Senior Data Scientist

We are looking for an experienced Senior Data Scientist with a passion for applying advanced analytics to real-world environmental challenges. Our Technology, Data, and Software Development teams deliver high-impact solutions for national governments, environmental agencies, infrastructure operators, and international development organisations. We specialise in complex analytical and modelling projects across climate risk, hydrology, geospatial analysis, and machine learning, supporting clients such as local councils, the Environment Agency, and Water and Sewerage Companies. Our work enables better decision-making for climate adaptation and resilience planning using large, complex datasets and advanced techniques. This role will provide technical leadership across projects while supporting business development and the continued growth of our data science capability.

You will be joining an award-winning environmental and engineering consultancy which puts innovation, sustainability and resilience at the heart of its work.

We are independent and staff-owned under a stewardship model which drives long term decision making and investment. We have offices in the UK, Ireland, Romania, India, Singapore and Australia. Our people are all important and we invest heavily in life-long learning and skills development.

Visit https://www.jbaconsulting.com/ to find out more.

Your role

As a Senior Data Scientist, you will provide technical leadership across multiple projects, shaping analytical approaches and ensuring the delivery of high quality data science outputs. You will work closely with project managers and technical leads to scope work, manage delivery, and embed appropriate levels of data science expertise into project teams.

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
• Leading the design and implementation of analytical workflows, models, and geospatial processes across environmental and climate related datasets.
• Acting as technical lead on projects, developing and defending methodologies suitable for client and regulatory scrutiny.
• Reviewing and quality assuring analytical code, promoting best practice in documentation, version control, testing, and reproducibility.
• Delivering work across multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring outputs are produced to time and quality expectations.
• Communicating complex technical findings clearly to both specialist and non technical stakeholders.
• Contributing to proposal writing and work winning activities, including methodology development, costing, and articulating project value.
• Engaging directly with clients to shape analytical approaches, identify emerging needs, and build long term relationships.
• Providing mentoring and technical guidance to early career data scientists and analysts, supporting their professional development.

The team member we’re looking for

You will be a confident and proactive technical leader who combines strong analytical depth with effective communication skills. You will be comfortable taking ownership of complex technical challenges, supporting colleagues through mentoring and code review, and translating advanced quantitative methods into clear, accessible insights.

You will enjoy working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, balancing hands on technical work with broader leadership and commercial responsibilities. A strong sense of quality, and effective communication are essential.

Qualifications

Applicants will have:
• Strong Python skills, with experience writing and reviewing production quality analytical code.
• Practical experience with machine learning techniques, including deep learning models such as CNNs, LSTMs, and GRUs.
• Experience working with environmental datasets, including climate, hydrological, or ecological data.
• Excellent knowledge of GIS and geospatial analysis using Python libraries such as rasterio, GDAL, GeoPandas, and Shapely.
• Experience acting as a technical lead or subject matter expert within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Essential attributes for the role

The right candidate will:
• be willing to contribute to bids and proposals, including scoping and costing analytical work.
• enjoy supporting teams and creating an environment where developers can excel. This includes mentoring early career data scientists.
• have a desire to work across different technologies and continually develop their skills.
• be comfortable making technical decisions and providing clear guidance to teams.
• have a strong interest in advancing best practice in environmental and geospatial data science.

Desirable attributes for the role

Other desirable attributes for the role include:
• Working knowledge of R.
• Experience working with AWS cloud computing environments.
• A strong statistical foundation, with the ability to apply a range of methods (including multivariate approaches) to real world datasets.
• Familiarity with Docker and DevOps style workflows.
• Interest in contributing to thought leadership, innovation proposals, technical publications, or conferences.

Location and contact

JBA supports hybrid working which provides for greater flexibility with the way that we work.

The role will be located in our modern, eco-friendly offices at Broughton Park, near Skipton, North Yorkshire and includes ample free parking and EV charging points. This unique work setting sits on the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and offers easy access to stunning countryside. Skipton is a bustling market town with great schools, services and leisure facilities, and is within easy reach of Leeds, Bradford, Manchester and the Lake District. Find out more at https://www.welcometoskipton.com

For further information or an informal discussion about this position, please contact Jenny Roberts on jenny.roberts@jbaconsulting.com