.

- Completing a module / thesis on this topic as part of bachelor’s degree is not considered as sufficient academic experience. We’re primarily thinking about the experience of conducting an original piece of research as part of an MRes, PhD, fellowship, etc

  • Proficiency in Python (and key ML frameworks) and SQL
  • Experience of using cloud technologies.


- We’re AWS-based but migrating to GCP soon. Experience in any of these two, or another mainstream service is fine.

  • Experience of / exposure to model deployment and/or software development
  • Strong, demonstratable statistical and machine learning knowledge
  • Effective communication skills to work with different stakeholders / team members with varying degrees of knowledge in Data Science
  • A collaborative team player


Highly Desirable qualifications:

  • Hands-on experience in Airflow
  • Commercial experience in software development
  • Commercial ML Ops experience


Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location



Please read our Privacy Notice ( https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist - Consumer Behaviour – exciting ‘scale up’ proposition

Senior Data Scientist – Machine Learning -  Defence – Eligible for SC

Senior Data Scientist role - Financial Services | Guildford £80k

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist

Get the latest insights and jobs direct. Sign up for our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Top 10 Best UK Universities for Machine Learning Degrees (2025 Guide)

Explore ten UK universities that deliver world-class machine-learning degrees in 2025. Compare entry requirements, course content, research strength and industry links to find the programme that fits your goals. Machine learning (ML) has shifted from academic curiosity to the engine powering everything from personalised medicine to autonomous vehicles. UK universities have long been pioneers in the field, and their programmes now blend rigorous theory with hands-on practice on industrial-scale datasets. Below, we highlight ten institutions whose undergraduate or postgraduate pathways focus squarely on machine learning. League tables move each year, but these universities consistently excel in teaching, research and collaboration with industry.

How to Write a Winning Cover Letter for Machine Learning Jobs: Proven 4-Paragraph Structure

Learn how to craft the perfect cover letter for machine learning jobs with this proven 4-paragraph structure. Ideal for entry-level candidates, career switchers, and professionals looking to advance in the machine learning sector. When applying for a machine learning job, your cover letter is a vital part of your application. Machine learning is an exciting and rapidly evolving field, and your cover letter offers the chance to demonstrate your technical expertise, passion for AI, and your ability to apply machine learning techniques to solve real-world problems. Writing a cover letter for machine learning roles may feel intimidating, but by following a clear structure, you can showcase your strengths effectively. Whether you're just entering the field, transitioning from another role, or looking to advance your career in machine learning, this article will guide you through a proven four-paragraph structure. We’ll provide practical tips and sample lines to help you create a compelling cover letter that catches the attention of hiring managers in the machine learning job market.

Veterans in Machine Learning: A Military‑to‑Civilian Pathway into AI Careers

Introduction Artificial intelligence is no longer relegated to sci‑fi films—it underpins battlefield decision‑support, fraud detection, and even supermarket logistics. The UK Government’s 2025 AI Sector Deal forecasts an additional £200 billion in GDP by 2030, with machine‑learning (ML) engineers cited as the nation’s second most in‑demand tech role (Tech Nation 2024). The Ministry of Defence’s Defence AI Strategy echoes that urgency, earmarking £1.6 billion for FY 2025–28 to embed ML into planning, logistics, and autonomous systems. If you have ever tuned a radar filter, plotted artillery trajectories, or sifted sensor data for actionable intel, you have already worked with statistical modelling—the backbone of machine learning. This guide shows UK veterans how to reframe military experience for ML roles, leverage MoD transition funding, and land high‑impact positions building the models shaping tomorrow’s defence and commercial landscapes. Quick Win: Bookmark our live board for Machine‑Learning Engineer roles to see who’s hiring today.